Emperor Angelfish in SPS only tank?

[DARKPHREAK]

Not sure if this is the right place to post but I'm wondering if its possible to keep a Pomacanthus imperator in my SPS only tank? There are also 3 Crocea clams but they can be relocated if nipping happens. The tank is fairly new so I'd be waiting another few months before adding it to the main system. What size should I get? Any good threads I can read about successful SPS tanks with an Imp residing?

Thanks

 

[ObscurityKnocks]

Don't know about any good threads but everything I have heard says they are usually safe with SPS. Of course there are people that say they have had nipping problems with SPS, but from what I have read the chances of them being SPS safe are pretty high. I just ordered one myself, I only have a couple SPS right now but I plan on having a primarily SPS reef with a couple of LPS.

I think its best to start out with a juvenile, easier to adapt to aquarium.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

They are one of the best bets out of the large angels in an SPS tank, clams may be another story however. Probably the only other Pomacanthus with a better track record in an SPS tank would be the Majestic. I would go with a 2-3" juvenile and get him used to introduced foods. If you can get the search engine to work there have been a ton of reef safe large angel threads in the last few months. Good luck

 

[tang_man_montreal]

Heya Dark,

From what I've read, you have better chances of him NOT being a nipper if you get a small juvenile. The smaller, the better as they are not accustomed to "other" foods just yet.

As stated above, Imp's and Majestics seem to have better track records than other angels, however I have seen many others as well.

I'll go ahead and mention that so far, my juvenile chrysurus has not touched my "test" SPS colony in the tank. In fact, that colony is doing great

 

[Mark]

My emperor leaves most thing alone, including my large squamosa. He does like to nip at my xenia and blasto's.

 

[Silencer]

How do emperors do with zoos and anemones. The tank would be mostly sps, but I would probably have some zoos and also a BTA with GSM clowns. Probably one or maybe two lps like frogspawn but I can deal with having to remove those if needed.

Also, how long does the color change take and when does it start? It seems like it's best to start with a juvenile but I really hate the coloring of young angels and don't know how long I could take it

 

[tang_man_montreal]

I think that LPS and Zoa's would be at most risk, with clams not far behind.

More toxic softies like sinularia are usually ignored.

 

[cvye]

Mine is a model citizen, except to the other fish, some of which he's chased out of the tank, literally. Wish he'd eat the 'shrooms...and I don't have clams.

 

[sonofgaladriel]

I have one in my SPS reef. It has nibbled on a few zoanthids, which I wanted gone anyway, but he has not bothered any SPS or my two clams. I keep a large bushel of nori in the tank which he loves to pick on all day long.
That may very well be the ticket. Keep his belly full with something he really likes and he will be less likely to taste other things.....maybe
Oh, mine is a 5" juvenile in the midst of the color change! Great fish with some personality too.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Keep his belly full with something he really likes and he will be less likely to taste other things.....maybe

Great point SoG, IMO this is one of the keys to getting an angel to behave in a reef.

 

[DARKPHREAK]

Thanks for all the info guys.

Now I know theres alot of debate over QTing new fish, how did you all do it? I find that the fish seem to stress alot while in QT so most times I just drip for 5-6 hours then right into the main display.

 

[Mark]

I quarantined my emperor for 4 weeks in a 29 gallon. It was a great oportunity to train him to eat my choice of foods and to get to know him. Angels have a reputation for carrying a lot of gill flukes. You always hear about angels going downhill without any apparent visible issues. I think a lot of these cases have to do with gill flukes.

The only tough part about quarantining an angel and fattening him up is water quality. Quarantine is an intensive process. I had a 40 gallon brute trashcan with aged saltwater at the same salinity as the q-tank, which was hyposaline. Every 5 days, I did a 50% water change. The trashcan volume would give me enough for 3 water changes before having to make a new batch.

 

[DARKPHREAK]

Thanks for the info Mark. I wonder if a 12g Eclipse tank would be big enough for a QT.

 

[imbuggin]

get them small

get them small

I have had this one about 4 years now I think. Got as a juvi changed at almost 2 years. (was changing in this old picture). Now 2 years later a happy FAT camper and could care less about my corals. He/she does grunt very load and chase some fish sometimes though.

picture from almost 2 years ago during change. More recent ones are on another computer.