Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 I want a really different / unique fish to add to my tank. I had the fish of my dreams but he ate my LPS (Moorish Idol). I was thinking a Look Down but they get way too big. Help me brain storm. -little under 200 gallon tank -5 tangs -11 chromis -royal gramma -2 clowns -melanurus wrasse -Bangii cardinal Don't want any more tangs I was thinking Harlequin Tusk but not different or challenging enough What else is there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallreef August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 always the Dr. Seuss soap fish... hes on sale now, lol but for my personal opinion a foxface would do nicely,, though also possibly nip LPS and clams... hamlets, soapfish they may be "common" but not many people have them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trockafella August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 Harlequin tusk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davelin315 August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 With 5 tangs, not many fish will get in there without taking some serious abuse at first so I'd say that you need to bail on the idea of "challenging" as you might not be able to actually get a difficult fish to acclimate to your tank if it's getting beat up constantly (plus, I don't agree with getting a fish just because it's challenging - it should be because you like the fish and you think you can provide a home for it - trying not to sound preachy and on a soapbox, but can't figure out how to do that and get my point across). That said, I'd rule out many of the difficult angels and other deepwater specimens. Perhaps you could get away with something neat like an assessor (I had a gold and a black one many years ago before they became the new rage several years ago with ORA - really neat fish that would swim upside down almost constantly). Or, perhaps a marine betta, not many of those are housed around here and they are not necessarily difficult fish, although you may find them to be difficult if you've got livestock that will fit in its mouth. You could also experiment with different triggers in your reef to see which would work out. Or, try and get a fun fish like a box fish, although the stress of being introduced with a bunch of already present tangs could stress it out and it could release toxins that you won't like... I am a big fan of the Blue Box Fish (Ostracion meleagris meleagris). Had one in college and it was not only gorgeous but it also was bursting with personality - it would squirt water across the room to get my attention and then eat food sticks out of my hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 always the Dr. Seuss soap fish... hes on sale now, lol but for my personal opinion a foxface would do nicely,, though also possibly nip LPS and clams... hamlets, soapfish they may be "common" but not many people have them.... I was thinking a magnificent foxface but too risky with the corals. I need a fish that is 99% reef safe for corals. They can go after inverts all they want. Harlequin tusk I might just go there. Kinda just waiting until yours get too big and you give it to me With 5 tangs, not many fish will get in there without taking some serious abuse at first so I'd say that you need to bail on the idea of "challenging" as you might not be able to actually get a difficult fish to acclimate to your tank if it's getting beat up constantly (plus, I don't agree with getting a fish just because it's challenging - it should be because you like the fish and you think you can provide a home for it - trying not to sound preachy and on a soapbox, but can't figure out how to do that and get my point across). That said, I'd rule out many of the difficult angels and other deepwater specimens. Perhaps you could get away with something neat like an assessor (I had a gold and a black one many years ago before they became the new rage several years ago with ORA - really neat fish that would swim upside down almost constantly). Or, perhaps a marine betta, not many of those are housed around here and they are not necessarily difficult fish, although you may find them to be difficult if you've got livestock that will fit in its mouth. You could also experiment with different triggers in your reef to see which would work out. Or, try and get a fun fish like a box fish, although the stress of being introduced with a bunch of already present tangs could stress it out and it could release toxins that you won't like... I am a big fan of the Blue Box Fish (Ostracion meleagris meleagris). Had one in college and it was not only gorgeous but it also was bursting with personality - it would squirt water across the room to get my attention and then eat food sticks out of my hand. I really want something that is reef safe (for corals). I can't risk it eating some of the corals I have in there. I was actually thinking a Niger Trigger even though is the most common trigger found in the reef. However, if you search long enough you can find some really unique Nigers with some crazy blue/purple colors. A box fish scares me because of the toxins. I have had first hand experience with a box fish dying and killing everything in the tank including a 10" sailfin. They can do some serious damage. Great idea guys. Keep'em coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 Swissguard Basslets Assessors Splendid Dottybacks McCullochs Pseudochromis These are on the top of the cool list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallreef August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 Crosshatch trigger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 5 or 7 of these would be