I love way to many fish out there however I have a real hard time picking what I would like to consider cool reef safe fish. I have a Tomini tang, diamond goby, A mystery wrasse, a pair of clowns and 4 green chromis, I just got rid of 3 other fish because. Well as it stand I have a reef tank and the fish I had were not exactly reef safe and they started munching on corals and I cant have that. So in light of this I was looking for suggestions I love colorful and vibrant fish the cost factor is not really question as long as the fish isn't over like 200 and is a hardy fish. But I would really like some suggestions I heard there are some triggers that are reef safe anyways any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Need help picking out some reef safe fish
- Thread starter reefguy86
- Start date
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
How big is the system? How old?
What does "reef safe" mean to you? Something that won't eat corals (what types do you care about)? clams? crabs/snails? other fish?
What does "reef safe" mean to you? Something that won't eat corals (what types do you care about)? clams? crabs/snails? other fish?
thanks for the help dwzm
thanks for the help dwzm
I was literally about to put that on there dwzm I'm slightly off today I have a 120 the 4 foot one and I am about to post pictures of it so people can see it. And as to the next questions I will be purchasing a clam soon the tanks been up and running now for about 4.5 months all levels seem good no nitrates or nitrites or ammonia mg, ca, and alk levels all good. I currently have lps and sps corals brain, favia, candies, hammers, torches frogspawn zoas, Red cap. So I don't know if that helps. Reef safe to me means that the fish I guess won't try to kill all my coral i had a blue spotted puffer in there for awhile but he finally after a really long time in another reef tank i had got a taste for zoas in the new tank. Here are some pics I still would like to get some more rock possibly in the left side but I'm not sure. Please I'd love comments on the aquascaping job to if anyone thinks it looks good. ps sorry if the quality isn't great of the photos my camera on my cell is kinda scratched up.
thanks for the help dwzm
I was literally about to put that on there dwzm I'm slightly off today I have a 120 the 4 foot one and I am about to post pictures of it so people can see it. And as to the next questions I will be purchasing a clam soon the tanks been up and running now for about 4.5 months all levels seem good no nitrates or nitrites or ammonia mg, ca, and alk levels all good. I currently have lps and sps corals brain, favia, candies, hammers, torches frogspawn zoas, Red cap. So I don't know if that helps. Reef safe to me means that the fish I guess won't try to kill all my coral i had a blue spotted puffer in there for awhile but he finally after a really long time in another reef tank i had got a taste for zoas in the new tank. Here are some pics I still would like to get some more rock possibly in the left side but I'm not sure. Please I'd love comments on the aquascaping job to if anyone thinks it looks good. ps sorry if the quality isn't great of the photos my camera on my cell is kinda scratched up.
Attachments
DEEP BLUE SIX
New member
My favorite fishes lately this time around are reef safe wrasses.
I have 5 different ones. They are completely safe to corals. Not safe for any snails, crabs, or most shrimp. They are questionable with clams. No interest in the harming clams themselves. But if you have any pests in, under or near clams, some wrasses may irritate clams by picking the "bugs" in around the mantle etc... They are great for SPS keeping them free of bugs. Pretty harmless to lps or softies too. I see you have 1 wrasse. It's nice! There are some others you could get as well. Just research before you buy. Some mix well in the appropriate tank. Some may fight. The wide variety of color with different wrasse species make them very popular. Cover the tank though with a breathable cover. to prevent jumping.
Tangs, (the Tomini is great). You could try a Yellow, Sailfin, Kole, or perhaps a Chevron as a second Tang. There are other small Tangs not as easy to always find too. Or even a Purple Tang if you can acquire one and don't mind the current Max of $200. price tag. (ARC has 1 right now) I'd just have 2 Tangs total though. (3 possible- but pushing it) Absolutely AVOID any of the even Larger growing Tangs as they will need a bigger Aquarium than 120. (You don't want the excessive aggression and destruction from overcrowding) No larger Ancanthurus species. Unless you you go 180/225 or larger.
The other fish you have are great! Chromis are good. I reccommend a Midas Blenny too- awesome fish! (one).
Perhaps a single Anthias specimen would be a nice colorful addition too.
Lyretail are great. A bartlett would be my favorite. Wait and add last IMO to tank of healthy eating fish. (Sometimes challenging to feed at first)
If your intersted in reef safe triggers- first off there are a few safe to corals.
