If you could choose ONE freshwater fish that could magically live in your reef - which would you pick?

[MillennialReefer]

Just for fun! - all hypothetical - do not try this! lol

Like many reefers, I started keeping freshwater fish, from planted tanks, cichlids and discuss then naturally evolved into reefing. However, due to space and my personal life I only have time to maintain one system and that is my reef. There are times I wish I could also keep a large freshwater system but in reality It wouldn't go well long term. There are so many fish that I sometimes wish were saltwater species so I can keep in my reef (excluding mollies or some brackish species). So the question also the title. If you could keep one freshwater fish in your reef, which one would it be?

Mine is a black ghost knife fish - thinking how cool it would be swimming amongst the corals with the color contrast - its a fantasy I know!

Anyone have a similar fantasy?

 

[afrokobe]

I had a, I don't know, 10 or 15 gallon planted tank with a betta and eventually a pleco. I couldn't figure out why the tank was getting so dirty, then I realized it was the pleco.

most plecos also get enormous outside of a few species. Some even bigger than this

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

@Sharkbait19 Be careful, if you mention Glofish too often, that one freshwater guy who is on this forum will appear and curse you with duckweed. Even in a reef tank. Nobody is safe. In all seriousness, while it doesn't directly harm the fish, making Glofish leads to many people seeing them almost as toys and buying them for kids, which only ends one way. If saltwater people start keeping GloMollies, then it is only a matter of time before we see GloTangs, and I think we can all agree that that would be an atrocious thing in a reef tank.

 

[Sharkbait19]

@Sharkbait19 Be careful, if you mention Glofish too often, that one freshwater guy who is on this forum will appear and curse you with duckweed. Even in a reef tank. Nobody is safe. In all seriousness, while it doesn't directly harm the fish, making Glofish leads to many people seeing them almost as toys and buying them for kids, which only ends one way. If saltwater people start keeping GloMollies, then it is only a matter of time before we see GloTangs, and I think we can all agree that that would be an atrocious thing in a reef tank.

Good point. Last thing we need is “why is my glow in the dark dory dying. I just put it in my bowl with my glow betta who is very happy…”
Don’t worry…I’m already cursed with duckweed!
Glo fish are an amazing aspect of modern biotechnology, but honestly should be limited to those that understand both that and proper fishkeeping.

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

@Sharkbait19 I couldn't agree more.

 

[afrokobe]

We definitely don't need duckweed in reef tanks lol. its already enough work with other nuisance algaes

 

[Sharkbait19]

We definitely don't need duckweed in reef tanks lol. its already enough work with other nuisance algaes

We don’t have to worry about duckweed - we have Xenia and gsp!

 

[Jubei2006]

Has anyone mentioned the gouramis or bettas?

 

[afrokobe]

Has anyone mentioned the gouramis or bettas?

to me, long fin clowns look like the bettas of the reef keeping.

 

[Jubei2006]

to me, long fin clowns look like the bettas of the reef keeping.

Yeah but have you seen the Plakat bettas?? Holy crap https://aquaticarts.com/products/fancy-plakat-betta

 

[Petcrazyson]

Just for fun! - all hypothetical - do not try this! lol

Like many reefers, I started keeping freshwater fish, from planted tanks, cichlids and discuss then naturally evolved into reefing. However, due to space and my personal life I only have time to maintain one system and that is my reef. There are times I wish I could also keep a large freshwater system but in reality It wouldn't go well long term. There are so many fish that I sometimes wish were saltwater species so I can keep in my reef (excluding mollies or some brackish species). So the question also the title. If you could keep one freshwater fish in your reef, which one would it be?

Mine is a black ghost knife fish - thinking how cool it would be swimming amongst the corals with the color contrast - its a fantasy I know!

Anyone have a similar fantasy?

I would choose a Dalmation Molly

 

[bxclent]

Just for fun! - all hypothetical - do not try this! lol

Like many reefers, I started keeping freshwater fish, from planted tanks, cichlids and discuss then naturally evolved into reefing. However, due to space and my personal life I only have time to maintain one system and that is my reef. There are times I wish I could also keep a large freshwater system but in reality It wouldn't go well long term. There are so many fish that I sometimes wish were saltwater species so I can keep in my reef (excluding mollies or some brackish species). So the question also the title. If you could keep one freshwater fish in your reef, which one would it be?

Mine is a black ghost knife fish - thinking how cool it would be swimming amongst the corals with the color contrast - its a fantasy I know!

Anyone have a similar fantasy?

I believe I saw one at my LFS a few months ago ! It was beautiful, but expensive.

 

[Fishyfishyman]

Just for fun! - all hypothetical - do not try this! lol

Like many reefers, I started keeping freshwater fish, from planted tanks, cichlids and discuss then naturally evolved into reefing. However, due to space and my personal life I only have time to maintain one system and that is my reef. There are times I wish I could also keep a large freshwater system but in reality It wouldn't go well long term. There are so many fish that I sometimes wish were saltwater species so I can keep in my reef (excluding mollies or some brackish species). So the question also the title. If you could keep one freshwater fish in your reef, which one would it be?

Mine is a black ghost knife fish - thinking how cool it would be swimming amongst the corals with the color contrast - its a fantasy I know!

Anyone have a similar fantasy?

Zebra pleco

 

[SteveMM62Reef]

Some Cory Catfish, number depends on tank size. They are always cleaning the Gravel. They don’t bother anyone, and not too many fish can mess with them, due to their “Armor Plate.”

 

[Firepony]

I just got these freshwater (brackish water) black tip sharks, for $8, but in Saltwater. What a trip to see and watch tho lolol they get along with all my other fish too

 

[Sharkbait19]

I just got these freshwater (brackish water) black tip sharks, for $8, but in Saltwater. What a trip to see and watch tho lolol they get along with all my other fish too

You know how big they get, right?

 

[Freenow54]

Just for fun! - all hypothetical - do not try this! lol

Like many reefers, I started keeping freshwater fish, from planted tanks, cichlids and discuss then naturally evolved into reefing. However, due to space and my personal life I only have time to maintain one system and that is my reef. There are times I wish I could also keep a large freshwater system but in reality It wouldn't go well long term. There are so many fish that I sometimes wish were saltwater species so I can keep in my reef (excluding mollies or some brackish species). So the question also the title. If you could keep one freshwater fish in your reef, which one would it be?

Mine is a black ghost knife fish - thinking how cool it would be swimming amongst the corals with the color contrast - its a fantasy I know!

Anyone have a similar fantasy?

Yellow Cichlid's. I lost all mine to Malawi bloat before I could get medication. All because of an employee recommending the wrong food at my lfs. They were all tank breed and don't have it in me to repeat it. Thinking about converting it to an open concept reef tank which would bring me to 3

 

[Firepony]

You know how big they get, right?

Yes!!! Lol up to 20".

 

[Sharkbait19]

Yes!!! Lol up to 20".

They’ll likely outgrow the tank, or get stunted and die first.

 

[bnord]

An Archer fish... oh wait... I can... why haven't I?

 

[Firepony]

They’ll likely outgrow the tank, or get stunted and die first.

I just got a 120 gallon 6foot long tank yesterday. Im planning on putting them in there.