Monos In Reef Tank?

SoloChromis · 12/27/2014, 01:10 PM

What can I say, I think they're really cool, and you don't really see that silvery coloration on many of our common reef fish. Does anybody have any experience with these guys? I'm more concerned about their activity level (I've never liked keeping spastic fish, they eat up all the food and mess up the "tranquility" of the tank), and their bioload. I know they're extremely hardy, and I really like the look of them, but I don't want a big messy tuna shooting around the tank. Any comments, concerns, or stories are welcome, thanks

DamonG · 12/27/2014, 01:24 PM

I have one in my tank now, and 3 in my system prior to this one..

Lol, honestly, they add a ton of activity to the tank, and i sort of think of them as a poor man's look down(they tend to travel in packs like the look down and with their diamond shape, look really cool as a mini school) .. They eat a ton of vegetation (at least all of mine have), and food in general, move a lot in the open water, are hardy, are very, very fast(but generally calm and smooth swimmers like normal) fight among each other to establish dominance at night, and grow fast.

Besides that, honestly, they, for me have been very, very easy and tough.. I have actually thought about a green scat also since the monos worked so well.. The one thing is to acclimate them to light slowly..

For their price, they are great fish with a lot of Lol appeal and their silver color is awesome. Though i like the non sebea(with more pronounced yellow) for its color.. But either of them work well..

IdahoCindy · 12/27/2014, 01:27 PM

Loved my mono. I accidentally dropped a rock on mine and he never did recover. He was always the "greeter" of new additions in a nice sort of way.

DamonG · 12/27/2014, 01:32 PM

I forgot i had video on YouTube showing them..

Here you go and you can see what i mean

quick video update 091813 reef: http://youtu.be/0MOGQx5OSa4

SoloChromis · 12/27/2014, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamonG

I forgot i had video on YouTube showing them..

Here you go and you can see what i mean

quick video update 091813 reef: http://youtu.be/0MOGQx5OSa4

Wow! Beautiful tank, very impressive. I think I'm gonna go for it

DamonG · 12/27/2014, 01:45 PM

You won't be sorry. They are cool animals..

And thanks.. I'm trying to get my current small system up and going good..

But they are great!

alex gonzales · 12/27/2014, 06:24 PM

I had five in my tank when I first set it up, and looked really cool. Grew extremely fast and in about a year, were 8 inches, and voracious as all get out! Decided to get rid of them because they ate all the food before any of the other fish could eat. You say you don't like to keep spastic fish, and that's exactly what they are. Schooled very nice though, and looked great in the tank.

Betta132 · 12/27/2014, 07:10 PM

Pretty monos!
Honestly, I'd rather have them than most tangs. I love their shininess.

Spartan · 12/28/2014, 08:15 AM

Very interesting... At what size did you get them? Did you have to convert them from freshwater to salt? If so how?

The one thing is to acclimate them to light slowly..

What is the story with that? I dont think they are nocturnal?

DamonG · 12/28/2014, 08:21 AM

Mnnnn, I got the three in my previous tank when they were about 2 inches. They were already converted to salt when i purchased them. My 1 in my current system, he was in a brackish tank, and all i did was acclimate him slow just like my other animals, and he was off and running..

And I'm not sure to be honest about them being nocturnal or not, because they all have been very active once the lights go out. I never read they were either, but they swim around a ton in the dark. They also will eat in the dark, so it is indeed strange..

