Best fish for beauty and purpose

[bct15]

What do you consider the most beneficial fish to add to a reef that not only is beneficial but is a stunning specimen to look at as well? In my experience the following fish are a must have for any large reef and all look amazing too.

I think Halichoeres wrasses are the most useful fish to add to any tank. They come in a huge array of colors, can go in all sorts of different size tanks and are easy to keep alive, but they require a sand bed to sleep in. These fish have to be the best unwanted invert predator out there, eating everything from pyrmaid snails, to flatworms, to bristleworms and everything in between. In my experience they only seem to eat pests I dont want and (for the most part) leave the snails and shrimp I like alone.

My second best fish to serve a purpose and look good would have to be tangs, though not suited for every tank and require some swimming room. Tangs are excellent at keeping unwanted algae out of the display, and poop all over my coral (the coral seem to like it). My tangs also are good at breaking up fights between fish, specifically my yellow tang...not sure why they do this but it works for me.

My third best fish to add would be a mandarin, I think these fish do more behind the scenes work in keeping pest populations down then people realize.

If you were to reccomend some fish to a newb that carries both benefit and beaty what would you consider the best? Lets try to compile a list and see where peopel agree and disagree.

P.S. I think this would make an interesting poll at some point if enough feedback was given...

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[icedearth15324]

For larger tanks, a Sleeper Banded Goby is very beneficial. It constantly stirs up the sand bed eating algae in the sand and then shoots it out its gills. It's a very fun fish to watch, relatively attractive, but very beneficial.

 

[PaulKreider]

Purple tang is a gem in my eyes.

 

[Dtech07]

Leopard or Sixline Wrasse

 

[Zenjimatsu]

Yellow belly hippo tang if you have a nice size tank. Everyone likes my checkerboard wrasse for some reason even though its not very rare.

 

[KoleTang]

Ctenochaetus (Bristletooth) Tangs. Especially the Yellow Eye Kole Tang. They aren't flashey in color, but they could be described as a suave and handsomely colored fish. Especially Kole Tangs with their pin stripes (It looks like they are wearing fish sized sport coats LOL). They also never stop eating of the rocks (the best worker tang IME). Just make sure before you buy one, make the LFS feed it. They can sometimes refuse to eat anything but algae on the rocks.

And yes my tangs stop fights as well. :bigsmile: I call them the ambassadors of the tank.

 

[Rudy16189]

- Melanurus or six lines for pest
- Purple tang for algae
- Diamond goby for sand stir sand
Im always have this combo on my tanks

 

[o2manyfish]

I think for a purpose in the tank, I would have to go with a Juvenile Chevron tang. That covers both purpose and beauty. The larger it gets the beauty wanes but as a functional fish that mouth only pulls algae off the rocks.

Yellow Sailfin Blenny (Tongan) bright yellow little fish with lots of personality and also munches algae.

And I also have to add my blue damsels. Yes simple blue damsels. Brilliant coloring, and they are good to keep in a tank because they do a great job of making sure any extra food you put in the tank gets devoured.

Dave B

 

[DB9181]

For beauty, I absolutely love my femail Blue-Star Leopard Wrasse. Mel. Wrasse adds good color and great for pests/clean up. My Dragon Sleepy Goby is slightly different than your 'traditional' yellow watchman, etc but does a great job for the sandbed.

 

[1.0reef]

IMO I don't buy fish for purpose, there are going to be inverts or equipment that would be a better investment.
I like most wrasse (Cirrhilabrus, Macropharyngodon, Paracheilinus, Wetmorella)for reefs, I've always like triggerfish because of their outstanding personality, color, and intelligence.

 

[STP wellsophyllia]

**** just a heads up. Most sand sifting gobies dont eat algae, they just "hide" it. They eat the bacteria and organisms that break down nitrates in live sand. Im not saying that gobies are bad, im just saying that if you really want to get rid of the algae, invest in a proper clean up crew ie: snails and small hermits.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

 

[Sonner171]

I have a "White Bar Mystery Wrasse" from Vanuatu... The most amazingly beautiful fish I have seen, and is very active. Most wrasses are great for your tank, and this is by far my favorite. Hard to find though.

 

[devolette]

if you have a peaceful reef i would suggest a hector's goby to anybody. he was my absolute favorite fish and i'll for sure get another one some day. they always get picked on though so be careful who you put them in with. also if you have a small tank they only need like ten gallons. they're so pretty and their personalities are amazing and hilarious. they do like to sift sand onto rocks and corals and i know that would **** some people off but it was worth it to me. they also eat everything.

 

[KoleTang]

I think for a purpose in the tank, I would have to go with a Juvenile Chevron tang. That covers both purpose and beauty. The larger it gets the beauty wanes but as a functional fish that mouth only pulls algae off the rocks.

You gotta love the bristletooth tangs.

I disagree that their beauty wanes. A fully mature adult that is very healthy will get a very quiet electric blue/gray hybrid color. With some interesting stripes.

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