Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've had my 28 gallon hex tank up and running for a while now, with a penguin 170 bio wheel and a maxi-jet 400 power head. I've got about 15+ pounds of live rock in there and it's been a great little setup. My current inhabitants are three damsels that I've had for about a year, but I'm feeling like it's time to mix things up and try something a bit more challenging. I plan on rehoming the damsels, so it'll just be my CC star and purple reef lobster holding down the fort.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on what fish might do well in a tank of this size, especially with my inverts. I've been considering a valentini puffer or a coflake beauty, but I'm definitely open to other suggestions.

Also, I've got a question about my girlfriend's and my 55 gallon tank. We're looking to add a bigger fish to the mix, but we're having a hard time deciding on the right one. We've got a maroon clown and a pygmy angel in there already, and we're worried about adding something that might harass or eat our inverts - we've got a decorator crab and two boxer crabs that we're pretty attached to. My girlfriend was really taken with the idea of a Picclyasso trigger, but we're concerned about its potential impact on the crabs. Do you guys have any thoughts on this?

If you're looking for a challenging fish, I'd say give purple anthias a shot - they're super shy and a pain to get eating, but it's worth it. I'm not too worried about tank size since I'm rocking a 175g and a 300g, but I'm sure you'll figure it out for your 28g hex.

For your 55g tank, I'd recommend checking out small eels - just make sure your current fish aren't small enough to fit in its mouth. Get a top-dwelling eel that's suitable for a tank your size. I've had great luck with my cinnamon clown and rose bta, and it's awesome being able to keep an anemone.

I think a coflake beauty and a puffer would be a great addition to your 28g tank. Hawkfish are also worth considering, they can make for some really interesting tankmates.

As for the 55g, I'd advise against the picasso trigger due to its potential size. Instead, you might want to look into a wrasse or some anthias - both can be pretty cool additions. A blenny could also work, or if you're feeling adventurous, a foxface might be the way to go.