A reef tank would be so much easier without these....or would it?

[Peace River]

A reef rank is an excuse for me to keep more fish so no, I couldn’t imagine going fish-less!

 

[Crabs McJones]

I voted false. Fish are a great source of nutrients. I had to go fallow a while back and all my sps corals paled out from lack of nutrients. I had to supplement nitrates and phosphates until fish were ready to go back in. Plus fish are a great pest control mechanism. Wrasse eat all kinds of flatworms. And tangs eat algae.

 

[BedrockIOMC]

I think all and all it would be easier without the fish but come on what's a reef tank without some kind of fish in there. They just go great together and compliment each other in my eyes. The same thing when it comes to a bare bottom tank as well. If you are at the beach or diving at the reef there are always fish and sand it just wouldn't not look natural without either of them. But one thing about it, it takes all kinds to make the world go around and everyone has a different opinion and we are like it different for sure. But when it comes to fish and reef there would be so much less to worry about without the fish but there would also be extra things to add to the tank without them as well for the corals and to keep other bad things out of the tank. There are so many things that the fish help with in a tank so it's kind of going with the thing that you don't mind doing the most, dealing with fish or dosing for the the things they help with. Loser of the two evils. But I just enjoy my fish way to much.

 

[JLynn]

Two things here: corals are definitely the hardest part of a reef tank. Fish are way lower maintenance (unless all the corals are soft corals or the fish in question are known to be difficult to keep alive). So if you are looking for easy the solution is generally fish-only, not coral-only, especially since nowadays, we excel at nutrient export.

Secondly, at least for me, I could never have one without the other. For me the joy of reefkeeping is creating a reef ecosystem, and the fish are as much a part of that as the corals. I love watching the fish interact with their reef as much as I love growing big, beautiful coral colonies.

 

[Alvaro_Spain]

My nano (10 gallon) does much better without fish. Just some snails and amphipods. I just do water changes with no skimmer.

When I had some small ocellaris it had always algae and then cyano. I can´t put a skimmer because I work close to it and I don´t want the noise.

In a medium or large tank it´ll be much better to have fish, but in a desktop nano I find they add too much bioload.

 

[don_chuwish]

I think it could be fun, but maybe just in a nano. And make it an 'invert' tank. But I wouldn't say it makes things easier.

 

[Thaxxx]

Fishless is like owning a fast car but not driving it.

 

[waterskiguy]

Fish poo is great for corals. I have 35 fish in my tank to just keep nutrients up enough for some color.

 

[Keiffer the reefer]

I’ve never considered trying it but I say false to the question as written. You still have to manage nutrients and food. It would just be in a different way. I doubt it’s easier or harder. Probably just different. The relationships between corals, fish and inverts are too interesting to simply not have fish.

 

[hotdrop]

If I could keep a fishless tank I would but algee/food waste control without them is hard

 

[Greatdane]

I have a biocube 32 and are looking for a colony tank in the future

 

[Paul J]

Fish are needed for the sake of the corals

 

[Greatdane]

I have a biocube 32 and are looking for a colony tank in the future

I think it would be easier to have a all fish tank then a colony tank

 

[saltyhog]

It ain't a reef without fish on it! In nature at least, the fish are a vital part of the ecosystem.

 

[Auquanut]

I talk to my fish. I don't talk to my corals. To some people that may seem odd. That's okay. My corals are beautiful, but my fish are my little buddies.

 

[MabuyaQ]

Besides a reeftank without fish not being a reeftank anymore, I am certain fish help create a stable bacterial biome that corals need to thrive, and that is besides the nutrients they provide to corals directly and the pest certain species can help control.

 

[BeejReef]

Agree ecosystem, nutrients, etc., etc. Fish play an important role.

Bottom line is that it would be harder to go fishless because it would be too tedious to explain to guests why you have a fish tank with no fish.

 

[PedroYoung]

Went fishless for a year, corals didn't like it. The fish waste is a great source of nutrients. You just have to do your research and get "reef safe" fish from a good source, quarantine (or pay extra to have someone else do it), and enjoy.

 

[mfinn]

I started my 66 gallon tank with no fish and for the first 4-5 months it remained fishless.
It's located at the opposite end of my house that my other tank is and it does take extra effort to bring food to this end of the house. So that part of the evening feeding routine was easier.
But I really missed having fish in it.
I've been waiting for reasonably priced Black Cap Basselets to hit the stores, but none have.
So last week I got in 3 captive bred Orchid Dottybacks.
So far so good.

 

[Double monti 61]

Ok so much about fish what about the small life that can inhabit your aquarium?