Need Ideas

[SLOreefer805]

I would like to add a reef safe fish that will bring color and personality to my 40 gallon reef tank. I have 2 clowns and a bangai cardinal in there right now. Any suggestions and why you would recommend that fish. I have many lps and zoas in the tank so must be reef safe.

 

[brett559]

Coral-safe options:
Melanarus wrasse, flame hawkfish, candy-cane or twin-spot hogfish

Coral and CUC-safe:
Midas blenny, royal gramma, green mandarin, green chromis

 

[fairl80z]

Flasher wrasse great addition

 

[donut0079]

Assessors are great for a tank that size.

 

[T Haynes]

Flame angel. I honestly don't think any fish can be designated reef safe though. If they want it they eat it. Mine has never picked so there's that

 

[Jonvo324]

I second the Midas Blenny. A very colorful fish that won't spend too much time on the rocks (like other blennies). They also have such great personalities.

 

[jbvdhp]

Flame angel. I honestly don't think any fish can be designated reef safe though. If they want it they eat it. Mine has never picked so there's that

???
Many fish are reef ignorant.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Another vote for Midas Blenny, love mine and definitely a tank favorite.

 

[gsiegel]

I would be wary about a dwarf angel
Second the flame hawk- Great personality and fun to watch. I have a bonded pair.
Definitely wrasses but depending on what you want the best time to get the really nice ($$) ones is in the summertime. Worth the expense imo- flame, rhomboid (terminal phase male is stunning)lineatus, pintail, and my favorite is a diamond tell flasher wrasse.
Midas blenny is also a great choice - like a little eel that purchase itself on the rocks and slithers through the tank.
Enjoy

 

[Spork3245]

Flame angel. I honestly don't think any fish can be designated reef safe though. If they want it they eat it. Mine has never picked so there's that

Flame Angels, in my experience, tend to only go after acans (this, of course, isn't always true). But anyway, that tank is too small for a Flame Angel, IMO, they love to swim and need a 4' tank. I personally wouldn't put one in anything smaller than a 75 gallon.

I'd go with a smaller flasher wrasse species, IIRC a Royal Flasher Wrasse should be okay in a 40 gallon, though most flasher and fairy species need a 55 gallon (4 feet) or larger. Royal Gramma is another great option for color IMO... But they don't tend to swim around too much, mostly hanging outside their dens IIRC.

 

[bat21]

Do you plan on adding any small docile tankmates? If not, then a damsel or dottyback would add a lot of color.

 

[cheesecreaper]

I personally love my yellow head sleeper goby. He is very active and keeps the sand bed clean. He is definitely everyone's favorite.

 

[T Haynes]

Flame Angels, in my experience, tend to only go after acans (this, of course, isn't always true). But anyway, that tank is too small for a Flame Angel, IMO, they love to swim and need a 4' tank. I personally wouldn't put one in anything smaller than a 75 gallon.

I'd go with a smaller flasher wrasse species, IIRC a Royal Flasher Wrasse should be okay in a 40 gallon, though most flasher and fairy species need a 55 gallon (4 feet) or larger. Royal Gramma is another great option for color IMO... But they don't tend to swim around too much, mostly hanging outside their dens IIRC.

I agree with you in the priciple of less is more but my flames been in my 65 happy as can be. He owns the place. Doesn't chase but always "introduces" new fish to his home. Lol. My biggest concern is I have a coral beauty in qt right now. Seen a lot of people say it'll work and some say maybe not. We shall see but my flame angel is fav and will take priority over my new coral beauty lol

 

[The_Reef_Keeper]

Blue/Green reef Chromis are nice

 

[Spork3245]

I agree with you in the priciple of less is more but my flames been in my 65 happy as can be. He owns the place. Doesn't chase but always "introduces" new fish to his home. Lol. My biggest concern is I have a coral beauty in qt right now. Seen a lot of people say it'll work and some say maybe not. We shall see but my flame angel is fav and will take priority over my new coral beauty lol

No, you misunderstand, it's not "less is more", the OP has a 40 gallon tank. Your 65 gallon has much larger dimensions and thus can keep bigger and/or more active fish like your Flame Angel. A FA won't work out well in a 40

 

[T Haynes]

No, you misunderstand, it's not "less is more", the OP has a 40 gallon tank. Your 65 gallon has much larger dimensions and thus can keep bigger and/or more active fish like your Flame Angel. A FA won't work out well in a 40

Yea I guess a 40 may be a little small. I'll be happy to get everything in my 90

 

[Spork3245]

Yea I guess a 40 may be a little small. I'll be happy to get everything in my 90

A 90 can hold any of the dwarf angel species easily. There's a few species I'd 100% avoid for a reef though (ie: Lemon Peel). The Flame Angel and the Coral Beauty are your best bet for a "mostly" reef safe option. When I had a Flame it would only go after Acans, no other corals types (of course I never tried housing it with SPS but I've never heard of one going after SPS anyway), it also used to "nip" my Nassarius Snail's antennae when they would be burried (but otherwise left them alone). I never owned a Coral Beauty but heard they are usually okay in a reef (but nothing is guaranteed when it comes to dwarf angels )

 

[T Haynes]

A 90 can hold any of the dwarf angel species easily. There's a few species I'd 100% avoid for a reef though (ie: Lemon Peel). The Flame Angel and the Coral Beauty are your best bet for a "mostly" reef safe option. When I had a Flame it would only go after Acans, no other corals types (of course I never tried housing it with SPS but I've never heard of one going after SPS anyway), it also used to "nip" my Nassarius Snail's antennae when they would be burried (but otherwise left them alone). I never owned a Coral Beauty but heard they are usually okay in a reef (but nothing is guaranteed when it comes to dwarf angels )

Have both in a 65. Just moved the correct beauty tonight. Here's to hoping I don't have to move him right back out