Suggestions for a Reef Safe "SHOW" fish

[elegance coral]

Why not just get one of the tangs. They're reef safe, large, and very colorful.

 

[precko]

I would look at the Sargassum/red-tail or a crosshatch Triggerfish, they have bags of personality and would definitely be a 'show' fish in any reef.
More expensive but as reef-safe as the bluethroat triggerfish but much better looking IMO.

 

[SlateXIV]

I also have a scribbled(also known as Two Barred) Rabbitfish. They are great and also have been know to eat bubble algae. They are very peaceful fish as well. The only thing I have been told is that if not well fed they may go after some LPS and Zoas.

 

[Matt Dean]

Thanks for all the ideas!

I don't want another tang. I am going to have two - a Blond Naso and a Desjardini Sailfin. I think 3 would be too many for my tank.

I have decided against the triggers. The Scribbled Rabbitfish is very nice, that is the runner up! :fish1:

And the winner is...............A Bellus Angel!! :bounce1: I like the look of the female - so does my wife - and I think it will fit fine without me having to sacrifice anything in the reef. I mat even get a pair if available and I feel it won't tax my water quality.

Thanks!

 

[Matt Dean]

BTW, Here is a pic of how my tank looked at 4 months. Excuse the crappy pics. I'm waiting for my new camera

It's a 5 X 2 custom Starphyre peninsula tank. Here's the view from both sides.

 

[aquaph8]

Beautiful tank, I love the rock scape.

 

[bradleyj]

Very good choice. I have one of those also.

 

[Matt Dean]

thanks Aquaph8!

Geez BradleyJ, you have ALL the good stuff!

OK, I see you have Regal Angel as well. How is that? That is my second choice after the Emperor, but, again, worried about it taking out all my Zoas.

 

[Springmo]

And the winner is...............A Bellus Angel!! :bounce1: I like the look of the female - so does my wife - and I think it will fit fine without me having to sacrifice anything in the reef. I mat even get a pair if available and I feel it won't tax my water quality.

Thanks!

Hey my suggestion won!

 

[Springmo]

This is my male, who has since reverted to female coloration.

 

[Matt Dean]

Very cool! This is probably the ONLY fish that I prefer the female's color.

 

[bradleyj]

thanks Aquaph8!

Geez BradleyJ, you have ALL the good stuff!

OK, I see you have Regal Angel as well. How is that? That is my second choice after the Emperor, but, again, worried about it taking out all my Zoas.

It's always hit and miss with angels. There is no such thing as a reef safe angel, but some don't bother coral as much as others.
The key is trying to keep them well fed so they don't want to eat your coral.
But with alot of feeding comes the problem of excess nutrients in the water column.
So its like walking a tite rope between keeping fish fat and full, and pristine water quality for your coral.

I am fortunate enough to be able to keep quite a few fish that are well fed and stay for the most part happy and satisfied enough to leave my reef alone.
They do nip at my coral, and there are some lps that I can't have.
But I'm ok with that because I love fish.

I have now 8 angels and around 20 -25 different wrasses and some others.

 

[SantaCruzReefer]

Bradleyj, That rock of RPE's is incredible and mindblowing.

 

[bradleyj]

Bradleyj, That rock of RPE's is incredible and mindblowing.

Thanks, I started with 6 polyps 4 yrs ago and now??? who knows how many.:lolspin:

 

[SantaCruzReefer]

Thanks, I started with 6 polyps 4 yrs ago and now??? who knows how many.:lolspin:

I've got 4 polyps now and could only hope for that to happen. One day I hope.

 

[bradleyj]

Just a teaser. I wont highjack your thread Matt.

 

[SantaCruzReefer]

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. Ive never seen so many RPE's in my life and if you could sell each polyp for 5 dollars......wow.

 

[WuHT]

what happened to that hippo tang ?


Asfur angel is one of the pomacanthus that some have tried in a reef, maybe look that up

 

[Matt Dean]

Absolutely stunning Bradleyj. Congratulations. You are making me want to give a Regal Angel a shot I guess the worse that can happen is a couple of corals get beat up and I send it back.

I would wait another 6 months or so to let me corals dig in and give them a chance to heal themselves if they did get picked on.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pics! So, how about a full tank shot?

 

[bradleyj]

Of course.