Angels in reef tank

[MoreZoasPLZ]

I’ve always been told that angels weren’t reef safe, but I keep seeing more and more reef tanks filled with with corals have angels in them. My question is how are you guys doing it? I would like to add one, especially a flame angel, but I don’t want my coral getting eaten.

 

[zheka757]

It's a 50/50 chance when they say "reef with caution" for most dwarf angels. And for large angels almost all are not reef safe.
also if you have a frag and it will be picked on by fish, it will most likely die, as opose to large coral colonies, it will be picked on but will survive.
Also if you feed your fish more often, there is a chance they won't be picking on corals.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Get a large tank, like 400 gallon minimum large.

 

[i cant think]

Get a large tank, like 400 gallon minimum large.

I disagree with this heavily. I have 3 Angels in a mixed reef and it’s nowhere near 400 Gallons. It’s - 5’x2’x2’ 180G tank.

I don’t do anything special. I don’t feed more, I don’t just keep huge colonies. I just don’t keep certain coral I know they’ll eat. All angels are reef safe, they will just nip at specific coral - avoid those coral and you’re fine. Don’t keep;
- Zoas
- Acans/Micromussa
- Scolys/Trachys

Anything fleshy tends to be a no go.
I do however keep;
- Mushrooms
- Leathers
- Hammers
- Frogspawn
- Torches
- Various Acros
- Montis
- Gorgonians
- Bubbles
- Gonis
- Duncans

All healthy & happy with the angels.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I disagree with this heavily. I have 3 Angels in a mixed reef and it’s nowhere near 400 Gallons. It’s - 5’x2’x2’ 180G tank.

I don’t do anything special. I don’t feed more, I don’t just keep huge colonies. I just don’t keep certain coral I know they’ll eat. All angels are reef safe, they will just nip at specific coral - avoid those coral and you’re fine. Don’t keep;
- Zoas
- Acans/Micromussa
- Scolys/Trachys

Anything fleshy tends to be a no go.
I do however keep;
- Mushrooms
- Leathers
- Hammers
- Frogspawn
- Torches
- Various Acros
- Montis
- Gorgonians
- Bubbles
- Gonis
- Duncans

All healthy & happy with the angels.

I was just kidding. I just said 400gal because when I think Angels in a reef tank I think of Unorthodox reefer’s 400gal mixed reef (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...y-2022-jay_bros-400-gallon-dream-tank.890040/)

 

[14 foot reef]

I have an adult french, Adult Emporer, Adult Holo Holo Flame Angel and a Jaculator Angel. They pick on nothing.

 

[Reeferbadness]

i had an emperor angel (sadly he passed from Flukes) who was ok with coral except some softies like zoa's. I also have a dwarf flame angel who is ok and an amazing Swallowtail Angel who is 100% reef safe. With the exception of the Swallowtail - who is knows to be reef safe, i think Angel's are a gamble but worth it if you're willing to swap them out for bad behavior or can work around their appetite for some corals.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I disagree with this heavily. I have 3 Angels in a mixed reef and it’s nowhere near 400 Gallons. It’s - 5’x2’x2’ 180G tank.

I don’t do anything special. I don’t feed more, I don’t just keep huge colonies. I just don’t keep certain coral I know they’ll eat. All angels are reef safe, they will just nip at specific coral - avoid those coral and you’re fine. Don’t keep;
- Zoas
- Acans/Micromussa
- Scolys/Trachys

Anything fleshy tends to be a no go.
I do however keep;
- Mushrooms
- Leathers
- Hammers
- Frogspawn
- Torches
- Various Acros
- Montis
- Gorgonians
- Bubbles
- Gonis
- Duncans

All healthy & happy with the angels.

Where’s the regal? Hope all is well.

 

[Tamberav]

I’ve always been told that angels weren’t reef safe, but I keep seeing more and more reef tanks filled with with corals have angels in them. My question is how are you guys doing it? I would like to add one, especially a flame angel, but I don’t want my coral getting eaten.

