What fish are best in frag tanks?

Discussion in 'Tropical Fish' started by LoJack, Sep 27, 2009.

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  1. LoJack

    LoJack Sea Dragon

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    Hello all,

    Going to be picking up a few fish for the frag tank. Its a 55 gallon frag tank with no sump, 50 lbs live sand, 50 lbs live rock, Aqua C Pro Skimmer and 4x54watt T-5 fixture.

    Looking for the most functional crew available.

    The debate on here would be nice.

    I'm thinking - Yellow tang, Foxface, and a few chromis for fish. And a huge array of snails, hermits, cucumbers, and conchs.

    Will cleaner shrimp or Pep shrimp serve a purpose for this job?
     
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  3. drew3

    drew3 Blue Ringed Angel

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    yes cleaner shrimp are good because it wil rid your fish of pests and diseaser. and maybe not pep shrimp if you dont have aipstasia problems but a coral banded shrimp is a good edition. Also maybe an sailfin blenny aka algae blenny. i dont know if you would have enough oxygen to support both a foxface and a yellow tang in only a 55. personally i think yellow tangs look cooler but foxface does more good. just my 2 cents
     
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  4. oceanparadise1

    oceanparadise1 Fire Squid

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    A yellow tang and foxface will be OK if both bought small but both will out grow that tank fast. Honestly IMEO the best thing for a frag tank like that would be just one fish no sand couple snails skimmer and great flow
     
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  5. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

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  6. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    I would not put a coral banded shrimp in any reef type tank. They have a tendency to eat peppermint shrimp and other stuff you don't want them to eat.

    I would say get an algae eating blenny such as a lawnmower, and a smaller yellow tang.

    Get the normal number of snails you would for a tank that size, but steer clear of the really big turbo snails as they will knock frags over all day.

    I have seen frag tanks with sand, and no sand. Either way works.
     
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  7. seabass1

    seabass1 Montipora Digitata

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    Yup, I've gotta Lawnmower, a Scopas Tang, 2 small clowns in my 60g frag, hermit, snails & thats it.....sand of course, LR.
     
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  9. GuitarMan89

    GuitarMan89 Giant Squid

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    I would suggest a wrasse of some sort, they eat pests such as flat worms and pyrimidal snails. The yellow tang and foxface will be too much for a 55, I would get a smaller tang or foxface, but not both.
     
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  10. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

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    I was thinking a flasher wrasse and a Kole tang. Both are awesome fish and have great benefits for a tank.
     
  11. mikejrice

    mikejrice 3reef Affiliate

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    I agree on the kole tang.
     
  12. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    Yep, kole tang would be way better than a YT. Being a bristletooth tang, they will readily eat any algae. Plus they stay smaller.

    Now I also agree on the wrasse, but it HAS to be a halichoeres wrasse to eat the FW's and pyramellid snails. Flasher wrasses and many other wrasses do not eat FW's or pyramellid snails.

    The neon green, christmas, neon, yellow halichoeres, radiant, and even a melanurus would be fine. Keep in mind melanurs and chrsitmas wrasses get big(7 inches). Radiants if you can get them top out around 4.5", and neon green, neon halichoeres, and yellow halichoeres stay smaller. There are a few other halichoeres, wrasses, but please do not buy a coris wrasse. I know it is confusing.