Thalasstronaut
Active Member
Hello all,
I’ve recently decided to incorporate a display refugium into my system, based on a skin I’m building for my stand. It would be a 40 breeder, and I’d like to have a macro algae display by the main tank. And I’d like suggestions for any animals to keep down in the algae display that would maybe not play so well with others in the main 90g display.
I suppose the only real requirements would be something that won’t aggressively consume macro algae or pods, and something that would be comfortable in a 40b for its whole life. Can be invert or fish, just something interesting down there, you know?
So far, my ideas have been:
Purple reef lobster, always loved the look of these guys. Never had the nerve to add one to my main display because I’m worried I’d never see it and it would just be a subterranean assassin in my tank. My concerns are size (would it be better to have it in a smaller tank to see it more? So it doesn’t get lost in the rocks?) And if it might go clipping or destroying macros.
Valentini puffer- I didn’t use to care for these as they didn’t have the iconic “puffer” look, by every one I’ve seen at stores has been active and interesting in its own way. Do these fish generally have a lot of personality? I love my inverts in my tank so I never dreamed of adding a puffer, but they have caught my eye for this purpose.
Blue velvet or jeweled damsel- I know these guys are monsters in a reef setting, towards other fish, but if they’re just flying solo, are they interesting fish? I know their coloration changes when they reach maturity but how long does that take? I’m fine with the more muted colors but if the colorful phase only lasts a year, for example, I might consider something else.
Open to anything else, as well. I’d be giving preference to something that specifically I wouldn’t be able to keep with my main fish (percula, flame hawk, coral beauty, starry blenny) as I have a “to stock” list for my main display I’m pretty happy with and I’m looking for animals I would have otherwise written off as bad fits.
Thanks in advance.
I’ve recently decided to incorporate a display refugium into my system, based on a skin I’m building for my stand. It would be a 40 breeder, and I’d like to have a macro algae display by the main tank. And I’d like suggestions for any animals to keep down in the algae display that would maybe not play so well with others in the main 90g display.
I suppose the only real requirements would be something that won’t aggressively consume macro algae or pods, and something that would be comfortable in a 40b for its whole life. Can be invert or fish, just something interesting down there, you know?
So far, my ideas have been:
Purple reef lobster, always loved the look of these guys. Never had the nerve to add one to my main display because I’m worried I’d never see it and it would just be a subterranean assassin in my tank. My concerns are size (would it be better to have it in a smaller tank to see it more? So it doesn’t get lost in the rocks?) And if it might go clipping or destroying macros.
Valentini puffer- I didn’t use to care for these as they didn’t have the iconic “puffer” look, by every one I’ve seen at stores has been active and interesting in its own way. Do these fish generally have a lot of personality? I love my inverts in my tank so I never dreamed of adding a puffer, but they have caught my eye for this purpose.
Blue velvet or jeweled damsel- I know these guys are monsters in a reef setting, towards other fish, but if they’re just flying solo, are they interesting fish? I know their coloration changes when they reach maturity but how long does that take? I’m fine with the more muted colors but if the colorful phase only lasts a year, for example, I might consider something else.
Open to anything else, as well. I’d be giving preference to something that specifically I wouldn’t be able to keep with my main fish (percula, flame hawk, coral beauty, starry blenny) as I have a “to stock” list for my main display I’m pretty happy with and I’m looking for animals I would have otherwise written off as bad fits.
Thanks in advance.
