I'm not sure why I haven't asked yet...

pocketqq32

pocketqq32

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Feb 26, 2007
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Hey there, I'm extremely new to this, but I've been doing a lil research, read a couple of books and I have a few fish that I think I want to try. I have a 160 gal tank, I'm going for a reef aquarium.
Here are my fish:
Majestic Angelfish
flame dwarf or coral beauty
wimplefish
midas blenny
catalina Goby

I also found several dottybacks, but I'm a bit confused as to which species can be kept with similar fish without one of them becoming stressed? I looked at Orchid, Arabian, and flame dottyback's. oh yeah, what's the story on dragonets, tangs, and boxfish, are any of them capable of being added to the tank later on? ok, just one more question....the harlequin filefish is gorgeous, but if they are all dying in captivity isn't it obvious that we shouldn't be keeping them?....i don't want to offend anyone who has one, i just think some things are better left to nature. Thank you, umm....i would really appreciate the advice!
 
Hello there Pocket..A warm welcome to Aquaria Central..

Well, a 160 sounds like it could be a great reef, a really good size aswell..

Coral beauty...Well, when kept in larger aquariums, they seem to be fine, but in smaller tanks they are know to nip at stonies and clams etc. I do know alot of people who have one of these in their reef and it does not pose any problems at all...

Wimple fish are also known to nip at corals...Not to be confused with a morish idol though...very similar looking fish..

Dragonet or mandarin..should only be kept in a very mature tank, i recomend waiting at least 9 months or a year to allow a very good colony of pods to get established..

Tangs, no problem, dont get multiples of the same kind.

Boxfish...I would not put one in a Reef...just my opinion of course

Harlequin filefish...Yes, they are hard to keep in a tank, however, if you do want one, i suggest a species tank, similar to seahorses..

Hope this info helps you out a little bit..

Anymore questions, please shout up, we are here to help..

Niko
 
Count on the majestic angel wiping out your corals. And, you've got it right, some fish and inverts should just be left in the wild.

Also, I know you didn't ask for this, but look in to closed loops and sumps for your tank... you can get by without a closed loop (looks cleaner though), but without a sump, there's a lot of helpfull equipment you won't be able to use.
 
id also like to add somethign about the Cantlina goby. they are from cooler waters between 65-72 degrees. much cooler than a healthy reef is kept it. they will survive at the higher temps, but their life expectancy is goign to be decreased dramaticly, so i would ask you not to get one.
 
fishieness said:
id also like to add somethign about the Cantlina goby. they are from cooler waters between 65-72 degrees. much cooler than a healthy reef is kept it. they will survive at the higher temps, but their life expectancy is goign to be decreased dramaticly, so i would ask you not to get one.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was going to address. :)


Anyway, depending on which Tang you're looking to get, you might want to add it last to your tank.
 
fishieness said:
id also like to add somethign about the Cantlina goby. they are from cooler waters between 65-72 degrees. much cooler than a healthy reef is kept it. they will survive at the higher temps, but their life expectancy is goign to be decreased dramaticly, so i would ask you not to get one.
Click to expand...

yea those gobies come for the islands off my coast...the water here is about 50-60 degrees F....so a reef temp would shorten their life in half they can survive but not well. i also agree that most the fish u piked out arnt good for a reef because they will eat corals.
 
thanks

hey thank you guys, I must have misunderstood this book. All the fish that I listed are SUPPOSED to be able to live in a reef aquarium, but then it says they eat the coral. what are some fish that can thrive in a reef without eating it? would a FOWLR system work any better? oh, and thank you again for answering my questions
 
a fowlr may be what you are lookign for. but to tell you the truth, my fowlrs bore me compared to my reef. lol
but there are tons of reefsafe fish. gobies, clownfish, cardinals, tangs, SOME wrasses, blennies, dottybacks, etc, etc, etc
 
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