Fish that have purpose

[ReeferMark]

I'm in the process of building a 120 gallon reef. I'm wanting to stock it with fish that have a purpose and will help the tank be better overall.

With that said, help me decide what fish to stock in my new tank!

 

[Oscaror]

I'm in the process of building a 120 gallon reef. I'm wanting to stock it with fish that have a purpose and will help the tank be better overall.

With that said, help me decide what fish to stock in my new tank!

Fox face, copper band butterfly, dragonet, sand sifting goby, and great white shark all serve a great purpose

 

[luxauterna]

lol I guess it depends on your perspective of "purpose" eh? Tangs are great for algae control. Lawnmower Blennies can be too. Certain reef safe wrasses are great for picking out pests (flatworms and other nasty things). It all depends on what type of purpose you would like. Anthias and chromis add a lot of movement to the tank. Sand sifting gobies like a gold head sleeper goby are great for stirring up the sand and cleaning it (and also putting that sand on all of your coral). Lots of choices! The hardest part for me when starting new tanks is figuring out almost a "theme" of the tank.

 

[Humblefish]

I've always been impressed with how Ctenochaetus tangs constantly pick algae off rocks/substrate, and most of those would be a great fit for your size tank.

I added a Blue Spot Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus binotatus) a month or so ago, and that little gem must turn over every tiny rock on my substrate once a day. I can't say for sure, but my cyano problem has completely disappeared since adding her.

 

[philfree]

lol I guess it depends on your perspective of "purpose" eh? Tangs are great for algae control. Lawnmower Blennies can be too. Certain reef safe wrasses are great for picking out pests (flatworms and other nasty things). It all depends on what type of purpose you would like. Anthias and chromis add a lot of movement to the tank. Sand sifting gobies like a gold head sleeper goby are great for stirring up the sand and cleaning it (and also putting that sand on all of your coral). Lots of choices! The hardest part for me when starting new tanks is figuring out almost a "theme" of the tank.

I very much agree with this. I feel in this hobby, and especially in "science" in general we fail to, or forget, to think in whole systems. "Fish that have a purpose". They all do. They have worked very hard to. Our expectations and desires may not be compatible with this. But its a reality that we cant forget when choosing our little swimmy pets and keeping them happy. After all, i feel we are trying to emulate their native environment.

 

[jlanger]

In my 120gal reef system, I have a great "algae patrol" that keeps my display essentially algae-free.
•Kole Tang
•Lemonpeel Mimic Tang
•One Spot Foxface
•Scribbled Rabbitfish
These four fish are great algae eaters; the Kole Tang and Foxface especially.
My foxface devours bubble algae, hair algae and bryopsis fromfrags or rocks in a matter of minutes.

I also employ a shrimp goby and pistol shrimp pair.
They really help in keeping a sand bed clean by moving sand around constantly.

Another fish to consider that has a purpose would be some type of dither fish; one that is constantly swimming out in the open water.
A dither fish will help encourage any timid fish to come out and be visible.

Good luck!