Dwarf Angels in a 30 Gallon Zoanthid-filled Reef tank

Arrick · 12/02/2008, 02:53 PM

I have a 30 gallon reef tank with hundreds of zoanthids and palythoa's in it of varying sizes, colors, etc etc. Also has a couple varieties of Xenia, a bunch of various mushrooms and 4 varieties of Candy Cane. Hoping to also add some Acan Lord's to the mix soon.

I'm more of a reef fanatic in my less than a year of reefing, but my girlfriend likes the big shiny fish that tend to eat my coral. After some misguided LFS advice one day, she came home with a 140$ Queen Angel. I agreed to give it a try until it was no longer a juvenile fully knowing that they have a propensity to eat zoanthids. Just as i feared, within 1 week it had eaten dozens and dozens of my precious zoanthid polyps. She fought me tooth and nail on our way to dropping that fishy back off at the LFS.

The only way i could get her to let go of it was by promising to find a reef safe angel so HELP! I know there's really no such thing, only luck of the draw that you might get an individual angel that doesn't pick on your polyps. And to keep it well fed so it doesn't get the notion. So now what i'm looking for is your advice on different Dwarf Angelfish. The 3 i know of that CAN be reef safe are Lemon-Peel, Coral Beauty and Flame. Are there any others?

Her current order of favorites goes in that order but it changes weekly.

1) Lemon-Peel
2) Coral Beauty
3) Flame
4) Other Dwarf

What ye guys think? Guess i'll make it into a poll.

cubsFAN · 12/02/2008, 03:32 PM

ive had a couple flames and couple beauties over the years that nipped my zoos and other corals, didnt ever do any permanent damage. id say flames were overall healthier and better looking so thats why they get my vote

Come on Cubbies We'll get em this time! woooo!

Arrick · 12/02/2008, 03:57 PM

Haha, I live in Illinois but i'm from Detroit. Let's go Tigers!

Keep those opinions comin. Has anyone even owned a Lemonpeel? They seem so much rarer than the other 2 i listed.

Quote:

Originally posted by cubsFAN
ive had a couple flames and couple beauties over the years that nipped my zoos and other corals, didnt ever do any permanent damage. id say flames were overall healthier and better looking so thats why they get my vote

Come on Cubbies We'll get em this time! woooo!

spw4949 · 12/02/2008, 04:27 PM

IMO, a 30 gallon is too small for any variety of dwarf angel. 50 gallon minimum, but like I said that's just my opinion.

Arrick · 12/02/2008, 07:09 PM

I definitely have been hearing mixed opinions. Many would agree with you. I'm not too sure myself because I've never had a dwarf angel yet.

For now gonna try to get a juvenile dwarf and just monitor him closely. Hopefully upgrading to a larger system in the next year (perhaps much larger) so with a little luck, my expansion will happen before he reaches maturity.

Not sure if that's ethically flawed. No offense intended to those who think it is. Will find him a good home if he outgrows mine before i'm ready.

Quote:

Originally posted by spw4949
IMO, a 30 gallon is too small for any variety of dwarf angel. 50 gallon minimum, but like I said that's just my opinion.

CoRPS · 12/02/2008, 07:50 PM

Forget the angel, I wanna see pictrues of your tank!!!!!!

I <3 zoa's

Arrick · 12/02/2008, 08:19 PM

LOL i know right! I have no pictures atm. Really the tank doesn't look spectacular because i keep moving stuff around to suit the zo's instead of makin it purty.

More and more I'm thinking my next tank is just going to be a large plastic tub filled with thousands of zo's.

Will get some closeups soon! 3 different shades of really pretty pink ones. I have no blue zo's sadly, that's among my next acquisitions. Don't get me started on zo's though, i'll derail the heck out of my own thread.

CoRPS · 12/02/2008, 08:23 PM

You should sell me some frags!

I like yellow, green and orange combinations!

Arrick · 12/02/2008, 08:33 PM

I do have some bright green perhaps radioactive dragon eye ready to frag. Also some orangish brown ones definitely ready to frag.

I have some really cool rare yellow ones but they're gonna need another month or so to be ready.

Will post pics and such when i get a bit more time on my hands. Currently working 14 to 16 hours every day. But definitely would trade for some blue ones!

Fish_wiz2 · 12/02/2008, 08:44 PM

I say C beauty because they IMO are most tame, i tried a lemon-peel and flame in my uncle's nano (24 for a short amount of time just to see) and both are a trouble alright

Arrick · 12/02/2008, 11:15 PM

LOL so far not makin my decision much easier. Preciate the input though!

What other dwarf's i didn't name are worth takin a second look at? I know my girl was one time looking at a rust angel i think it was.

Playa-1 · 12/03/2008, 12:33 AM

I wouldn't put any Angels in that tank.

gas4544 · 12/03/2008, 12:43 AM

Pretty much any angel that you add to the tank will outgrow it. And you never know if a particular angel is gonna be trouble or not. They have individual personalities. One of a particular species could act like and angel and another could be an absolute devil.

