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The Center Attraction
For many of us, the aquarium has turned from hobby to passion. Some of us immerse ourselves in the science of the hobby. Others delve into the hardware and stock pile more gadgets than we can count. And most of us become avid collectors, hand picking fish and corals on sale on our weekly trip to the fish shop.
I remember an old friend of mine caught the bug and went on a reefing binge. He relished the hard work and ingenuity necessary in the hobby. He was diligent, well read, and in the end his system ran like clock work. He would open his stand doors and gleam with pride at the engineering marvel that was his tank. But I remember his tank as lackluster and plain.
We often forget why this hobby is so great. While being collectors, biologists, and amateur electricians, we must also remember that we are artists. And like most works of art, the most successful and stunning reef aquaria are built with an initial thought, emotion, or animal in mind. There is inspiration.
In closing this series of articles, I would like make a few final suggestions for stocking your reef tank. Take some time and look for some inspiration. Many animals are truly amazing, and warrant special attention.
In the first half of this article, I would like to look at spectacular animals that spark joy and excitement when looking at the reef. These are true center pieces for the aquarium. They offer the aquarium that “wow” factor.
In the second half of this article, I would like to take a look at peculiar and often unappreciated animals that offer personality and flare to the otherwise plain tank. Although appearing odd, meek or dull, when in your aquarium they are often more interesting and entertaining than their flashier counterparts.
The Spectacular
Schooling Fish
Many animal displays are simply spectacular and quickly catch the gaze of the viewer. Intricate rockwork, and shimmering water lines can showcase hoards of these colorful animals playing amongst themselves. These are the schooling fish. For the larger tank, schooling fish offer energy and vitality missing in more placid displays. Schooling fish can even be quite beneficial for shyer fish in the tank. They can act as dither fish, coaxing timid animals from their hiding places and into view.
For the hobbyist on a budget, a school of Green Chromises can make for an easy and brilliant focal point. They school well in groups over 7. In large tanks, groups of 12 or more swimming tightly, then dispersing quickly can make for a dazzling display of bright blue green. For those on a bigger budget, Blue Reef Chromises offer richer, deeper blue, often missing in the reef tank.
For those with exceptionally large tanks, you may consider a small school of tangs. Tangs are found in large shoals, grazing the reef like cattle. In smaller tanks, the complex hierarchy of tangs expresses itself in territoriality and aggression. In larger tanks, with the capacity of holding 6 or more equally sized individuals, this aggression is dispersed amongst the group. Yellow tangs are particularly well suited for schooling in a large tank as they readily do so and are relatively inexpensive. Their bright yellow coloration, and interesting social interactions make them particularly desirable. Groups should be added simultaneously and be relatively equal in size. Other desirable schooling tangs include the and the Convict. For the extremely large tank Unicorn tangs are sometimes appropriate, as they are less aggressive than Naso, or Vlamingi tangs, and can sometime be kept in large groups.
Perhaps the most brilliant and challenging schooling fish is the Anthia. Anthias display brilliant colors, and are often found in groups by the thousand along the reef wall. They have complex pecking orders that can be difficult to emulate in the aquaria. Many are accustomed to deep water and fare poorly in large reeftanks without adequate depth and shade to hide. Obligate planktivores, almost all anthias need to feed constantly directly from the water column. They must be fed no less than three times a day with enriched meaty foods. Never the less, anthias are a well welcomed challenge to the seasoned aquarist.
For those with large, well established tanks, capable of handling a sudden increase in bioload, anthias are a wonderful candidate for schooling. Threadfin, Bi-Color, Square Spot, Pictilis, and Lyre Tail anthias all school easily and are relatively hardy compared to other anthias. Aggression of the male must be distributed among many females so group one male to every eight or more females. A group of nine or more anthias is quite impressive indeed!
