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View Full Version : How many "nippers" do you have in your SPS tank


mpoletti
06/08/2009, 01:42 PM
I used to think that "the end all be all" was polyp extension, but was I ever wrong. How many coral nippers do you have in your SPS tank? I know that I am not the only person that would sacrifice a little PE to have a real fish tank ;)

I have two, a pair of C. joculator's :D

My tank :p

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/exp0094.jpg

My fish :D

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/GS0003_1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/GS0002_2.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/blacky0030003.jpg

Madfronter
06/08/2009, 01:47 PM
I have a flame in my tank as well as a pair of yellow clown gobies that have cleared out a small portion on my stag for laying their eggs.

Ian
06/08/2009, 01:52 PM
I agree, some fish out there are worth the PE sacrifice. They don't do any damage but unfortunately, theres something else going on in my tank that I haven't been able to figure out thats been taking out my corals :(

The real bummer is that I have 3 friends that are experiencing the same thing :(

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/bigian001/IMG_1316.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/bigian001/IMG_1287.jpg

a pair of Centropyge, not sure what, is next on the fish list :D

mpoletti
06/08/2009, 01:57 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15157535#post15157535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ian
I agree, some fish out there are worth the PE sacrifice. They don't do any damage but unfortunately, theres something else going on in my tank that I haven't been able to figure out thats been taking out my corals :(

The real bummer is that I have 3 friends that are experiencing the same thing :(

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/bigian001/IMG_1316.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w169/bigian001/IMG_1287.jpg

a pair of Centropyge, not sure what, is next on the fish list :D

Very nice Ian, What butterflies are those :D

Superstretch18
06/08/2009, 01:59 PM
First is a mitratus. IMO, that's one of my favorite BF's...

Ian
06/08/2009, 02:16 PM
the second is thought to be a Burgessi/Tinkeri/Flavocoranatus Hybrid :D

Superstretch18
06/08/2009, 02:26 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15157674#post15157674 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ian
the second is thought to be a Burgessi/Tinkeri/Flavocoranatus Hybrid :D

Wow, no wonder I couldn't ID it! :D

soccerbag
06/08/2009, 02:36 PM
My tank :p

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/exp0094.jpg

WOW. That's just unfair Mark :eek1:

That is one nice tank. If "nippers" can make my tank look half as nice, I'm in! :)

t4zalews
06/08/2009, 04:07 PM
I have a flame angel, but he rarely nips. When I get my big tank tho I'd like to get a little riskay. maybe like a small school of Semilarvatus Butterflyfish, or some really pretty butterflyfish, besides the pyramid. and I'd like to add a large angelfish such as imperator, blueface or majestic. but I have like 6 clams already and would not want them snacking on my mollusks.

sfsuphysics
06/08/2009, 05:30 PM
I got a copperband, but it doesn't nip corals, it does like all the feather dusters and hydroids though :D

broke1
06/08/2009, 06:31 PM
unfortunately, theres something else going on in my tank that I haven't been able to figure out thats been taking out my corals

I just went through that same exact thing, took out 95% of my Acros before it stopped. I have yet to figure out what it was.

By the way, I have a Flame that is a suspect in my lack of polyp extension.

PnoyReefeR
06/08/2009, 06:42 PM
The only nipper in my tank is me.. I clip my sps too much lol

-=Efrain=-
06/08/2009, 09:35 PM
I started with great PE and then I put in a Flame Angel and it took me a year to catch him and I am so glad. I now can't wait to see PE again in my SPS tank.. Never again with nippers.

DML08
06/08/2009, 09:48 PM
all my fish are good.. its the emerald crabs that I have to keep an eye on... about a month a go I caught one shredding my Cali tort, he took off about a good 1/2'' of a branch!.. not cool!!...

