Hello

Hello,

I have been involved in keeping reef tanks for quite a few years since I asked for my first tank as a Christmas present when I was 12 years old. I gave it up while in school and let me dad take over my tank as the constant moving around was too much. I recently started up my tank again about a year and a half ago.

I have a 65 gallon tank. I couldn't decided if I wanted to do a reef or fish tank. I was originally leaning towards fish as I had always had reef and there were so many fish I always wanted but couldn't get. What I have ended up with is an attempt to do a hybrid tank, I have a bit or coral and fish and other specimens that can be added to coral tanks with caution depending on the personality of the specimen. It has been interesting and I have had to return a few fish that haven't worked out.

As I am trying to go a little outside of the standard reef tank guidelines I am finding it difficult to get sound advice on certain fish and specimens. I have been going to the same fish store for years and trust their opinions but I also understand that it is in there best interest to lean on the side of caution, and find that they discourage me from getting anything that may be a problem. I have tried to take the the internet to research on my own and have read several books but and finding it difficult to find solid specific advice when considering adding a fish. I am hoping I can get some good advice here and look forward to hearing other peoples experiences.

Right now I have a Marin Beta, a Dwarf Angel, squareback anthias (male), snowflake eel, a starfish and 2 urchins. Additionally I have quite a bit of coral, including scrolls, mushrooms, candy coral a large pagoda and star polyps.

I would live to hear from anyone who has attempted a pseudo reef/fish tank. I am looking to finish stocking my tank with a couple more fish and then want to focus on coral. My big thing this time around is trying to not let the coral restrict my fish selection as much as possible. Eventually I would like to get another tank and move the fish and convert to strictly coral but for the time being that is just not in the cards.

Would love to hear from anyone out there!

 

A snowflake usualy means you cant get cool inverts, but it seems like a cool idea if he gets allong. What other fish are you looking to get?

 

I am thinking about possibly getting a couple more anthias so I can keep the male without it changing to female. Other than that I was think one other larger fish and I have been going back and forth on what I want that to be constantly, I can't decide. I have been thinking about a blue throat trigger but 65 gallons may be too small. Maybe a tang of some kind of I was think of trying a butterfly that would do as little harm to the coral as possible.

I don't really have any inverts, and was probably going to try to do without as the eel and marine beta would probably eat them. Everything seems to be getting along for now and my coral is growing nicely. I did have a clown grouper in there for a couple months but I took it back recently because it was not getting along with the other inhabitants very well. With the unconventional make-up of my tank it has been a bit of trial and error, I'm just trying to get as much info as I can to try to minimize the errors, as they can be costly...

 

Welcome to 3reef. I'm not much help on the stocking part, but your in the right place to get some info.

 

One Thing I Would Always Keep In Mind Is That Every Fish Has Its Own Personality. I Was Told (Very Strongly) Not To Put Certain Fish Such As Angles In My Reef Tank Because They Will Eat My Corals, But I Have Had Good Luck And They Haven't. If Your Willing To Put A Cheap Coral Or Two In The Tank As A Trial Run, You Never Really Know What Might Happen. I Will Agree That Typically Snowflakes Don't Play Well With Inverts, But Like They Say, There Are "Reef Safe" And "Reef Safe Ish", It Sometimes Does Depend On The Exact Specimen. Good Luck Either Way

 

Welcome to 3reef.

 

yes, welcome to 3reef. Are you asking about whether to try what you want to do or gather input on the idea? I know that you would have too many fish for your tank size. I would advise against the trigger not because of disposition but because of size. I love niger triggers and I hate to say it but it's not fair to the fish in a smaller tank (I have a 54 gallon) believe me, I wish they came smaller and I have looked I think most everyone would tell you that you need a bigger tank to keep a tang of any sort. A butterfly would be cool and (probably others won't agree) that if you able to keep it fed regularly and it eats, they are awesome in color and they're usually pretty visible. I would think the anthias and one other fish should give you a high end but manageable bioload IMO. Hope this helps.

 

Keeping predators in a reef tank is just generally a bad idea as they compromise water quality.While fish do indeed have there own personalities they are still prone to do what they have evolved to do.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/general-reef-topics/minimum-tank-sizes-selection-animals-137158.html

http://www.3reef.com/forums/new-hob...general-rules-successful-aquarium-126326.html

Welcome to 3reef.

 

well, I think the op had asked for experiences. A blue throat is not really a predator and is generally reef safe except for the invert part which the op is not planning on having. Butterflies and tangs are also not predators. Just my .02. Experiences can be different than articles - understanding there are guidelines in this hobby.

 

I was just looking for any helpful input anyone might have. I have kept tangs in a 55 gallon tank for years successfully. My strategy with this tank is to stock fish then build the coral around it. I have a bit of left over coral I am carrying over from a previous tank. I have been using that to help gauge how the fish I try to add will handle a reef tank and how the coral handle the fish as well. So far the coral has been thriving and growing like crazy. I have had to take a couple fish back because they were not working out, but I have had success with other things I have been advised against as well.

I am not looking for what is most advisable and would make for the easiest tank to keep. I am up for a challenge and am rather looking to find out what is possible. I have all but given up on the idea of a trigger. At least until I get my next tank started which I'm hoping to be a 200 gallon.