amazing. http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+46+3154&pcatid=3154 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zygote2k August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 go for it. you'll be the only one to have them. Unique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 Swissguard Basslets Assessors Splendid Dottybacks McCullochs Pseudochromis These are on the top of the cool list. The Assessors are stunning. Never seen one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 Crosshatch trigger! hlem has a pair are they are beautiful. Not sure how reef safe though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlem August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 5 or 7 of these would be amazing. http://www.liveaquar...154&pcatid=3154 I had had this one before, they grow big. i had a 5in one. he did well, but then one day just stop eating. i slowly saw him get skinner and skinner daily until no more =( dont know why... hlem has a pair are they are beautiful. Not sure how reef safe though... 110% reef safe (for corals). one of the safest trigger, doesnt go after snails, but I no longer see any shrimps, but i did have had a hawkfish, which I think ate all my shrimps.. but I dont think they'll do well for your tank since it's not that long, i think they like to swim at least a short distance before turning around. You should check out those expensive wrasses. I have a friend with a tank full of them and they are gorgeous.. but you'll need to cover every inch up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 I'm thinking remove a few tangs (yellow and kole eye) and a Achilles or Gem tang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlem August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 Gem tang there you go... lol, no one will have that and you'll be set in fish for many.. many.. years... and probably be set in corals too, and probably everything else in your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trockafella August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 I love my cowfish, and its got tons of personality, and it spits water all the time, but it would have a hard time competing for food. Sorry, but you're not getting my tusk. They're beautiful and its always out and about, and not that many people keep them. Nigers can get nasty, so keep that in mind. How about a cool grouper, like the coral hind grouper? Very pretty and not very common in local tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallreef August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 Ahhh a coral hind...gorgeous fish,,but would end up inhaling his clowns and other small fish... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collegeman August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 I would go with an Aussie tusk. The colors on them are amazing and they have great personality. He is always out in the open and love food. This is by far my favorite fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 A cow fish would be awesome. I feed a ton do you think it would always get beat for food? Also does it do okay in high flow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 You have the best ideas travis. Didn't even think about a coral hind grouper. I think a cow fish would be great but the whole poison thing especially when it's a late addition scares me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomtom2245 August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 It's not really out there but I love Midas blennies. Mine is always out and about, has great color, and a cool swimming style that reminds me of an eel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCDRDATA August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 I want a really different / unique fish to add to my tank. I had the fish of my dreams but he ate my LPS (Moorish Idol). I was thinking a Look Down but they get way too big... What else is there? It may not be far enough out there, but if a Moorish Idol was the fish of your dreams, how about 1-3 schooling bannerfish? Similar look and reef safe. Also, you could go with an eel look with one or more engineer gobies (hope your rockwork is secure). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 I agree that Midas blenny is one of my favorite fish. I personally like groups of fish - interspecies behavior is fascinating. 5-6 leopard wrasses would be awesome, they act as a harem, are reef safe, and are awesome. A harem of fairy or flasher wrasses (especially something like a labout's) would be super cool, though females are HARD HARD HARD to come by in groups (I looked for two years with an importer trying to find 4 or more when I had my larger reef... no luck - Recently, I have seen female Hawaiian flame wrasses available though). A trio of Borbonius anthias would be stunning (on my dream list). An angel pair in the genicanthus sp. would be awesome. Getting into angels brings up a whole different discussion... Marine banded angels are some of my favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coral Hind August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 Here are my suggestions that I haven't seen listed yet, but it depends on the budget. Holanthias borbonius Liopropoma carmabi Genicanthus melanospilos Genecanthus personatus Bodianus sanguineus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Incredible Corals August 13, 2012 Author Share August 13, 2012 Soo many good ideas I have a lot of reserach to do tonight. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlem August 13, 2012 Share August 13, 2012 I love wrasses, should check them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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