Butterfly or angel for my reef

[29reef]

I've been messing with the idea of adding one or two more larger fish to my 150 gallon display tank. It's 48x30x24 with about 200+ total volume. Right now currenly there are 8 anthias, 2 fairy wrasses, a flasher wrasse, and a fine line tang (bristle tooth). I have stocked the tank with mostly sps and zoanthids. There are a few lps left, but most have been moved into an attached system for lps. I was thinking of a few species, but I'd like to hear what some people in this forum have to say. Feel free to include photos and scientific names. TIA

 

[Allmost]

I have almost same size tank, but lenght is 66"

MOORISH IDOL ! they trully are a show piece.

 

[shaka]

How about a Regal Angel or Copperband Bfly. I think a Flagfin Angel might be alright as well. The Flagfin is kinda delicate but probably less delicate than the Regal or CBB, and I think it would be reef-safe ( more or less). Though no Angel or Butterflyfish is guaranteed reef safe.

 

[SDguy]

I really love my yellow longnose butterflies in my reef. They are such a classic looking reef fish.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Yellow or Black pyramid butterflies are completely reef safe because they don't eat corals. I think they eat zooplankton in the water column.

 

[SDguy]

Yellow or Black pyramid butterflies are completely reef safe because they don't eat corals. I think they eat zooplankton in the water column.

Unfortunately I had to remove my zoster because he ate gorgonians

 

[marlin85]

+1 on the yellow pyramid, I love mine and that dont bother my corals at all.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Goldflake angel I heard they are usauly reef safe. Flame angel.

 

[Reefing Newbie]

Odd that you had a zoster that nipped at your gorgs SD... Steve recommend a yellow pyramid to me, but since my budget expanded for me to do a purple tang.

 

[shaka]

A much hardier option to a Moorish Idol is a Heniochus Butterfly. I would really try to get a H. Diphreutes (I have one) instead of H. Acuminatus. They both look very similar, but Diphreutes is more reef safe and less aggressive than Acuminatus. I also had a pair of Acuminatus and they constantly fought each other. I believe you could have more than one Diphreutes in the tank and there wouldn't be much aggression between them. IME the Acuminatus were very aggressive.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

Goldflake angel would be my choice..

 

[pookstreet]

Brian, pick whatever strikes your fancy. Everyone's tastes are different and every fish is different. Just because a certain species is deemed "not reef safe" does not mean that every fish within that species will eat corals I personally like the harder to find stuff but also have some very common fish. No one else has to like what I like. All that matters is that I like them.

 

[Ostara]

I'd vote for a female bellus angel. One of my favorites.

 

[29reef]

Brian, pick whatever strikes your fancy. Everyone's tastes are different and every fish is different. Just because a certain species is deemed "not reef safe" does not mean that every fish within that species will eat corals I personally like the harder to find stuff but also have some very common fish. No one else has to like what I like. All that matters is that I like them.

I agree 100% Kenny. I started this thread to see what other people are keeping in their tanks, I've been around the fishy block a few time now and have a pretty good knowledge of what's available. However I haven't been able to pull the trigger on any large fish. I started this thread in hopes of hearing some of the more abstract and uncommon selections from people here on this forum.



Thanks for all the suggestions so far, I'm playing with the idea of a group or pair of butterfly's as I'm thinking they will be easier to find a species that is less likely to feed on my Z's & P's. My tank is still new at only 8 months old, having lost most of my acropora colony's in the upgrade I've got lots of growing until I don't have to worry about polyp nippers.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

I dont know if they are reef safe but blue striped butterflys look very cool.