A challenging and dazzling anthia species is the Ventralis. Rarely found in the hobby, this anthia may have the capacity to school in large tanks, and large numbers, however this is difficult and costly. Best kept solely as the only anthia. Be wary that they often do not eat immediately in captivity, and must be quarantined and weaned onto frozen foods. Though difficult and costly, a display of Ventralis anthias is a display well worth the effort.
Though not truly “schooling” fish, many fairy wrasses interact positively with large schools. Dense schools indicate safety for wrasses, and help to coax them from hiding. Some fairy wrasses even swim with the school. I have seen this many times with flasher wrasses among anthias. Many wrasses prove more robust, beautiful, and personable than their schooling counterparts. The Filamentous, Carpenter’s and Lubbock’s wrasse are excellent, colorful additions to reef tanks. Rarely seen in the hobby, the Blue Flasher wrasse and Mc Kosker’s fairy wrasse deserve a look as well.
For the collector, wrasses offer an arena for exotic and brilliantly colored specimens. Though rare and costly, the Linneatus, La Boute, and Scotts fairy wrasses are well worth it. They are among the most beautiful reef safe wrasses available. They react positively in the presence of a school or other dither fish and easily become the centerpiece of the larger reef.
Solitary Beauty
Not all spectacular, centerpiece animals are schooling fish. Solitary beauties learn to “own” the tank around them. Beautiful, personable, and graceful, these animals often earn the “pet” status in a reef tank.
One great example of a solitary beauty is the Regal angel. One of the few relatively reef safe larger angels, Regals are brilliant, intelligent, and personable. An old customer of mine built his entire tank solely to keep a regal. They are a formidable challenge to the average reef hobbyist and require great care and consideration. They often do not eat in captivity, and require quarantining and live foods. Although relatively reef safe, some individuals will nip at clam mantles and fleshy corals from time to time.
Another solitary beauty is the Harlequin tusk. The tusk is a large, and almost domineering wrasse, with a bulky midsection and vicious looking teeth. The Australian variety is anything but plain, showing bright red, orange, silver, and blue stripes along their body. Though hardy and robust, tusks require medium to large tanks and can be threatening to small fish and invertebrates. They will often eat snails and hermits. Keep only with medium to large fish.
Spectacular Invertebrates
As reef keepers, we have many corals and invertebrates in our tanks. They are the color, the base, and the true center of the reef tank. However, many large tanks become cluttered with frags, and have no focus. The hobby has become more collecting than art or husbandry. Some invertebrates, however, are far from ordinary.
Montipora Capricornis is an awesome coral that grows well under medium to high light. This hardy coral is often striking in size, shape and color. It ridges out and grows quickly, making beautiful plated shelves along the reef wall. These shelves often provide shelter and shade for shyer animals, such as Anthias. Bright green, pink, orange, and speckled variations occur frequently throughout the hobby. Though hardy, be wary of pests that come in with wild specimens. Montipora eating nudibranches and such can decimate healthy colonies in days.
One of the most impressive tanks that I have seen was aptly named The Clam Garden. It was shallow, with only a few non-invasive corals. Appearing along the side and throughout the tank were small patches of clams of all different species and sizes. They sit along shelves on the reef wall, under cliffs, and in plain site. A giant black and white maxima claimed the center space. Clams are beautiful additions to the brightly lit reef. For the beginning hobbyist, juvenile deresa clams grow quickly and do not require as much light as other clams. They are hardy, undemanding, and beautiful. Squamosa, Maxima and Crocea clams often have mesmerizing color variations along their mantles. Sometimes “ultra” or very peculiar color variations are available, and are treated as exotic treasures. Be wary that clams are demanding in light, food, and water quality. They often succumb to parasitic snails and worms, and can fall victim to the appetite of many fish.
Closing
The animals above are among some of the more striking in the reef aquarium. They are at once beautiful and intriguing, and leave a lasting impression on the viewer. However, there are many other animals that are overlooked as prized specimens. Look to our next article as we end our discussion on stocking the reef aquarium by looking at reef safe oddities and underappreciated beauties.
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