Most would not be safe to other inverts/Shrimps. (Snacks)
Pink Tail Trigger, Blue Chin Trigger, Niger Trigger- 3 good ones. ONLY have 1.
(Unless you opt for a mated pair)
Dwarf Angels are nice- BUT I'd avoid most of them if not all with the LPS. Some people do get lucky and have individuals who don't touch anything. But most seem tempted by soft looking body parts of Beautiful LPS- especially Brains! Which is NO good... The only I've seen trustable totally (still not gaurantee really) are Planktonic feeding Angels like Genecanthus species and other similar ones. I have a female that touches nothing except fish food.
(Even some peoples favorites like dwarf Flame and Coral Beauty Angels tend to be nippy on some stuff) It's dealable with SPS or Softies. But not good for LPS at all.)
Most Butterflies are not good for reefs. Although, I and many hobbyists love the Copperband, especially for SPS tanks- it's great. Sometimes long nose is good too. But with your LPS avoid it! It also does not mix well with clams.
Hope suggestions are helpful. Look some up, research and enjoy Pics!
I have 5 different ones. They are completely safe to corals. Not safe for any snails, crabs, or most shrimp. They are questionable with clams. No interest in the harming clams themselves. But if you have any pests in, under or near clams, some wrasses may irritate clams by picking the "bugs" in around the mantle etc... They are great for SPS keeping them free of bugs. Pretty harmless to lps or softies too. I see you have 1 wrasse. It's nice! There are some others you could get as well. Just research before you buy. Some mix well in the appropriate tank. Some may fight. The wide variety of color with different wrasse species make them very popular. Cover the tank though with a breathable cover. to prevent jumping.
Tangs, (the Tomini is great). You could try a Yellow, Sailfin, Kole, or perhaps a Chevron as a second Tang. There are other small Tangs not as easy to always find too. Or even a Purple Tang if you can acquire one and don't mind the current Max of $200. price tag. (ARC has 1 right now) I'd just have 2 Tangs total though. (3 possible- but pushing it) Absolutely AVOID any of the even Larger growing Tangs as they will need a bigger Aquarium than 120. (You don't want the excessive aggression and destruction from overcrowding) No larger Ancanthurus species. Unless you you go 180/225 or larger.
The other fish you have are great! Chromis are good. I reccommend a Midas Blenny too- awesome fish! (one).
Perhaps a single Anthias specimen would be a nice colorful addition too.
Lyretail are great. A bartlett would be my favorite. Wait and add last IMO to tank of healthy eating fish. (Sometimes challenging to feed at first)
If your intersted in reef safe triggers- first off there are a few safe to corals.
Most would not be safe to other inverts/Shrimps. (Snacks)
Pink Tail Trigger, Blue Chin Trigger, Niger Trigger- 3 good ones. ONLY have 1.
(Unless you opt for a mated pair)
Dwarf Angels are nice- BUT I'd avoid most of them if not all with the LPS. Some people do get lucky and have individuals who don't touch anything. But most seem tempted by soft looking body parts of Beautiful LPS- especially Brains! Which is NO good... The only I've seen trustable totally (still not gaurantee really) are Planktonic feeding Angels like Genecanthus species and other similar ones. I have a female that touches nothing except fish food.
(Even some peoples favorites like dwarf Flame and Coral Beauty Angels tend to be nippy on some stuff) It's dealable with SPS or Softies. But not good for LPS at all.)
Most Butterflies are not good for reefs. Although, I and many hobbyists love the Copperband, especially for SPS tanks- it's great. Sometimes long nose is good too. But with your LPS avoid it! It also does not mix well with clams.
Hope suggestions are helpful. Look some up, research and enjoy Pics!
block head
New member
Flashers wrasse if your willing to accept some risk. Mystery wrasse might be a bully. Maybe a tougher wrasse like melonarus. Tailspots blennies are favorite fish of mine. They'll eat hair algae , but might perch on coral at times.starki damsel are cool. Or even a orange tail damsel. They both stay small colorful, and should be able to hold their own,without being overly aggressive
DEEP BLUE SIX
New member
Cool sugestions.