60Cubed
06/09/2009, 12:06 AM
Beautiful tank! Just beautiful..............

bradleyj
06/09/2009, 06:58 AM
In my tank I have one that I gladly sacrifice a bit of nipping every now and then. He seems to only nip the new tips that are growing, but he isn't prejudice, he nips at all of the sps and in a way its good because none of the coral are hurt too much by it.
My regal angel seems to nip only when I forget to feed him 3 times a day. Kind of like telling me that if I forget to feed him, he will eat my acros. LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/IMG_5891.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/IMG_5903.jpg

mpoletti
06/09/2009, 07:13 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15161706#post15161706 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bradleyj
In my tank I have one that I gladly sacrifice a bit of nipping every now and then. He seems to only nip the new tips that are growing, but he isn't prejudice, he nips at all of the sps and in a way its good because none of the coral are hurt too much by it.
My regal angel seems to nip only when I forget to feed him 3 times a day. Kind of like telling me that if I forget to feed him, he will eat my acros. LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/IMG_5891.jpg



Thanks for sharing bradleyj. Regals are absolutely beautiful fish and everytime I see a nice healthy yellow belly specimen, its always a mental battle if it will go home with me :)

crispyreef
06/09/2009, 12:42 PM
I have a Regal and an Argi. Both are worth a little nipping to me. Beautiful tank Mark!

michael_cb_125
06/09/2009, 01:33 PM
When I had my 240 gallon reef up and running I had quite a few. My corals consisted of the following:
Acropora, Montipora, Poccillopora, Duncans, Pipe Organ Coral, Frogspawn, Zoanthus, Mushrooms, etc. And I had several clams.

My nippers were: Regal Angel (3"), Majestic Angel (6.5"), Potters Angel (2"), Flame Angel (2"), Copper Band Butterfly (3").

In my Elos I had the Regal, Potters, Flame, and a Mitratus Butterfly.

I never had any issues out of any of my fish. None of them ever picked at any coral or bothered the clams. But I was very lucky :)

~Michael

michael_cb_125
06/09/2009, 01:40 PM
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0108.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0059-2.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0217.jpg


http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0142.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0183.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/SANY0502.jpg

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t118/michael_cb_125/000_0016.jpg

~Michael

mpoletti
06/09/2009, 02:00 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15163883#post15163883 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by michael_cb_125
When I had my 240 gallon reef up and running I had quite a few. My corals consisted of the following:
Acropora, Montipora, Poccillopora, Duncans, Pipe Organ Coral, Frogspawn, Zoanthus, Mushrooms, etc. And I had several clams.

My nippers were: Regal Angel (3"), Majestic Angel (6.5"), Potters Angel (2"), Flame Angel (2"), Copper Band Butterfly (3").

In my Elos I had the Regal, Potters, Flame, and a Mitratus Butterfly.

I never had any issues out of any of my fish. None of them ever picked at any coral or bothered the clams. But I was very lucky :)

~Michael

Very nice Michael. How long did you have your majestic? I have always wanted one, but I have not been that adventerous yet ;)

michael_cb_125
06/09/2009, 02:18 PM
I had him for several (5) months before I took the tank down. In the entire time I had him he never bothered any corals. He was a very bold fish. You should try one, they are a stunning fish.

Also, Megan has a juvenile Blue Face Angel in her Elos right now. He is a great little fish, and does not bother anything.
~Michael

mpoletti
06/09/2009, 02:24 PM
Marsall (CAreefer) had//has one in his tank, but I have not seen him online for some time. I have sat at a few different fish stores, pulled up a chair or two, and convince myself into and out of getting one many of times. I have also done the same thing with a C. tinkeri a few times :D

michael_cb_125
06/09/2009, 02:31 PM
Unfortunately for me, most of the fish that I love, are potential or probable nippers. ;)

I have seen many people with these fish (majestic) in reef tanks. Provided the majority of your corals are SPS I see no issues. The fish I have did not even bother my LPS, but I most likely got very lucky. :)

You could always get a juvenile, and hope he grows up into a non picking beauty. :)

roktsintst
06/09/2009, 02:44 PM
I have 2 "nippers" in my tank but i still see a fair amount of polyp extention!

I have a 3" Regal Angel and a 4"+ Goldflake Angel

I would trade PE any day for the Fish!!!

drdoolittle
06/09/2009, 03:04 PM
I have a Pyramid butterfly, cross my finger that he havent nipped anything yet. But i do have three tangs that breaks my colonies apart whenever they chase each other.

I have a buudy that lives close by (Mark i think you know who he is, name starts with "J") he bought a pyramid with me and his nipped half of his sps colonies.

mpoletti
06/09/2009, 03:11 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15164340#post15164340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roktsintst
I have 2 "nippers" in my tank but i still see a fair amount of polyp extention!

