Flame Angle or Coral Beauty in a 29 gallon biocube?

Octoberfest · 01/17/2009, 01:11 PM

I've seen pictures of 29 gallon biocubes with both of these fish in them but I'm wondering if that is too small. In addition, do they always nip at corals?

I'm thinking its best to not even risk it but I figured I'd ask.

I'm trying to figure out what to add to my tank next but I'm at a loss.

jim t · 01/17/2009, 01:46 PM

My coral beauty pics on my brain coral but everything else is ok.
I had to remove the brain into my BC

aquaman67 · 01/17/2009, 03:09 PM

jim t

To Reef Central

jubjub · 01/17/2009, 03:19 PM

flame angel....better lookign fish imo

JEFFR259 · 01/17/2009, 03:41 PM

as far as coral-nippers, these angels are hit or miss. I had a Coral Beauty that didn't both anything for about the first 3 months in the tank. Then it started to nip at Green Star Polyps and various other pieces. Back to the LFS he went!

Brandon M · 01/17/2009, 04:08 PM

If it were me, I'd go with the flame angel. Although I have had terrible luck in keeping them for long periods of time.

Good luck!

Octoberfest · 01/17/2009, 04:18 PM

Are they jumpers? Reason I'm asking is that I have a 150W Metal Halide fixture on my biocube so I don't have any type of lid.

LoudProudNPunk · 01/17/2009, 04:40 PM

my girlfriends flame angel jumped into the overflow

macreefster · 01/17/2009, 04:56 PM

my flame angel lasted all of two hours before it started picking on all my montipora's (don't know why it didnt bother the acro's). i wanted to re-do my rockwork anyways, so the flame angel gave me a reason to do so. no more angels for me.... ive had flame, pygmy, resplendens, multi color and acanthops and they all ended up nipping corals.

reefworm · 01/17/2009, 10:12 PM

Centropyge sp. are coral nippers by nature. some get lucky with one that doesn't. they will say it's a matter of feeding them sufficiently, etc. but the results are inconsistent at best among those who keep them. there's some anecdotal evidence that you may stand a better chance in a rather large tank, but there's no real data on that either. as JEFFR259 points out, they can do fine for months and then start in on your corals. My coral beauty was fine for 8 months or more and then bothered my open brain to death. as to tank size, the 29 would be ok for either one - I've had both in a 29 [not at the same time], but make sure you leave a good bit of swimming room.
IMO, despite the fact that they are gorgeous fish in color, shape and movement, it's not worth the risk to your corals that take such care and time to grow

01/17/2009, 01:11 PM	#1
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	Flame Angle or Coral Beauty in a 29 gallon biocube? I've seen pictures of 29 gallon biocubes with both of these fish in them but I'm wondering if that is too small. In addition, do they always nip at corals? I'm thinking its best to not even risk it but I figured I'd ask. I'm trying to figure out what to add to my tank next but I'm at a loss. __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube

01/17/2009, 03:19 PM	#4
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	flame angel....better lookign fish imo __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

01/17/2009, 04:08 PM	#6
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	If it were me, I'd go with the flame angel. Although I have had terrible luck in keeping them for long periods of time. Good luck! __________________ Brandon Current Tank Info: 315g 84"x24"x36" FOWLR

01/17/2009, 04:18 PM	#7
Octoberfest Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NC Posts: 1,350	Are they jumpers? Reason I'm asking is that I have a 150W Metal Halide fixture on my biocube so I don't have any type of lid. __________________ 29 gallon bio-cube with 150w metal halide sunpod fixture, stock 14 gallon bio-cube

01/17/2009, 04:40 PM	#8
LoudProudNPunk Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Danville CA [bay area] Posts: 639	my girlfriends flame angel jumped into the overflow __________________ Getting back into reefing, woot woot! Current Tank Info: Starting a 65 gal reef.

01/17/2009, 01:46 PM	#2
jim t Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 190	My coral beauty pics on my brain coral but everything else is ok. I had to remove the brain into my BC

01/17/2009, 03:09 PM	#3
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	jim t *To Reef Central*

01/17/2009, 03:41 PM	#5
JEFFR259 Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Fort Myers, FL Posts: 595	as far as coral-nippers, these angels are hit or miss. I had a Coral Beauty that didn't both anything for about the first 3 months in the tank. Then it started to nip at Green Star Polyps and various other pieces. Back to the LFS he went!

01/17/2009, 04:56 PM	#9
macreefster Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 1,015	my flame angel lasted all of two hours before it started picking on all my montipora's (don't know why it didnt bother the acro's). i wanted to re-do my rockwork anyways, so the flame angel gave me a reason to do so. no more angels for me.... ive had flame, pygmy, resplendens, multi color and acanthops and they all ended up nipping corals. __________________ mac Current Tank Info: 70gal sps reef (36x24x20), 50g sump, 25g refugium, vertex alpha cone 170, 2 x 250w 14k phoenix w/ lumenmax 3's, 2 vortech mp40w's, eheim 1262 return pump

01/17/2009, 10:12 PM	#10
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	Centropyge sp. are coral nippers by nature. some get lucky with one that doesn't. they will say it's a matter of feeding them sufficiently, etc. but the results are inconsistent at best among those who keep them. there's some anecdotal evidence that you may stand a better chance in a rather large tank, but there's no real data on that either. as JEFFR259 points out, they can do fine for months and then start in on your corals. My coral beauty was fine for 8 months or more and then bothered my open brain to death. as to tank size, the 29 would be ok for either one - I've had both in a 29 [not at the same time], but make sure you leave a good bit of swimming room. IMO, despite the fact that they are gorgeous fish in color, shape and movement, it's not worth the risk to your corals that take such care and time to grow __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school