Sounds like a good opportunity to start a second tank for angels or upgrade your current tank to a larger one...

Gary

crvz · 12/03/2008, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Playa-1
I wouldn't put any Angels in that tank.

Agreed, and lemon-peel is probably the LEAST reef safe of any of them.

Kieth71 · 12/03/2008, 10:36 AM

If there was one coral i would be most worried about an angel eating its zoas..i would be very nervous about putting one in a tank full of them.ie:buffet

goldenfamaliy · 12/03/2008, 11:37 AM

I got lucky with mine. It keeps the xeina in check.

Arrick · 12/03/2008, 03:24 PM

I had my girlfriend read this thread and now she's not angry with me for not wanting an Angel. She's just ****ed at you guys hahaha. She'll get over it, don't worry.

But now we're left with fewer options. I have a 3 stripe Damsel who is uncharacteristically calm and well-natured towards other fish, humans and coral. Also have an unspecified Purple Dottyback or Basslet, pinkish undertones, also very friendly and slightly skittish. And a tiny Catalina Goby, that thing is only seen when you feed it, otherwise well hidden on the interior of the rockwork.

We had a beautiful clownfish who happened to favor the taste of human flesh, it's currently residing in the quarantine tank. Girlfriend won't allow another for a good while.

Really need a fish to feature here. Fish bioload is extremely low, coral load makes up for it but plenty of room for a large (compared to the small environment) fish to wow any viewers...

Anthias need too much space... Butterfly from what i'm told are just as bad as Angel if not worse (tell me if i'm wrong)... Goby's taken... Damsel's taken... Basslet/Dottyback's taken... Clownfish is see above...

Tang's... do they all get too large?

Rae C. · 12/03/2008, 03:36 PM

What about a cardinal? THey are kinda showy, and can be a bigger fish in that size aquarium. Both kinds of cardinals are showy.

michellejy · 12/03/2008, 04:34 PM

Your tank needs a fairy wrasse or a flasher wrasse. They have lots of color, and most of them stay on the smaller side. Of course, you have to have your tank covered since they like to try to jump out.

Cutiewitbooty · 12/03/2008, 05:22 PM

Yeah the lemon peel would be the most likely to go after coral. With the coral beauty and flam it is going to be 50/50. You could try one and if it nips swap it for another one and so one, but imo it would be a pain in the butt. Also i think 30g is fine for a dwarf angel, i guess there are dwarf angel police out there too hehehe

View Poll Results: Which Dwarf Angel has the best chance of being Reef Safe?
Lemon-Peel	6	20.69%
Coral Beauty	12	41.38%
Flame	8	27.59%
Other Dwarf	3	10.34%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll

12/02/2008, 02:53 PM	#1
Arrick Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 9	Dwarf Angels in a 30 Gallon Zoanthid-filled Reef tank I have a 30 gallon reef tank with hundreds of zoanthids and palythoa's in it of varying sizes, colors, etc etc. Also has a couple varieties of Xenia, a bunch of various mushrooms and 4 varieties of Candy Cane. Hoping to also add some Acan Lord's to the mix soon. I'm more of a reef fanatic in my less than a year of reefing, but my girlfriend likes the big shiny fish that tend to eat my coral. After some misguided LFS advice one day, she came home with a 140$ Queen Angel. I agreed to give it a try until it was no longer a juvenile fully knowing that they have a propensity to eat zoanthids. Just as i feared, within 1 week it had eaten dozens and dozens of my precious zoanthid polyps. She fought me tooth and nail on our way to dropping that fishy back off at the LFS. The only way i could get her to let go of it was by promising to find a reef safe angel so HELP! I know there's really no such thing, only luck of the draw that you might get an individual angel that doesn't pick on your polyps. And to keep it well fed so it doesn't get the notion. So now what i'm looking for is your advice on different Dwarf Angelfish. The 3 i know of that CAN be reef safe are Lemon-Peel, Coral Beauty and Flame. Are there any others? Her current order of favorites goes in that order but it changes weekly. 1) Lemon-Peel 2) Coral Beauty 3) Flame 4) Other Dwarf What ye guys think? Guess i'll make it into a poll.

12/02/2008, 04:27 PM	#4
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	IMO, a 30 gallon is too small for any variety of dwarf angel. 50 gallon minimum, but like I said that's just my opinion. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

12/02/2008, 08:44 PM	#10
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	I say C beauty because they IMO are most tame, i tried a lemon-peel and flame in my uncle's nano (24 for a short amount of time just to see) and both are a trouble alright __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

12/03/2008, 11:37 AM	#16
goldenfamaliy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: springfield, missouri Posts: 374	I got lucky with mine. It keeps the xeina in check. __________________ Saving the world one paper plate at a time!!! There is no I in team, but there is a me! Dagget from the Angry beavers Current Tank Info: Solana, MP10es w, Ecotech radion, water, salt, pretty colored thingys

12/02/2008, 03:32 PM	#2
cubsFAN Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Lake Tahoe Posts: 1,550	ive had a couple flames and couple beauties over the years that nipped my zoos and other corals, didnt ever do any permanent damage. id say flames were overall healthier and better looking so thats why they get my vote Come on Cubbies We'll get em this time! woooo!