I have a 3" Regal Angel and a 4"+ Goldflake Angel

I would trade PE any day for the Fish!!!

Me too Ryan, Me too :)

How is the goldflake doing? Any pics :p

mpoletti
06/09/2009, 03:14 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15164463#post15164463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by drdoolittle
I have a Pyramid butterfly, cross my finger that he havent nipped anything yet. But i do have three tangs that breaks my colonies apart whenever they chase each other.

I have a buudy that lives close by (Mark i think you know who he is, name starts with "J") he bought a pyramid with me and his nipped half of his sps colonies.

I saw two pyramids yesterday when I was stopping by a LFS. Luckily they were slose to 4" so I was not really that tempted.

One of these days Ed, I still want to drive the hour to check out you system. Soon my friend, soon ;)

drdoolittle
06/09/2009, 03:40 PM
no problem Mark, you're welcome to stop by any time. But then again, after seeing your tank. It makes me want to pour gasoline into mines, just to ease my pain.. :lol:

mpoletti
06/09/2009, 05:25 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15157501#post15157501 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Madfronter
I have a flame in my tank as well as a pair of yellow clown gobies that have cleared out a small portion on my stag for laying their eggs.

You are braver than me. I will never have a clown goby as I have seen them nest in too many SPS colonies.

spsfarmer09
07/03/2009, 08:56 AM
here is mine, we picked him up yesterday

http://i979.photobucket.com/albums/ae273/spsfarmer09/IMG_0139.jpg

Stanley-Reefer
07/03/2009, 09:16 AM
3 pyramid butterflies
1 larmark angel
2 acantharus tangs (pbt/sohal)
1 orange spotted rabbit

None do structural damage except the rabbit--he only does if if he's hungry. He bites me too when he's hungry!

broke1
07/03/2009, 01:51 PM
I know some are known to nip at corals, but what about clams? Are some more prone to nipping at mantels than others? I only have a Flame as far as nippers go and he has been a great fish, so far.

krucial
07/03/2009, 02:10 PM
Its funny you start this thread! I feel MUCH better now. I thought I was one of the very few who had nippers in their tank. I have a Potters Angel and I love him. He is worth the PE although he does very good and does not damage the corals at all. He does nip though.


http://i763.photobucket.com/albums/xx275/lrodriguez_03/100_0281.jpg

Oldude
07/03/2009, 03:52 PM
I have several but the worst offenders are:
Meredithi angel
Emporer angel
Yellow tang
Purple tang

Tanu
07/04/2009, 10:54 AM
I also have some in my 160:
- A pair of seagrass filefish (Acreichthys tomentosus)
- A mated pair of regals (Pygoplites diacanthus)
- A single flame angel (Centropyge loricula)
- A (still!) single Chaetodon burgessi, don't know the common name.

I know I can't keep all corals this way, but there's more than enough suitable for my tank, and I wouldn't want not to keep these fish ;)

Dejavu
07/04/2009, 11:48 AM
I have or had a few "nippers" 1 Imperator and a pair of flames. I can't say they are all "nippers" as one only nips on a regular bases. I plan on add more then a hand full soon, so I don't plan on enjoying PE for the foreseeable future.

DaveJ
07/04/2009, 02:31 PM
My Coral Beauty qualifies... though I still have pretty good PE on most of the colonies/frags. I think keeping plenty of food in the tank and having a lot of rock surface for them to chew on is key. As the colonies grow and start to fill in, it reduces the amount for them to graze on and you'll get more nipping.

I've got a 7" Purple Tang and though one in the past at zoanthids and palys, this one hasn't touched a thing up to this point other than algae.

