Some Commonality with Anglefish and TOTM with SPS

[layer3switchguy]

Folks,

After a nasty power failure crashed my tank in late July, I decided to re-build, this time with a backup generator to help ensure something like this never happens again.

My tank has cycled, and parameters are getting steady. So far I've added an extensive CuC, but no fish or corals yet. In thinking about what fish and how many I would like to add to the tank, I did a brief survey of the past 6 years of TOTM's and was amazed at the number of SPS tanks that have Anglefish. I always thought this was very risky, but yet many of the tanks had Flames, Cherubs, Coral Beauty, etc...

So far, I have no SPS coral in the tank, and most likely will start stocking toward the end of this month into early October. Should I take a chance and add an Angle or two? Any advice on which ones are most likely to leave my corals alone?

They are beautiful fish, and would love to have them in my reef, but not if they will turn into polyp nipping monsters! :thumbdown

Would love to get some opinions....

 

[Allmost]

well, I have and have had alot of angels and not reef safe fish in my SPS reef.

one advice I can give you, as you know, is that most likely they will nip. [almost all angels I have ever had nipped at corals, instead of the plankton eater ones like swallowtail] so I would say stock your tank with SPS first, give hem time to accilimate to everything and take off growth, and then introduce the angels... this way your corals do not need to handle 2 shocks at ones ! environment change and someone eating it ! there are also alot more polyps in the tank for the angel to nip on, rather than 3-4 frags which it can finish within a couple of days !

if SPS are happy, they dont really mind the nipping, just shorter PE during the day, and you kinda have to feed the fish well or they will eat more of your corals .olol they SPS recover prety fast in good water.

HTH,

 

[layer3switchguy]

well, I have and have had alot of angels and not reef safe fish in my SPS reef.

one advice I can give you, as you know, is that most likely they will nip. [almost all angels I have ever had nipped at corals, instead of the plankton eater ones like swallowtail] so I would say stock your tank with SPS first, give hem time to accilimate to everything and take off growth, and then introduce the angels... this way your corals do not need to handle 2 shocks at ones ! environment change and someone eating it ! there are also alot more polyps in the tank for the angel to nip on, rather than 3-4 frags which it can finish within a couple of days !

if SPS are happy, they dont really mind the nipping, just shorter PE during the day, and you kinda have to feed the fish well or they will eat more of your corals .olol they SPS recover prety fast in good water.

HTH,

Thanks, that makes alot of sense!

 

[dan-in-gr]

Hi, I have an Emperor Angelfish in my SPS only 120 setup and it has never looked or picked on any of the SPS. Maybe to them its a cement post for flavor and texture. I do not have any LPS or softies at this time, so cannot say for that, I will be adding a large Ricordea pack this fall and see how that goes with the angelfish.

 

[power boat jim]

I have a blue angel in my sps tank. Doesnt bother the sps but did make a meal of my Maxima clam.

 

[layer3switchguy]

Ugh, so hard to make the correct call... I love Angelfish, but don't want to cause an issue down the road with my corals... Tank will be mostly SPS, but may throw an LPS or two at the bottom to fill things out, and may add a clam too...

 

[rogergolf66]

I put a flame in my established sps tank with about 90 sps corals in in a month he killed about 7 colonies before I could catch him. I got it from another RC member who had it in his sps tank and he claimed it didn't touch his sps so good luck

 

[Allmost]

Meaty LPS are toast. that you can be sure of.

Copps has to be the king of keeping angels in reef tanks though lol

one thing that can make u feel better is a GOOOD trap ! I bought one for like 60 bucks, but well worth it, fish that dont owrk out can be caught prety easy and removed. [by easy I mean like 4-5 hours of wait, but thats easier than emptying the tank ]

 

[dan-in-gr]

I put a flame in my established sps tank with about 90 sps corals in in a month he killed about 7 colonies before I could catch him. I got it from another RC member who had it in his sps tank and he claimed it didn't touch his sps so good luck

+1, I know a local reefer who tried to sell his flame angel for same thing. There are many other angels that do work, but I have stayed away from all small class ones.

 

[layer3switchguy]

Any thoughts on a Potters Angelfish?

 

[layer3switchguy]

Scratch that... Potter would not be a good choice.

 

[TauReef]

I've had two flame angels and a cherub with sps for years. I have never seen one of them nip at SPS whatsoever nor have I seen evidence for it. What I have seen is dwarf angels nip at clam mantels and LPS without remorse.

 

[tripdad]

I have had a coral beauty in a 20 long with sps, he's very small at this time, and have had no problems. we'll see as he grows in size. He also has not bothered my LPS or zoas. Dont have any clams so can't comment. I think the individual fish is the key, no hard and fast rules about what is and is not reef safe among the few listed as "may" be reef safe.No on the Potter's. Good luck.

 

[Mark 75g]

I have a lot of sps growth in my tank- red planet, strawberry shortcake, pearlberry, couple millis and a few tri colors. I love the look of sps and my lps and zoas but i was just missing the color of the fish. So along with my blonde naso, blue hippo, yellow tang, I decided to add a flame angel, then I just added a regal angel and a blue girdle ( both of which were very young) knowing full well they may nip. But with a flurishing tank I went for it. Well knock on wood, I have not seen a difference in my coral. Polyps are out during the day, all my zoas are still around. OH and the fish are beautiful !!!!!!!

I do feed 2 times a day, most days and I usually by jumbo sea scallops at the local store and then cut them into smaller chunks and freeze. Then every couple days I rubber band one onto a frag plug and the 2 angels love the treat.

 

[bwyoung]

I had a Potters Angel for 4 years in my 120 gallon full SPS tank with no issues. I now have a Coral Beauty Angel and I have not had any issues with it either.

 

[sweet ride]

I have a potter angel in my SPS tank with no issue. My rule of thumb is he's only one angel and I have a 110 gallon full of SPS let's see him finish them all!!!!

On a side note am looking to add a few more angel in the future. Possiblely Flameback Angelfish, Pygmy Angelfish, Lemonpeel Angelfish, Juvenile Emperor Angelfish.

 

[Jeff000]

I have a Gold flake and red Sea regal angel. No nipping. But the regal isn't eating much besides whatever it's picking off the rocks.

I have lps and sps. No clams though.

Make no mistake, an angel could kill even a heavy sps 300g tank in a couple days.

 

[ormet]

im suprised no one has linked to this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1661152

page 10 has an excel file that is very interesting

 

[sweet ride]

GOOOD trap ! I bought one for like 60 bucks

were did you get this and what type is it?

 

[Allmost]

were did you get this and what type is it?

Hello Sweet Ride, I got it from Ken at Seau marine, its the Aquamedic fish trap.

works prety well, cought multiple angels and a butterfly with it so far. but the larger model is prety big, make sure you have room for it or get the smaller one