my fish wish list

[severn]

hi ,
just wanted a few views on my list..this is possibles for the future ..
1.powder blue tang
2.regal angel
3.moorish idol.
if i could have one or more of these fish i would be very pleased...

my specs are :tank 48x20x28 " [Lxwxh], 4ft sump with 6 "dsb/refugium cheto,tunze 9010 skimmer,30 X flow..just started dosing vodka.
tank is 12 weeks old ,all parameters fine.
stock : pair per clowns, flame and bicolour angel [added at same time].
aiming for : mixed sps,lps and happy community reef tank..

any thoughts or experiences welcome
thanks
Jon

 

[nikon187]

Regal angels are not exactly reef safe. ( some are fine while others can destroy LPS and zoos) Moorish idols are very difficult fish to keep at best ( very hard to feed) I don't think a powder blue tang would be too happy for very long, they need a much larger tank and are also a difficult fish to keep.

 

[severn]

i guess out out of the 3 the powder blue is going to be the largest....

i do realise the possible problems of both these fish but maybe many people get around these problems and are able to keep these fish successfully with good feeding and husbandry etc ?
for what its worth..i am more than prepared to draw on other peoples experiences and expertise...and hope this would mean i could be successful too..

God that sounds like a job application...[from what i can rememeber anyway]
:bigeyes:

i'm sure you get my drift
Jon

 

[nikon187]

I do have experience with idols and track record isn't the greatest. In the last 6 mths we have ( store i work for) brought in 6 idols for various customers. Out of the 6 only 2 ate and not very well. One is still alive and doing well, unfortunatly the second only lasted 6-7mths. The others were kept at our facility trying to get them eating something but obviously that didn't pan out. Foods offered were PE mysis, clams on the half shell, live blackworms, bloodworms, mussels, many different dry foods and other seafood goodies. I wouldn't personaly try an idol but I have a fat healthy copperband so I'm good.

The regal angel will work fine for your tank, i was just pointing out that they may have a taste for some of the corals you have picked out. I would love to try one myself but have too many zoos to risk it.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Totally agree with Nikon, the regal is really the only appropriate fish for a tank that size and I would wait many months until the tank is seasoned, IMO this has been essential for angels, especially the touchy ones. You could do any number of other tangs however.

 

[ReefKeeper2009]

Severn, I think your list is fine even with the powder blue. I have had my 3.5 inch powder blue in my 90 gallon for over 2 years now. He is fat and healthy, on the down side he is very temperamental, and def should be the last fish added.:rollface:

 

[IFbettas]

My powder blue uses up every inch of my 180 gallon reef. He is constantly swimming across the tank. I, personally, wouldn't put one in a tank of that size.

Regal angels aren't very fast moving fish compared to tangs, and are a much better choice for a smallish tank like this. They do have the added risk of possibly eating your corals though.

 

[d-man]

I think all of them are going to be VERY limited in a 48" tank. Trust me i love the moorish and the regal, and make great addition to any large tank, but they need a lot more care and room to truly be successful. I have unfortunately learned the hard way a few times at the expense of the animal.

 

[severn]

thanks for all the replies....

any knockout tangs or other fish of a reasonable size that anyone can suggest ?

thanks
Jon

 

[TP123]

Fairy (Cirrhilabrus) and flasher (Paracheilinus) wrasses are very colorful, and most are comparatively easy to keep and reef safe.

Bristletooth tangs (Ctenochaetus) should work in a 4' tank. They're generally small for tangs.