fish that is kept well in groups??

Orange Lined Cardinalfish
Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Chalk Bass

While I am apprehensive about suggesting schooling fish because basically fish school in the wild not so much in smaller tanks and I too believe you have probably reached close to your limit on the tank, these are two type of smaller fish that do tend to stick together and are some what passive. I have seen both types in larger aquariums in a schooling formation and it looked very cool.

There is one other but I can not think of it currently, member Yellowbelly had them in his tank.

I have kept trios of fire fish as well, get them young and introduce all at the same time. A lid is a must, very under rated fish IMO.

 

Chalk bass is very nice looking. Thanks for the input.

 

Redspot cardinals also school pretty good.

 

Do chalk bass assume a schooling like effect though? I read that you can keep multiples, but havent read them schooling before. I have one, and it tends to more or less stay rather solitary compared to flame & six line in the same tank who have buddied up. This could be cause he is the only chalk bass of course.

 

No I would not call it schooling. The only fish that I personally think school in very large tanks are fish like Anthias, Chromis, Damsels.

Maybe because I scuba I think of true schooling in the wild and large hundreds of gallon tanks.
I have had several immature clowns ball up but no I am not a big believer in true school in most/average tanks but rather fish just residing close to familiar fish.

Probably just me though.

 

No. I agree with you. I think the term schooling is used loosely in the hobby out of convenience. Much like when people say thier clown is hosting an anemone, when its the other way around. It's just one of those things that people get the point & its easier to roll with it rather than turn into the spelling or grammar police. Especially when I am far from qualified to be either one. lol.

 

I have a group of 5 threadfin/blue eyed cardinals and they are beautiful and stay together most of the time. I have 2 males (one being the as I call him the super male of the group) so sometimes the break off in a pair and trio, but for the most part they are together. They are a good small bioload fish. Way underrated in my opinion, they are much prettier in person than pictures because of the glow of the eyes.

 

my 4 blue-green chromis live in complete harmony in my 50g tank. IMO you should buy fish that have already schooled together in the LFS cuz thats wht i did