Best fish to have in a mixed reef tank?

[saltwaterboy321]

I have a 46gallon bowfront tank. (in the making) I was hoping to have a reef tank and was wondering, what the best fish would be to have in the tank?

[45commando]

This can be interprated in so many ways.Best color,size,compatability with other fish/inverts?I would try & decide what inverts you want to keep & then base your fish selection on that.HTH

[ReefDreamz]

I have a 46 and have 1 false percula clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 purple firefish, and 1 scissor tail goby. All a great fish.

[Bebo77]

clowns... lol.. its not a reef tank without percs...

[BangkokMatt]

Agree with a pair of clowns

[onano]

Pair of Clowns for sure, maybe a small wrasse (I like the Possum Wrasses)not a sixline just a bit too aggressive. Maybe a nice Goby, Pistol pair. My 75 is all pairs: Clowns, Fairy Wrasses, Pistol/Goby. Everyone gets along and I get some nice natural behaviors. The male fairys color have stayed pristine since he shows off regularly to his girl.

[kydsexy]

buy a pair of Picasso's!

[jetta]

clowns for sure. they are very active.

[RedSoxReefer]

I disagree with the clowns...They are trouble if you decide to keep any Long polyp corals...I had a pair that in my 46 that I got rid of because they hosted a frogspawn and also a nice spaghetti leather almost killing both of em.

[Gdevine]

Lawn mower blenny! Cute as heck and part of a great clean up crew!

[corals b 4 bills]

I agree with the Lawnmower Blennie great friendly fish.

[warriorss08]

a group of anthias

[fishnut321]

i like my lawnmower, i had a pistol shirmp and goby as well.... both are unique looking and have personality

[Vitaly]

Like many have said...Ocellaris/Percula clowns are great...not too aggressive, do not need a large amount of swim room. However, as has been mentioned some may take host into an LPS (Hammer Coral, Frogspawn, etc) and do lots of damage.

If I had to pick just one...and only one fish for a 46 gallon mixed reef...I would go with a member of the Halichoeres (genus) of wrasses¹. They are peaceful fish and active swimmers that will stay out in the open and will cruise throughout the rockwork all day. And best of all...they are great at pest control or prevention.

1. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/halichoeres.htm

[Ed Ricketts]

I guess I always pictured anthias in a little larger tank, and in a "group" (3 or 4 or 20). Are there "Anthias police" equivalents of the Tang police? I'm into stuff on the substrate. Blennies, hawkfish. Just a bit more interest to me than percs....unless they're spawning.

ER

[BangkokMatt]

I don't think a group of Anthias in a 46g would be very happy

[lancer99]

Vitaly speaks the truth...although about wrasses, I don't know.

I like ReefDreamz choices too.

Personally, I like quiet, peaceful (and hardy) fish. So my choices are Firefish (I like the way they always look grumpy), and the purple ones are beautiful....a Royal Gramma, and Pyjama Cardinals, you couldn't ask for a better reef fish.

Oh and either a Yellow or Purple Red Sea Tang, a bit more aggressive.

-R

[Universal]

red spot blenny :)

[lshark21]

In my 75g mixed we have a Coral Beauty Angel, Flame Angel, Six Line Wrasse, and a pair of Percs.

[IceWish]

2 clowns , royal gramma or sixline