Suggestions for a uniqe reef safe fish

overexposed · 08/07/2015, 11:02 AM

I recently lost a marine betta that I had for the last couple of years, and I am looking for a new fish to replace it. I don't want to go with a marine betta again, because my tank was never really the ideal environment for it.

I'm having a hard time deciding on something that will meet the following criteria, hopefully someone here has some suggestions for me! I would like the new fish to be (or become):
-large as an adult (6-12 inches)
-colourful
-aggressive enough to compete for food with it's existing tankmakes (see below)
-safe with peppermint shrimp and snails
-doesn't nip at sps or lps (don't care if it makes meals of my zoas - I can't get rid of them!)

It will be living in a 225 gallon aquarium (72x30x24) and it's tankmakes will be:
-Regal Tang
-Kole Tang
-Sailfin Tang
-5 Lyretail Anthias
-2 Occelaris (sp) Clowns
-Copperband Butterfly
-Green Mandarin
-Purple Stripe Dottyback
-Cleaner Wrasse
-Six Line Wrasse
-3 peppermint shrimp
-countless snails

Tweaked · 08/07/2015, 11:25 AM

I personally love my Flame Wrasse pair. So flamboyant!

Waters40 · 08/07/2015, 12:07 PM

I vote for a Harlequin Tusk.......colorful, large, can hold their own, will not mess with coral. Only downside is the shrimp and snails but mine leaves them all alone.

Cosmojo · 08/07/2015, 12:41 PM

Powder Blue, Powder Brown, Whitecheek, or a redtail trigger

Crush Coral · 08/07/2015, 12:43 PM

A Tusk that leaves inverts alone? That is exciting to hear. That is my second most favorite fish after the Blue Ribbon Eel. The ribbon eel is my next fish for my tank if I can convince myself that I will not put my shrimp, crabs and snails into jeopordy. If I could add a tusk that will also go in there.

My suggestion for you is to consider the Blue Ribbon Eel. Just acclimate feeder guppies to salt water once a week and add them to the tank. A few will "disappear" each night. Need a screen top too.

Bent · 08/07/2015, 12:45 PM

If we talking only reef safe and not fish or invert safe, my vote is a black angler.

blazend · 08/07/2015, 02:41 PM

My tusk doesnt leave inverts alone.

leopard wrasses are my favorite reef fish.

Waters40 · 08/07/2015, 02:51 PM

I don't keep any "special" snails other than the normal turbos, trochus, etc. The only shrimp I have is a Coral Banded.....my tusk doesn't touch him or my snails. Come to think of it though, my small hermit population has declined lol.

overexposed · 08/10/2015, 09:52 AM

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think I am leaning towards either an Orange Spotted Rabbitfish or a Sargassum Trigger.

Cpetroski15 · 08/11/2015, 12:47 AM

Purple tangs or Achilles tangs have always been my favorite for the "showpiece" fish

Evinskyt · 09/18/2015, 10:48 PM

I am a fan of wrasses. I have a Yellow tail tamarin and a leopard that really pop in my tank

08/07/2015, 11:02 AM	#1
overexposed Acroholic Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 296	Suggestions for a uniqe reef safe fish I recently lost a marine betta that I had for the last couple of years, and I am looking for a new fish to replace it. I don't want to go with a marine betta again, because my tank was never really the ideal environment for it. I'm having a hard time deciding on something that will meet the following criteria, hopefully someone here has some suggestions for me! I would like the new fish to be (or become): -large as an adult (6-12 inches) -colourful -aggressive enough to compete for food with it's existing tankmakes (see below) -safe with peppermint shrimp and snails -doesn't nip at sps or lps (don't care if it makes meals of my zoas - I can't get rid of them!) It will be living in a 225 gallon aquarium (72x30x24) and it's tankmakes will be: -Regal Tang -Kole Tang -Sailfin Tang -5 Lyretail Anthias -2 Occelaris (sp) Clowns -Copperband Butterfly -Green Mandarin -Purple Stripe Dottyback -Cleaner Wrasse -Six Line Wrasse -3 peppermint shrimp -countless snails __________________ ~Phil Current Tank Info: 205 gallon in-wall, SPS dominated

08/07/2015, 11:25 AM	#2
Tweaked FUP&A Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Madison, CT Posts: 7,722	I personally love my Flame Wrasse pair. So flamboyant! __________________ DSA 105 Pro, Cebu Sun-Radiums-M80 Ballasts, 4 T5's, XHO LEDs. Through Wall 55g Sump, 10g Frag and 29g Display attached, Vertex V6, 3 mp40's, Gyre, 2 mp10's, GFO, Carbon, Pellets - 10g Bar Tank

08/07/2015, 12:45 PM	#6
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	If we talking only reef safe and not fish or invert safe, my vote is a black angler. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

08/10/2015, 09:52 AM	#9
overexposed Acroholic Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 296	Thanks for the suggestions guys. I think I am leaning towards either an Orange Spotted Rabbitfish or a Sargassum Trigger. __________________ ~Phil Current Tank Info: 205 gallon in-wall, SPS dominated

08/07/2015, 12:07 PM	#3
Waters40 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 299	I vote for a Harlequin Tusk.......colorful, large, can hold their own, will not mess with coral. Only downside is the shrimp and snails but mine leaves them all alone.

08/07/2015, 12:41 PM	#4
Cosmojo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Antonio Posts: 350	Powder Blue, Powder Brown, Whitecheek, or a redtail trigger

08/07/2015, 12:43 PM	#5
Crush Coral Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 1,233	A Tusk that leaves inverts alone? That is exciting to hear. That is my second most favorite fish after the Blue Ribbon Eel. The ribbon eel is my next fish for my tank if I can convince myself that I will not put my shrimp, crabs and snails into jeopordy. If I could add a tusk that will also go in there. My suggestion for you is to consider the Blue Ribbon Eel. Just acclimate feeder guppies to salt water once a week and add them to the tank. A few will "disappear" each night. Need a screen top too.

08/07/2015, 02:41 PM	#7
blazend Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 82	My tusk doesnt leave inverts alone. leopard wrasses are my favorite reef fish.

08/07/2015, 02:51 PM	#8
Waters40 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 299	I don't keep any "special" snails other than the normal turbos, trochus, etc. The only shrimp I have is a Coral Banded.....my tusk doesn't touch him or my snails. Come to think of it though, my small hermit population has declined lol.

08/11/2015, 12:47 AM	#10
Cpetroski15 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 18	Purple tangs or Achilles tangs have always been my favorite for the "showpiece" fish

09/18/2015, 10:48 PM	#11
Evinskyt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Chardon, OH Posts: 25	I am a fan of wrasses. I have a Yellow tail tamarin and a leopard that really pop in my tank