12/02/2008, 07:50 PM	#6
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	Forget the angel, I wanna see pictrues of your tank!!!!!! I <3 zoa's

12/02/2008, 08:19 PM	#7
Arrick Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 9	LOL i know right! I have no pictures atm. Really the tank doesn't look spectacular because i keep moving stuff around to suit the zo's instead of makin it purty. More and more I'm thinking my next tank is just going to be a large plastic tub filled with thousands of zo's. Will get some closeups soon! 3 different shades of really pretty pink ones. I have no blue zo's sadly, that's among my next acquisitions. Don't get me started on zo's though, i'll derail the heck out of my own thread.

12/02/2008, 08:23 PM	#8
CoRPS Big Time Reefer Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: P-RINE Posts: 2,887	You should sell me some frags! I like yellow, green and orange combinations!

12/02/2008, 08:33 PM	#9
Arrick Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 9	I do have some bright green perhaps radioactive dragon eye ready to frag. Also some orangish brown ones definitely ready to frag. I have some really cool rare yellow ones but they're gonna need another month or so to be ready. Will post pics and such when i get a bit more time on my hands. Currently working 14 to 16 hours every day. But definitely would trade for some blue ones!

12/02/2008, 11:15 PM	#11
Arrick Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 9	LOL so far not makin my decision much easier. Preciate the input though! What other dwarf's i didn't name are worth takin a second look at? I know my girl was one time looking at a rust angel i think it was.

12/03/2008, 12:33 AM	#12
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I wouldn't put any Angels in that tank.

12/03/2008, 12:43 AM	#13
gas4544 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 2,166	Pretty much any angel that you add to the tank will outgrow it. And you never know if a particular angel is gonna be trouble or not. They have individual personalities. One of a particular species could act like and angel and another could be an absolute devil. Sounds like a good opportunity to start a second tank for angels or upgrade your current tank to a larger one... Gary

12/03/2008, 10:36 AM	#15
Kieth71 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: colorado Posts: 1,026	If there was one coral i would be most worried about an angel eating its zoas..i would be very nervous about putting one in a tank full of them.ie:buffet

12/03/2008, 03:24 PM	#17
Arrick Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 9	I had my girlfriend read this thread and now she's not angry with me for not wanting an Angel. She's just ****ed at you guys hahaha. She'll get over it, don't worry. But now we're left with fewer options. I have a 3 stripe Damsel who is uncharacteristically calm and well-natured towards other fish, humans and coral. Also have an unspecified Purple Dottyback or Basslet, pinkish undertones, also very friendly and slightly skittish. And a tiny Catalina Goby, that thing is only seen when you feed it, otherwise well hidden on the interior of the rockwork. We had a beautiful clownfish who happened to favor the taste of human flesh, it's currently residing in the quarantine tank. Girlfriend won't allow another for a good while. Really need a fish to feature here. Fish bioload is extremely low, coral load makes up for it but plenty of room for a large (compared to the small environment) fish to wow any viewers... Anthias need too much space... Butterfly from what i'm told are just as bad as Angel if not worse (tell me if i'm wrong)... Goby's taken... Damsel's taken... Basslet/Dottyback's taken... Clownfish is see above... Tang's... do they all get too large?

12/03/2008, 03:36 PM	#18
Rae C. Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 916	What about a cardinal? THey are kinda showy, and can be a bigger fish in that size aquarium. Both kinds of cardinals are showy. __________________ Rae C It's 8:30, kids. Turn off the tank and go to bed! Current Tank Info: 65 gal, softies, 1 mandarine, 1 clown

12/03/2008, 04:34 PM	#19
michellejy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OH Posts: 1,076	Your tank needs a fairy wrasse or a flasher wrasse. They have lots of color, and most of them stay on the smaller side. Of course, you have to have your tank covered since they like to try to jump out. __________________ Michelle Current Tank Info: 30G FOWLR Clownfish tank soon to be replaced by JBJ 28 Gallon Nano Last edited by michellejy; 12/03/2008 at 04:43 PM.

12/03/2008, 05:22 PM	#20
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	Yeah the lemon peel would be the most likely to go after coral. With the coral beauty and flam it is going to be 50/50. You could try one and if it nips swap it for another one and so one, but imo it would be a pain in the butt. Also i think 30g is fine for a dwarf angel, i guess there are dwarf angel police out there too hehehe __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~