The ones i have had also, they needed to adjust to light and are pretty shy anytime i changed light fixtures, and didn't come out for a couple of days, swimming behind and within rock structures.

alex gonzales · 12/28/2014, 10:08 AM

I got them at about 2", from my local pet store, drip acclimated them for about an hour, then dropped them in the salt tank (always quarantine)

12/27/2014, 01:10 PM	#1
SoloChromis Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Florida Posts: 787	Monos In Reef Tank? What can I say, I think they're really cool, and you don't really see that silvery coloration on many of our common reef fish. Does anybody have any experience with these guys? I'm more concerned about their activity level (I've never liked keeping spastic fish, they eat up all the food and mess up the "tranquility" of the tank), and their bioload. I know they're extremely hardy, and I really like the look of them, but I don't want a big messy tuna shooting around the tank. Any comments, concerns, or stories are welcome, thanks __________________ 60g Macro Algae & Gorgonian Dominated Reef Cube & 20g (Peacock) Mantis Tank Current Tank Info: 60g Caribbean-esque Reef (2'x2'x2'), 10g Quarantine

12/27/2014, 07:10 PM	#8
Betta132 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2,239	Pretty monos! Honestly, I'd rather have them than most tangs. I love their shininess. __________________ When you put an animal of any kind in a situation where it can no longer fend for itself, such as an aquarium, it's your job to care for it to the best of your ability. It's that simple.

12/28/2014, 08:15 AM	#9
Spartan Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Western New York Posts: 705	Very interesting... At what size did you get them? Did you have to convert them from freshwater to salt? If so how? The one thing is to acclimate them to light slowly.. What is the story with that? I dont think they are nocturnal? __________________ Reef since 95'. 180g, 100g sump, 55 g refuge Current Tank Info: 180g, 100g sump, 55 g refuge

12/27/2014, 01:24 PM	#2
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	I have one in my tank now, and 3 in my system prior to this one.. Lol, honestly, they add a ton of activity to the tank, and i sort of think of them as a poor man's look down(they tend to travel in packs like the look down and with their diamond shape, look really cool as a mini school) .. They eat a ton of vegetation (at least all of mine have), and food in general, move a lot in the open water, are hardy, are very, very fast(but generally calm and smooth swimmers like normal) fight among each other to establish dominance at night, and grow fast. Besides that, honestly, they, for me have been very, very easy and tough.. I have actually thought about a green scat also since the monos worked so well.. The one thing is to acclimate them to light slowly.. For their price, they are great fish with a lot of Lol appeal and their silver color is awesome. Though i like the non sebea(with more pronounced yellow) for its color.. But either of them work well..

12/27/2014, 01:27 PM	#3
IdahoCindy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Sun Valley Idaho Posts: 329	Loved my mono. I accidentally dropped a rock on mine and he never did recover. He was always the "greeter" of new additions in a nice sort of way.

12/27/2014, 01:32 PM	#4
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	I forgot i had video on YouTube showing them.. Here you go and you can see what i mean quick video update 091813 reef: http://youtu.be/0MOGQx5OSa4

12/27/2014, 01:45 PM	#6
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	You won't be sorry. They are cool animals.. And thanks.. I'm trying to get my current small system up and going good.. But they are great!

12/27/2014, 06:24 PM	#7
alex gonzales Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Ca. Posts: 410	I had five in my tank when I first set it up, and looked really cool. Grew extremely fast and in about a year, were 8 inches, and voracious as all get out! Decided to get rid of them because they ate all the food before any of the other fish could eat. You say you don't like to keep spastic fish, and that's exactly what they are. Schooled very nice though, and looked great in the tank.

12/28/2014, 08:21 AM	#10
DamonG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 873	Mnnnn, I got the three in my previous tank when they were about 2 inches. They were already converted to salt when i purchased them. My 1 in my current system, he was in a brackish tank, and all i did was acclimate him slow just like my other animals, and he was off and running.. And I'm not sure to be honest about them being nocturnal or not, because they all have been very active once the lights go out. I never read they were either, but they swim around a ton in the dark. They also will eat in the dark, so it is indeed strange.. The ones i have had also, they needed to adjust to light and are pretty shy anytime i changed light fixtures, and didn't come out for a couple of days, swimming behind and within rock structures.

12/28/2014, 10:08 AM	#11
alex gonzales Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central Ca. Posts: 410	I got them at about 2", from my local pet store, drip acclimated them for about an hour, then dropped them in the salt tank (always quarantine)