FOWLR Angel/Butterfly Tank or Wrasse Reef Tank

[lifeoffaith]

I've been tossing around different ideas for my next tank. I actually have two I want to set up in the next year. One is a 75 gallon hex which will actually be a seahorse tank. The other is a 90 gallon reef ready tank. Originally I wanted to make the 90 my coral tank (I am currently only running a 24 gallon which will likely become my qt tank). I've been considering still doing that and making it a reef safe wrasse dominated tank. The other possibility is dwarf angels and some of the smaller butterflys (I know there are only like 4 on liveaquaria that are suggested for that size tank). So here are my questions.

1. How many reef safe wrasses could I get away with in a tank like that? I love leopards, fairys and flashers and would love to get a nice mix of those going on. Corris Wrasses are also cool, so a few of those would be sweet too.

2. How many dwarf angels/butterflys could be expected to live in a tank like that together. I expect at max, only two dwarf angels, but I don't know how butterflys would play into the picture.

3. The only other fish I would want other than one of the above options is an eel, snowflake or jeweled. I know anything else is going to be too big. I know the eel will probably not work with the wrasses due to the size of most wrasses, right? Anything else I should be taking into consideration?

 

[Taahirs]

I'd go Snowflake eel, fuzzy Dwarf lionfish and a pair of melanarus wrasse. You can still make it a reef.

 

[lifeoffaith]

Great idea, except the melanurus wrasse is supposed to be reef safe with caution. Not sure I want to take that risk. Also, if I go with wrasses, I'd like to do a whole bunch of them.

I'd go Snowflake eel, fuzzy Dwarf lionfish and a pair of melanarus wrasse. You can still make it a reef.

 

[Taahirs]

Melanarus wrasse won't eat corals. Only inverts. And so will the lion and eel.

 

[Marshall O]

Melanarus wrasse won't eat corals. Only inverts. And so will the lion and eel.

Inverts including some pests that come in with corals They are great reef fish IMO.

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[lifeoffaith]

Ok, so just avoid shrimp? I do like my shrimp though...but I guess they'd be a no no with a snowflake anyway. Is that what most of the "reef safe with caution" Wrasses are designated that way for? And could I keep a bunch of the reef safe with the reef safe with caution wrasses? Or would there be agression issues from some of the bigger wrasses toward the smaller?

 

[Spartanman22]

I keep a Melanurus with shrimp and no problems.


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[Marshall O]

Don't go by reef safe vs. with caution. Some fish are "with caution" as they will eat small fish. Others because they will nip at corals. Most Halichoeres will ignore larger shrimp, especially if they are added first.

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[lifeoffaith]

Perfect, thanks.

 

[ksicard]

You could do a golden dwarf moray eel in the wrasse dominant tank and have no issues. I keep 9 wrasses including fairies, flashers, and leopards plus cleaner shrimp and a golden dwarf moray eel with no issues.

 

[lifeoffaith]

You could do a golden dwarf moray eel in the wrasse dominant tank and have no issues. I keep 9 wrasses including fairies, flashers, and leopards plus cleaner shrimp and a golden dwarf moray eel with no issues.

Cool, thanks! I don't think I'd take a risk with the golden and the wrasses together. How big is your golden? Also, did you have any spats with the wrasses? Did the flashers/fairies fight with the leopards at all? How big is your tank?