I've got a 3" CBB as well... and have seen him pick at zoa/play skirts and a few odd pickings on polyps. Mostly though I use him for aiptasia control/elimination and he has done a bang up job of that. I even put stuff from my other tanks in there for him to clean up from time to time.

mpoletti
07/04/2009, 03:10 PM
I am glad to see other people enjoy the fish as much as I do :D

bradleyj
07/04/2009, 04:19 PM
If you didn't have fish, all you would have is a pretty picture. Fish gives it life.
I always have people amazed at how many fish I have.

bradleyj
07/04/2009, 04:28 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/017-1.jpg

JAG107
07/04/2009, 05:34 PM
My Klein's butterfly and Bicolor pygmy angel are polyp destroyers. The Klein's is worth it though, I went from 50 aiptasias to zero in 4 days. The Bicolor is supposedly tougher to keep than most pygmies, but seems to be doing well with all the SPS polyps to supplement its diet...Worth it, sure.

gasman059
07/05/2009, 06:32 AM
80% of my fish lol

chessmanmark
07/05/2009, 09:13 AM
The two fish I have in my tank that "nip" are my Flame Angel and my PBT. They caused more damage to my LPS than SPS. I moved the corals rather than the fish. A good percentage of my SPS is up high with higher flow than the bottom so these fish avoid this area of the tank. It's the corals in the middle and bottom of the tank that may get bitten occasionally.

roktsintst
07/06/2009, 04:55 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15164490#post15164490 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpoletti
Me too Ryan, Me too :)

How is the goldflake doing? Any pics :p

The GoldFlake is Awesome! He is a really striking fish to watch even though he punks the regal some times! Here is a picture of him...

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/JNye/Ryan/July%2009/GoldFlake1.jpg

And My Regal...I'm hoping to add 2 more to my new tank in a few months!!!!

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a119/JNye/Ryan/July%2009/fishpic1.jpg

mpoletti
07/06/2009, 05:06 PM
Very nice Ryan, I heard through the grapevine that you might be thinking of adding a couple more ;)

mpoletti
07/06/2009, 05:09 PM
Here is a recent picture where I tries to get them both in one shot

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/almostjocs.jpg

Mike de Leon
07/06/2009, 07:26 PM
Mine is more like a chomper. Forget nipping!

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i21/mookerji/002-1-1.jpg

roktsintst
07/06/2009, 07:36 PM
Great shot Mark! I have my eye on a few new ones to add to my new tank ;)

Great Shot Mike! And what a beautiful Achilles...

SDguy
07/07/2009, 06:18 AM
I just can't bring myself to do it. I've removed several fish for nipping (cherub angels, lined blenny, etc). I have no pickers....none, zero, zip! (Well, that tangs have always been model citizens :) ) Planktivores are less teritorial, IME, too.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/barometer/Peter/peter_frenzy1.jpg

kb27973
07/07/2009, 04:03 PM
That's a lot of fish!

Ken

sigster500
07/07/2009, 07:39 PM
Regal Angel, Copperband, Flame Angel - Would i trade some nips for these no chance!!

obiwanthegoby
07/08/2009, 08:08 AM
guys, Ive been on the teeter totter for a couple months with my tank. Currently it has 2 bartletts 2 dispars (started out as a group of 8), a filamented flasher wrasse, two bangaiis, a mystery wrasse and a bicolor blenny. Its time for me to start moving into the "more agressive" fish. Ive been planning Genicanthus angels but REALLY would like to do a blue face or regal instead.... the tank is a 400 gallon, SPS dominated (have a green nepthea, a few zoos, and some LPS planned frogspawn, torch, brain) is it a crap shoot to try and keep one of the two I listed and keep a happy tank? Like i said... Im teetering some one sway me one way or the other....

Mr Cheezy
07/08/2009, 08:16 AM
Have one Imperator and one C. auriga.
+ Less aptesia

- Less PE.

kb27973
07/08/2009, 09:56 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15323371#post15323371 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by obiwanthegoby
guys, Ive been on the teeter totter for a couple months with my tank. Currently it has 2 bartletts 2 dispars (started out as a group of 8), a filamented flasher wrasse, two bangaiis, a mystery wrasse and a bicolor blenny. Its time for me to start moving into the "more agressive" fish. Ive been planning Genicanthus angels but REALLY would like to do a blue face or regal instead.... the tank is a 400 gallon, SPS dominated (have a green nepthea, a few zoos, and some LPS planned frogspawn, torch, brain) is it a crap shoot to try and keep one of the two I listed and keep a happy tank? Like i said... Im teetering some one sway me one way or the other....