With the wrasses (at least for me) I think:
In a 120 with plenty of rockwork to dodge into and tank room-
you should be fine with certain mix of wrasses.
The Mystery can be a bully sometimes. But should work with enough other fish to break up the action... mine does ok.
My Melanarus is actually a submissive wrasse. He bothers nothing and is very shy.
But eats well. So, it's hard to tell with them. Some people say aggressive, but my Melanarus is NOT at all.
I also have a large Red headed Solar wrasse (really the most peaceful) but he's the most active and scares some of the other wrasse sometimes- with no worries, since he wouldn't hurt anything.
I also have a pink Coris of some kind(very assertive), A mckoskers Fairy and a sixline...
So, a good mix can be done. Just be cautious of personality clashes and space to reduce any fighting. Other fish (non wrasse) in the tank also help in the mix of things.
Some "Exquisite Fairies" are nice.. some might fight the other ones.. Ask if your un sure at the LFS.. Always lay on the side of caution instead of impulse purchase.
Avoid any reallly large growing/aggressive species of wrasse not suited for reef settings.
With the wrasses (at least for me) I think:
In a 120 with plenty of rockwork to dodge into and tank room-
you should be fine with certain mix of wrasses.
The Mystery can be a bully sometimes. But should work with enough other fish to break up the action... mine does ok.
My Melanarus is actually a submissive wrasse. He bothers nothing and is very shy.
But eats well. So, it's hard to tell with them. Some people say aggressive, but my Melanarus is NOT at all.
I also have a large Red headed Solar wrasse (really the most peaceful) but he's the most active and scares some of the other wrasse sometimes- with no worries, since he wouldn't hurt anything.
I also have a pink Coris of some kind(very assertive), A mckoskers Fairy and a sixline...
So, a good mix can be done. Just be cautious of personality clashes and space to reduce any fighting. Other fish (non wrasse) in the tank also help in the mix of things.
Some "Exquisite Fairies" are nice.. some might fight the other ones.. Ask if your un sure at the LFS.. Always lay on the side of caution instead of impulse purchase.
Avoid any reallly large growing/aggressive species of wrasse not suited for reef settings.
DEEP BLUE SIX
New member
Cool sugestions.
With the wrasses (at least for me) I think:
In a 120 with plenty of rockwork to dodge into and tank room-
you should be fine with certain mix of wrasses.
The Mystery can be a bully sometimes. But should work with enough other fish to break up the action... mine does ok.
My Melanarus is actually a submissive wrasse. He bothers nothing and is very shy.
But eats well. So, it's hard to tell with them. Some people say aggressive, but my Melanarus is NOT at all.
I also have a large Red headed Solar wrasse (really the most peaceful) but he's the most active and scares some of the other wrasse sometimes- with no worries, since he wouldn't hurt anything.
I also have a pink Coris of some kind(very assertive), A mckoskers Fairy and a sixline...
So, a good mix can be done. Just be cautious of personality clashes and space to reduce any fighting. Other fish (non wrasse) in the tank also help in the mix of things.
Some "Exquisite Fairies" are nice.. some might fight the other ones.. Ask if your un sure at the LFS.. Always lay on the side of caution instead of impulse purchase.
Avoid any reallly large growing/aggressive species of wrasse not suited for reef settings.
With the wrasses (at least for me) I think:
In a 120 with plenty of rockwork to dodge into and tank room-
you should be fine with certain mix of wrasses.
The Mystery can be a bully sometimes. But should work with enough other fish to break up the action... mine does ok.
My Melanarus is actually a submissive wrasse. He bothers nothing and is very shy.
But eats well. So, it's hard to tell with them. Some people say aggressive, but my Melanarus is NOT at all.
I also have a large Red headed Solar wrasse (really the most peaceful) but he's the most active and scares some of the other wrasse sometimes- with no worries, since he wouldn't hurt anything.
I also have a pink Coris of some kind(very assertive), A mckoskers Fairy and a sixline...
So, a good mix can be done. Just be cautious of personality clashes and space to reduce any fighting. Other fish (non wrasse) in the tank also help in the mix of things.
Some "Exquisite Fairies" are nice.. some might fight the other ones.. Ask if your un sure at the LFS.. Always lay on the side of caution instead of impulse purchase.
Avoid any reallly large growing/aggressive species of wrasse not suited for reef settings.
