cool "big" fish selections for sps 240 reef?

mattsilvester · #1 07/04/2007, 03:17 AM

Hi guys,

Well I was planning on doing an sps reef - and was going to include an emporer angel. But now I am having second thoughts (even though I already have the angel) having read some threads claiming that angels have been nipping at sps.

This hobby has always been about fish for me - but I am now beginning to get more interested in reef tanks, but I still want something that gets a reasonable size and is totally reef safe (I am not interetested in swallow tail angels etc.).

What do you "sps" guys have as your centre piece fish?

Cheers,

Matt

ezcompany · #2 07/04/2007, 03:25 AM

definitely a crosshatch pair

sin05_omar · #3 07/04/2007, 03:29 AM

with angelfish.. It all depends on luck.. Some angles no metter how well fed will always be pecking on the SPS.... ITs a gamble IMO....

Engine 7 · #4 07/04/2007, 05:31 AM

I started a similar thread last week: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...5&pagenumber=1

mattsilvester · #5 07/04/2007, 05:33 AM

ezcompany - if I could get a pair, that would be ideal..... but I can't here in Ireland...... besides, thinking more along the lines of things that are 99.9% gauranteed not to molest either corals or shrimps etc.

sin05-omar - yeah, its 50-50 and even when you have a good one there is no way to gaurantee they will stay good...... and once they get to 12"..... well a few brief nibbles would be half a coral colelction gone in hours!

cheers,

Matt

firefish128 · #6 07/04/2007, 08:47 AM

You can keep any kind of angel, as long as you feed them enough. Angelfish natural diet consist of sponges and tunicates acroporas are not on the menu. they pick on acros in aquariums because they are not being fed enough.

leveldrummer · #7 07/04/2007, 09:02 AM

tangs are always a good choice, some get very large, and wont mess around with corals.

RobSW1 · #8 07/04/2007, 09:33 AM

crosshatches are actually very peaceful fish and wil not bother any corals. I have also seen them with other small fish, clams, and shrimp........IMO his would make an awesome centerpiece fish.

RCS · #9 07/04/2007, 09:48 AM

A nice pair of one of the more rare Genicanthus angels would be a nie addition. I'm a big fan of the masked swallowtails, but any of them can be nice.

Laakmann · #10 07/04/2007, 11:48 AM

powderblue and sailfin tangs are great

lazaro torres · #11 07/04/2007, 11:55 AM

crosshatch are alsome in reef tanks, very pieceful trigger.

lazaro torres · #12 07/04/2007, 12:12 PM

I risked it, but also the emperer angle too.

mattsilvester · #13 07/04/2007, 01:35 PM

lazaro torres - that looks like a pretty big emporer - is he in a reef tank? did you grow him yourself? he's pretty impressive none the less! how big is he?

mattsilvester · #14 07/04/2007, 01:36 PM

pics like that make me wanna "risk" it!

Cheers,

Matt

atzak · #15 07/04/2007, 01:52 PM

dejardini, vlamingi, or unicorn tangs, magnificant foxface, or a few lookdowns

KevinFJB · #16 07/04/2007, 03:45 PM

Dussumieri or Achilles or Sohal Tang or, if you're willing to basically give up shrimp, a nice Australian Halrequin Tusk would be my choice

Jar*Head · #17 07/04/2007, 04:01 PM

I used to have the emperor angel, it very well behave with the corals but aggressive toward other fish. So i have to take him out. He killed my Majestic angel too

Now i have this guy...

Largest fish in my tank (the piggy)

undertai · #18 07/04/2007, 05:14 PM

What about these fish.

Harlequin Tusk
Pinktail Triggerfish
Jade Filefish

BWine · #19 07/04/2007, 06:12 PM

How about a pair of Wantanbe angels? I think they are a great looking fish.

Jar*Head · #20 07/04/2007, 08:29 PM

Bwine, i just got a pair of Wantanbe Angels but look like the male won't make it.

mattsilvester · #21 07/05/2007, 02:50 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the suggestions. Keep 'em coming - I'm gonna put a list together and weigh up pro's and con's for all of them.

Cheers,

Matt

hobogato · #22 07/05/2007, 07:51 AM

i second the vlamingi - just keep in mind that it will outgrow the tank. not looking forward to the day we have to get rid of ours, he is the first thing everyone notices about the tank

camera hog (that is why his name is hog - although he does eat like one also) he displays for the camera sometimes

mattsilvester · #23 07/05/2007, 08:02 AM

I can't deny the vlamingi is tempting - but I wouldn't buy a fish knowing it will outgrow my tank - I would have too much emotion invested to just move him on

bureau13 · #24 07/05/2007, 08:22 AM

If you want a large angel but maybe not so large as the Emperor, a lot of people have had success with Regals (supposed to be fairly difficult to keep, although mine has not been so far) and Majestic. Of all the large angels, I think the Majestic was less prone to giving corals problems of all the non-Genicanthus species, at least from an informal poll here on RC.

jds

mattsilvester · #25 07/05/2007, 08:28 AM

jds - yes I might entertain the idea of a regal or majestic a bit further down the road. If I end up with a largely SPS dominated tank, then these might be a good option (as would my existing emporer).

Thanks

Matt