Larger fish options?

[phiber_optikx]

I am planning out my 125 and was looking for larger fish options. I was surprised to see that I am basically limited to tangs....? It will be a mixed reef and I will have mostly smaller fish but would like to be able to see a fish from more than 4' away. I don't hate tangs but would like to think there is an option I am missing. I would love an angel but don't want a fish that I have to keep an eye on.... Any suggestions?

 

[Crabber]

A genicanthus angel would work well in a 125g and generally considered reef safe.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

A group of pyramid butterflies would be nice....I like mine. Also have had good luck with lamarks angel. My radiant wrasse is about 7" too...

 

[tibob32]

foxface maybe

 

[snorvich]

Larger fish in a 125?

 

[cmaxwell39]

Have you considered a Xanthichthys Trigger. The most reef safe of all the triggers and would be something different.

 

[phiber_optikx]

I must have looked over the pyramid butterfly. That looks like a good option. The lemarks may pose a problem since I plan to have several wrasses and anthias. Thanks for the suggestions. More are welcome

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

larmarks only chases the coral beauty.....I have anthias, the radiant wrasse and a leaopard wrasse too:thumbsup:

 

[phiber_optikx]

Anything to watch out for with them? Also, are there any more colorful angels that may work well?

 

[phiber_optikx]

Just saw the bellus angel. That may be a good choice also. Looking for color mostly

 

[mak3mydae]

If you happen to be Bill Gates in disguise, a group of borbonius anthias would be awesome.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

bellus pair are very pretty!

 

[SDguy]

I was surprised to see that I am basically limited to tangs....?

...but would like to be able to see a fish from more than 4' away.

Perhaps a bit more research is required?

Most tangs get quite large. Many Genicanthus angels and Centropyge angels get good sized. Genicanthus angels are great! Some anthias and wrasses get quite large. Honestly, your tank isn't big enough for "large" fish, relatively speaking....

 

[phiber_optikx]

I agree. This tank is 2 years away and I am doing the research now. I really enjoy all of the smaller fish in my solana but when it comes to a larger tank I would like to have 1 good sized colorful fish. I was just a little disapointed when I started looking into it that all anybody could recomend were tangs. I plan on having mostly smaller fish in the larger tank but am just looking for that 1 showstopper that won't eat all of my corals.

Also, I would love the blotched anthias! I had my heart set on them from the second I saw them. Unfortunately my eyes almost exploded when I saw the price. Maybe in 5 years or so....

 

[SDguy]

I was just a little disapointed when I started looking into it that all anybody could recomend were tangs.

That's just because it's the safest(er) large fish. Angels, especially larger species, can sometimes cause problems in reefs. And the problem with most large fish that are reef (ie coral) safe? They eat small fish and/or crustaceans.

 

[phiber_optikx]

That is the problem I keep running into. Any suggestions for larger (up to 1' ish) colorfull reef safe fish?

 

[reef_doug]

A 1 foot fish in a 5 foot tank?

 

[Cantonesefish]

It's a good thing you hate tangs, because with your size tank you could only keep the smaller ones. People also have this misconception that a regal tang is perfect any size tank

Some fish come to mind: most of the the chaetodontoplus angels, centropyge, paracentropyge, some of the genicanthus, some of the apolemicthys, depending on how lucky you feel... and that's just angels

Roaops complex butterflies... (tinkers, etc...) and the pyramid butterflies of course...

If you don't care about your snails, harlequin tuskfish :rollface:

Fish display best when they have room to roam. Getting the largest possible fish is not always in your best interest.

 

[phiber_optikx]

6' tank

 

[Toddrtrex]

Even at 6', a one foot long fish would be too big, IMO.