Well I have a Regal and a Blueface so I can share some real world experience. The Regal loves zoos. I will sometimes buy a rock covered with them to give the angel some 'live' food. The Regal also ate all of my blue and brown xenia, but leaves the white pom-pom alone. The Blueface has a taste for clams. I had to get rid of mine as the Blueface was taking chunks out of the mantle. Niether of them bother SPS, LPS. I like angels and just accept the fact that there are certain corals I can't keep. Sounds like you might be okay with the exception of the zoos. They would probably be history.

Ken

graveyardworm
07/08/2009, 05:49 PM
My only nipper is a Bi-color Blenny

Paco
07/08/2009, 08:18 PM
Another majestic angel here. I've just caught him beginning to pick at my Zoas but I don't have anything terribly valuable. If he won't quit I just won't add any more.

mpoletti
07/20/2009, 09:20 PM
Here are two recent shots of my nipper cruising the tank

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/RSWJOCS.jpg


And a VHO
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/VHOJoc.jpg

Tswifty
07/20/2009, 11:15 PM
Just look at all them purdy chalices hanging out on the bottom! Nice pics Mark. :)

ReefBum
07/21/2009, 06:20 AM
Great shots everybody! I added a small Multibarred Angel a few months ago and a Regal 3 weeks ago. It looks like the Regal has a taste for my zoos but I'm fine with it since I'm not crazy about them anyway. The Multibarred nips every now and then on some of my SPS but does no permament damage.

http://reefbum.com/linked/july132009tankpic6a.jpg

http://reefbum.com/linked/july132009tankpic4a.jpg

http://reefbum.com/linked/july152009tankpic1a.jpg

mpoletti
07/21/2009, 07:32 AM
Awesome shots Reefbum. You can barely see the multibarred :)

roktsintst
07/21/2009, 09:28 AM
No recent pictures of the Pair Mark???

mpoletti
07/21/2009, 09:49 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15389408#post15389408 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roktsintst
No recent pictures of the Pair Mark???

Just this one

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/almostjocs.jpg

and this partial tank shot

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/RS2JOCS.jpg

Oldude
07/21/2009, 05:40 PM
Here's two of my polyp nippers. So far the clams are safe but time will tell as these two mature.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h210/Trainer02/july16throughtheglass063angels.jpg

roktsintst
07/21/2009, 08:12 PM
Sweet pictures both of you!!!

Gary Majchrzak
07/26/2009, 06:09 AM
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/gary334/July_09_03.jpg

rireuter
07/26/2009, 07:53 AM
how do the copperbanded butterflies do? been thinking of getting one.

Gary Majchrzak
07/26/2009, 08:05 AM
research the species thoroughly while thinking ;)

rireuter
07/26/2009, 10:30 AM
i've researched them quite a bit, just wanted to get some personal experiences with clams and corals. do they consume zoas also?

reefer31
07/26/2009, 12:30 PM
When we say nippers...is that nipping SPS,LPS,softies or clams? I have a SPS dominant tank with very few lps (duncan, frogspawn, trachyphylia, montastrea, alveopora) and pom pom and 1 little bit of zoanthids which I dont care about. I currently have 2 clams and want to get tons more, since I designed my tank with extra sand room for clam space. I have really wanted to try some of the more "dangerous" fish in my tank since I hate looking at fish everyone else has in their tank.
Any comments/experience with fish that will be able to fit in my tank with consideration towards my clams? Dont care about PE as much I guess since it does hide the coral colors :P

mpoletti
07/26/2009, 01:15 PM
Here is my copperband. I do not even consider him a "nipper". I have had him for a few years now and I have had it in tanks with palys and clams. He was more tempted with the clams than the palys. But like Gary said, research any purchase before adding it. Another piece of advice I would offer is do't tell yourself. "it won't happen in my tank". There are pretty good generalizations that have been formed over the years and most of them are pretty spot on

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/exp0009-1.jpg

Bdimas
07/26/2009, 04:18 PM
Great thead! Now I really can't wait for my tank to be up and running.

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 08:20 AM
http://reefbum.com/linked/july132009tankpic6a.jpg

http://reefbum.com/linked/july132009tankpic4a.jpg

http://reefbum.com/linked/july152009tankpic1a.jpg

Reefbum, How are the new fish working out?

