Can I have a Potters?

Hello everyone on 3reef,

I was at the LFS yesterday and they had a beautiful Potters Angelfish that was eating frozen and prepared foods in the store! I would like to know if I would be able to add one of these beautiful fish to my 125 Gallon Mixed reef.

I feel that this fish would be the centerpiece fish in the tank if I were to get it.

My current stocking list includes:

1 Blue Hippo Tang
1 Yellow Tang
1 Cleaner Wrasse
1 Diamond Goby
2 Chromis
2 Oscellaris Clowns

Tons of SPS
Tons of LPS
Some Softies and Zoas

2 Crocea Clams
1 Derasa Clam
1 Brittle Starfish
2 Bubble tipped anemones
2 Conch

I will be building a new sump and fuge as well as stand at the end of August (already have the tank for the sump!) and will be buying either a SWC Mini S Cone or a comparable Reef Octopus skimmer for the sump to increase my water volume and water buffering capablities.

I have read this fish is considered reasonably reef safe, but what do you think? Do you see any potential problems?

 

It's a risk. It's a nice sized tank, but the potters may decide that he likes your clams or lps and can tear through them. He may just pick a little here and there or may do nothing and be a model citizen. I think he will be a good fit for your tank with the above mentioned issues in mind.

 

Would you say that if I fed once in the morning and then once again at night that this might quell the urges of the angel to nip or pick at any of the above mentioned corals/clams?

To be honest, I would be willing to get rid of the clams, just because I think they would be happier in a tank with metal halides as opposed to my T-5's (just because they are not the best reflectors...it is a nova extreme pro).

 

You can feed 100x a day and not be guaranteed that the potters or any dwarf angel wont' go after corals or clams. It all depends on the personality of the individual fish. Also, I think your light is fine for the clams, the nova extreme pro, while not the best reflectors, aren't bad.

 

If you went through what I just went through with a coral nipping angel you would NEVER consider it. Heres the thread I made: http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/my-first-big-problem-took-10-months-hobby-91267.html

 

Is there anything I should look for at the lfs? If it is in a mixed reef holding tank that should be a good indicator correct? Anything else I should be aware of?

 

If he is in with coral at the LFS, ask if they notice him nipping at the coral or anything. Dwarf angels are hit or miss. Mine never touches anything, but I've read about angels eating all kinds of stuff in other people's tanks. Just have to decide if you want to take the risk.

 

If you want a dwarf angel get a bellus. They're alot nice looking and they are reef safe.

 

They aren't dwarfs and get up to around 8 inches or so. But they are beautiful and reef safe!

 

I had thought of a bellus but they do get to to large. What is the max size of the potters angel? I want to add as small a bioload as possible.