You just add it and feed them well with good foods like LRS, spirulina mysis, nori, etc. My flame never touched a thing.

If you plan to limit foods to try and control nutrients or feed brine then it is probably going to seek out nutrition.

 

[backbayreef]

My angels are medium-size, slowly color changing to adulthood. I have mostly LPS for now but planning to add SPS soon. They are reef-safe, with caution - they ate zoas like candy!

Hungry fish during feeding time…

 

[i cant think]

Where’s the regal? Hope all is well.

I lost the regal back around August annoyingly during a QT incident (I hold my thought of, I will not QT my fish for as much as I can avoid it).
She was almost completely fine with Corals, only went for zoas, but in my tank Acans have always been fine for some reason.

 

[VexedTomb792]

I’ve always been told that angels weren’t reef safe, but I keep seeing more and more reef tanks filled with with corals have angels in them. My question is how are you guys doing it? I would like to add one, especially a flame angel, but I don’t want my coral getting eaten.

My bicolour has never shown even the slightest bit of interest in my lps or zoas in the 3 years I’ve had him. Just nibbles at rock work or back glass

 

[OrionN]

I always have a harem of Flame angels in my reef. 4 fish harem at this time.

Juvenile pair of Majestic angel also.

Love my Regal pair too

 

[OrionN]

I mostly keep SPS and anemones. All my Xenia are Angel food pasta. Kenya tree grew absolutely wild. Clams OK in my tank.

 

[slingfox]

My SPS used to have crazy polyp extension. I lost most polyp extension after adding a flame angel. Not sure if it was the angle or some other issue. I moved the flame angel to another tank as I try to diagnose the issue.

 

[Miami Reef]

My SPS used to have crazy polyp extension. I lost most polyp extension after adding a flame angel. Not sure if it was the angle or some other issue. I moved the flame angel to another tank as I try to diagnose the issue.

How long ago did you move the angel? I hope the SPS start extending again soon.

 

[areefer01]

You just add it and feed them well with good foods like LRS, spirulina mysis, nori, etc. My flame never touched a thing.

If you plan to limit foods to try and control nutrients or feed brine then it is probably going to seek out nutrition.

Words of wisdom. Bored and hungry fish is going to be trouble. I'd add one other thing if you don't mind and that is the hobbyist in question should have a 'what is acceptable' list that they created. This way it is known what is, or is not, acceptable and what the mitigation is to resolve it.

Is it ok to randomly nip? Is it ok to eat a rock full of zoa's? Only the yellow ones but leave the blue and reds alone? Nip LPS vs tearing flesh off? Xenia removal and more.
While not an angelfish I introduced a a Zoster and Pyramid butterfly. My acceptable clause was that I was ok if it ate my Xenia. I was not ok if it tore apart my LPS colonies. My mitigation plan was to trap it and move it to a temporary tank and give to a buddy. I added a Milletseed Butterfly and it had the run of the tank. I would have went fish only because I wanted the fish and it was more important to me than the rest.

Extreme but just pointing out that knowing up front what is or is not acceptable behavior is wise. Then having a mitigation plan to act if required important.

We have ideas and history on what we believe they may act but just like humans fish have their own personalities. Equally hobbyist have different setups which may impact their behavior.

 

[slingfox]

How long ago did you move the angel? I hope the SPS start extending again soon.

It has been in a separate tank for one week now. Polyp extension has gotten a little better but still a long way to go. Before my millepora were super shaggy. For the last few months the polyps have been retracted. It was complete polyp retraction until recently. Now the polyps may be out a small amount like 1-2mm max.

 

[cilyjr]

My SPS used to have crazy polyp extension. I lost most polyp extension after adding a flame angel. Not sure if it was the angle or some other issue. I moved the flame angel to another tank as I try to diagnose the issue.

This is also my experience, I however do not care. My Coral grows very quickly.

I read a pretty interesting article once stating that coralavores potentially actually help reef growth due to their waste matter being more in line with what Coral wants to uptake.