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 08:21 AM
This little guy got added as well a few weeks back :p

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/DSC_2088.jpg

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 08:22 AM
But definitely the king of the tank :)

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/TOTM20001.jpg

jhawkor
12/11/2009, 10:01 AM
How is that little regal doing? In regard to the topic I have a coral beauty that nips every once in a while but my acros still grow very well and they feed at night.

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 11:07 AM
How is that little regal doing? In regard to the topic I have a coral beauty that nips every once in a while but my acros still grow very well and they feed at night.

The little girl is doing well. She is getting fat and the dorsal fin has really started to heal up.

jhawkor
12/11/2009, 11:41 AM
The little girl is doing well. She is getting fat and the dorsal fin has really started to heal up.

Good to hear. Do your jocs nip enough to cause low PE during the day?

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 12:00 PM
On some corals. PE is overated ;)

jhawkor
12/11/2009, 12:05 PM
On some corals. PE is overated ;)

Do corals need their polyps extended to photosynthesize?

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 12:17 PM
Do corals need their polyps extended to photosynthesize?

The angels can't get all the polyps :p When you look at large colonies in the ocean, the polyps near the edges are usually the ones that are retracted. The ones in the center are still able to accumulate the corals needs.

As my corals have continued to grow, the PE comes back. My sunset is basically all green again :(

jhawkor
12/11/2009, 12:22 PM
The angels can't get all the polyps :p When you look at large colonies in the ocean, the polyps near the edges are usually the ones that are retracted. The ones in the center are still able to accumulate the corals needs.

As my corals have continued to grow, the PE comes back. My sunset is basically all green again :(

Ahhh I see. That's the way my Bali tri-color is, the polyps at the base and in the middle are extended but the ones at the tips are not except at night.

ReefBum
12/11/2009, 12:30 PM
Reefbum, How are the new fish working out? They have been doing great. One of them might have helped to take out my nice scoly but for the most part they are harmless. The Regal will pick on some lame looking zoos every now and then but unfortuneately he hasn't taken them out yet :sad2:

I just added 3 Pyramid Butterflyfish about a week ago and they have not been picking at anything so far. They are awesome fish!

mpoletti
12/11/2009, 12:31 PM
They have been doing great. One of them might have helped to take out my nice scoly but for the most part they are harmless. The Regal will pick on some lame looking zoos every now and then but unfortuneately he hasn't taken them out yet :sad2:

I just added 3 Pyramid Butterflyfish about a week ago and they have not been picking at anything so far. They are awesome fish!

Awesome news, I have been looking for some pyramids for awhile now. My problem is that I like little fish and most pryamids I have seen are around 4".

ReefBum
12/11/2009, 01:07 PM
Yeah...I was able to get them in the 2.5 to 3 inch range.

dan223
12/11/2009, 10:54 PM
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v714/tileman/017-1.jpg

WHat is the fish all the way on the right with a yellow tail and head croped out of the pic? Looks like he has a cool iridescence.

jhawkor
12/11/2009, 11:18 PM
WHat is the fish all the way on the right with a yellow tail and head croped out of the pic? Looks like he has a cool iridescence.

Looks like a rabbitfish to me.

mpoletti
01/18/2010, 09:42 AM
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/totmoptions0001-7.jpg

Mcubed
01/18/2010, 06:02 PM
I have a pyramid butterfly and he/she is a great fish. This fish sleeps the least however. When the lights are out but there is some ambient light in the room, he is awake. I see him sampling different sps. Never noticed any evidence or damage but was surprised the first time I saw him doing it. Not sure if he sees a pod or something on the coral that he is going after or not. Either way I have no plans of removing him since I don't see any damage to the corals.

wanabebell
01/18/2010, 08:48 PM
wouldnt having a nipper in the tank encourage sps growth??? since damage encourages growth?? or not in this case?

redskins2647
01/18/2010, 09:12 PM
well do i win if i say I have a 2 inch long niger trigger in my reef? he's real cool and honestly no nipping on clams sps or zoanthids yet just the shrimp. i figure if i keep him fed hell do fine. and in my expierience with copperbands they didnt nip at corals but at my derasa clam. strange and LOVE the angel pair mark p.

gasman059
01/18/2010, 09:23 PM
WELL none now as I decided to go into the dark side- I'm now officially completely reef safe.

