Reef safe fishes fall in to several categories based on their size and compatibility with corals and inverts. Size is important because larger fish give off more waste which will result in higher nitrate levels and higher nutrient levels which are not well tolerated by most corals. More water changes will be required to keep water quality healthy for all inhabitants. The ideal reef tank has an eco-balance, all things working together to benefit each other and the overall health of their environment.Different groups fall into different categories based on their eating habits or behaviors
Tangs
Yellow Tang
Purple Tang
Sailfin Tang
Scopas Tang.
Regal (Hippo) Tang
Powder Brown Tang
Powder Blue Tang
Kole
(yellow-eyed)
Tang
Cheveron Tang
Naso Tang
Atlantic blue
Tang
Achilies Tang
Orange shoulder
Tang
Shoel Tang
Clown Tang
The tangs listed above are the most common ones seen in the aquarium trade.Prices vary depending on their availability and the origin, Red Sea tangs being the most expensive. Most are not difficult to keep but some can become quite large and need swimming room. Tangs can be territorial and do best when kept in odd numbers and should be added together if more than one is desired. Size and body shape can be a factor when adding more than one tang to a tank. Some tangs are not as aggressive as others. All tangs regardless of the type make a nice addition a reef or fish only aquarium. They are all grazers and need an algae based diet and are quite good for keeping algae growth in the aquarium in check.
most commonly kept tang easy to keep but can become quite territorial
very similar in size and shape as the yellow tang with the same territorial behavior one of the more expensive tangs average prices $50.00 to 100.00 depending on size
very nice tang with size and shape the same as the yellow and purple tangs . not quite a territorial . average price between 29.00 to 39.00 Red sea sailfin is much more colorful and commands a much higher price.
Beautiful tang, one of the brush lipped tangs that need a tank with mature algae growth to maintain their diet requirements. Quite rare and expensive $79.00 to $130.00 level of care is for the experienced fish or reef keeper
Clown Fish
Gobies
Blennies
Hawk Fish
Dragonets
Very similar to the yellow tang in size and body shape but coloring is a darker brown personality is similar as well
This is a very popular tang and very colorful,popularity has risen since the finding nemo movie ( Dory) One of my personal favorites but can be timid when small they sleep on their sides at night and can cause quiet a scare at first! Prone to stress and Ick when first introduced to a new aquarium and will not tolerate low or shifting ph levels
Also called gold rim tang can become aggressive but is very pretty ones with larger white areas on the face seem to be better survivors
Can be very delicate, NOT for the beginner or tanks under 100 gallons Very prone to Ick and can be expensive, needs high flow, long tanks,much have lots of algae to graze on
brush lipped- excellent grazer good for algae control moderately priced, hardy
Should be avoided ! VERY difficult to keep, only for the very experienced
Grows quite large but beautiful,one of my favorites for temperament can be quite hardy, prices very as to collection location and size range 29.00 to 150.00
yellow as juveniles, also tend to be Ick prone but makes a nice addition to a reef tank
not as commonly seen but a nice fish, not as popular because it lacks bright colors of the other tangs
Red sea, very pretty, grows very large and is not very difficult to keep but can be very expensive
Clown fish and anemones and the relationship between the two is probably the biggest reason people get in to the saltwater hobby! just to own and watch clownfish. Nothing is cuter than a clown wallowing in his anemone!!!
having said that ... care should be taken when adding clowns to the tank some clowns do well with other clowns in the tank and others do not and many are not compatible with each other. Tomato clowns unless paired will not tolerate another tomato clown or a Maroon Clown Clarkii clowns and Skunk clowns can become quite territorial as well. Always check before adding a clown fish to your tank if you already have one to be sure the one you want will get along. Tank raised clowns are a little more tolerant of each other but this can change as they mature. The photos along the side bar are some on the varieties of clown fish many are available as tank raised and I strongly recommend these when ever possible. prices are higher but it is well worth it as tank raised have a much better survival rate.Tomato and Maroon clowns seem to be the hardiest of the wild caught. and grow the largest. They are also the most aggressive towards other clowns but are very beautiful
Anemones
There are many different types of anemones and not all clowns like all anemones. Below is a list with common names of the clowns and their preferred anemones........
Sebae or Clarkii clowns not too picky, can be hosted by Sebae, carpet, Haitian condilactus,long tentacle,Ritterii anemones
Tomato and Maroon clowns will accept Bubble tip (favorite) carpets and long tentacles and sometimes Haitian pink tipped
Percula and false perculas very picky carpets and Ritterii and Malu Gigantic anemones
Skunk clowns Long tentacles,
Saddle back Clowns Saddle back Carpet
Skunk Clown
Maroon Clown
Saddleback Clown
False Percula
Tomato Clown
Clarkii Clown
Flame Hawk
Longnose Hawk
Arc eye Hawk
These are the 4 most commonly keep hawk fish in the reef aquarium . There are others but they grow larger and more aggressive and are best kept with larger more aggressive fish
Spotted hawk
Mandarin Dragonet AKA Mandarin Goby
Green spotted Mandarin
For unknown reasons these 2 fish are listed as Gobies but are in fact Dragonets. They require live Copepods in their diet and should only be placed in a very mature reef tank or tanks with a refugium to be sure they don't starve. Green spotted mandarins will learn to except prepared foods such as Frozen mysis and cy-clops
Care should be taken that they are not placed with other fish with the same feeding requirements to avoid depletion of their food source
These are few samples of the gobies most often seen, however there are many more then listed here. Most fish in the goby family have similar personalities but sizes vary.
