Mertensii or Burgess' butterfly in a mixed reef?

[Mikefallen13]

Hello,
Well, hopefully I will be upgrading to a 120 gal tank some time soon and I want to set it up as a mixed reef with mostly zoanthids, polyps, and Euphillias (My favorite corals). So two of my favorite fish are the Mertensii butterfly and burgess' butterfly and I'd love to add one to the new tank once its set up but now the question is how safe would it be to add one? I prefer the Mertensii of the two but if its too much if a risk I wouldn't mind a Burgess' in the tank. The reason I ask is I don't want to sink hundreds of dollars into corals if there only going to become butterfly food. So what do you guys think? Would I have any corals left if I added one to the tank? I have zero experience with butterflies in a reef tank so any advice would be helpful! Thanks in advance!

 

[SDguy]

If you value your corals so much I'd try something less likely to eat them, like a copperband, yellow longnose, or pyramid/zoster.

 

[Mikefallen13]

Hello,
So how big would a copperband, Longnose, or pyramid get? I'm looking for something in the 5 1/2 to 6" range, I don't like huge 7"+ fish in a reef tank. I've kept many species of butterflies (C. rafflesi, C. pelewensis, C. mertensii, C. Burgesii, C. miliaris, etc.) But never the three you mentioned. If those are large fish, are there any smaller species that could be considered reef safe? Another species I've really wanted to try is Prognathodes aculeatus, anybody know if this would bother corals?

 

[SDguy]

Another species I've really wanted to try is Prognathodes aculeatus, anybody know if this would bother corals?

Good choice! Can be difficult to wean onto prepared foods.

 

[Mikefallen13]

Good choice! Can be difficult to wean onto prepared foods.

I guess I try to find one of these once my new tank is set up! Thanks for the advice!

 

[aandfsoccr04]

If you value your corals so much I'd try something less likely to eat them, like a copperband, yellow longnose, or pyramid/zoster.

Would you lump the declivis into this group of not likely to eat zoas?

 

[jjk_reef00]

copperband, Longnose, or pyramid are all medium sized fish that would work well for your tank. In a 120 you can add 2 or all 3 if you wanted.