It somewhat feels strange after many years of angels and so forth but I've never seen sooooooo many polyps in my acros.

jocoxVT
01/18/2010, 09:30 PM
Forgive my ignorance but what is this guy?

This little guy got added as well a few weeks back :p

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/DSC_2088.jpg

mpoletti
01/18/2010, 09:51 PM
Thats a juvenile regal angelfish.

mpoletti
01/18/2010, 09:51 PM
WELL none now as I decided to go into the dark side- I'm now officially completely reef safe.

It somewhat feels strange after many years of angels and so forth but I've never seen sooooooo many polyps in my acros.

Manny- Please say it isn't so :lol: Polyps are nice, but you'll be back ;)

gasman059
01/18/2010, 09:54 PM
Manny- Please say it isn't so :lol: Polyps are nice, but you'll be back ;)

LOL Mark I got rid of lets c- A joc/a pair of personifiers/a regal/ IT HURTS just to think about it. I wanna have a "reef safe" tank for the first time in many many years.

I got zoos/chalices and many other meaty corals now so will c if the corals replace the need for some fish. So far so good but I have to admit is kind of painful LOL:hmm6:

mpoletti
01/18/2010, 10:04 PM
LOL Mark I got rid of lets c- A joc/a pair of personifiers/a regal/ IT HURTS just to think about it. I wanna have a "reef safe" tank for the first time in many many years.

I got zoos/chalices and many other meaty corals now so will c if the corals replace the need for some fish. So far so good but I have to admit is kind of painful LOL:hmm6:

I have zoas and lots of chalices as well :p

lostanime
01/19/2010, 12:48 PM
We've got a broken stripe yellow belly regal angel and a christmas island flame angel... surprisingly, neither "typical" nippers are touching anything... a picasso trigger currently in our tank is literally ripping SPS off the rocks left and right (in the last 48 hours it's tossed my echinata over 2ft away, hid my blue tort under a pile of rocks, pulled down a tricolor and knocked over two plates) I don't mind a little nipping, but this one's gotta go soon.

slow_leak
05/08/2010, 04:55 PM
I have a Naso, Juvenille Clown tang, decorated blenny, and 6 line wrasse in 180 sps tank. One of the fish is physically breaking of tips of a few acropora that have protruding sticks. I am suspecting naso. Tips will bleaching and I'm not 100% certain of problem.

schoolisbad1
11/09/2010, 07:59 PM
For anyone wondering if nipping is harmful, I found this useful.
http://glassbox-design.com/2009/polyp-nipping-and-sps-its-only-natural/

Creetin
11/10/2010, 06:23 AM
I have seen my angels pick on corals where the polyps would not even come out in the dark. Eventually the corals starve and die off. I got rid of my nippers and the corals have made a quick come back.
The worst pickers were my bicolor and orange stripe angel. They picked apart many sps polyps.

OneReef
11/10/2010, 06:42 AM
I searched high and low for an angel and butterfly that were supposedly reef safe. I have mostly SPS and added these two fish and they have not nipped at all from what I can tell, and I still have great PE. They are the Zoster (pyramid) butterfly and the female Bellus Angelfish.


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/topgun121/150g%20tank/zosterbutterfly.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e370/topgun121/150g%20tank/bellus-2.jpg

gasman059
11/10/2010, 06:45 AM
Manny- Please say it isn't so :lol: Polyps are nice, but you'll be back ;)

Well Mark it did not take long LOL
back to the salt mine-- a pair of regals/majestic/venustus/emperor/small flame/goldflake-- in the process of getting my hands on a couple more beauties.
there's no way u can have a tank w/o angels PERIOD!

OneReef
11/10/2010, 06:49 AM
On another note, I did have to remove a black combtooth blenny as he was chomping bites all over my SPS. I thought I had some kinda SPS pest until I realized it was him. I took him out and the bite marks all went away.

mpoletti
11/10/2010, 07:31 AM
Well Mark it did not take long LOL
back to the salt mine-- a pair of regals/majestic/venustus/emperor/small flame/goldflake-- in the process of getting my hands on a couple more beauties.
there's no way u can have a tank w/o angels PERIOD!

:hammer:

I hear you. I recently added a potteri and a aurantius :thumbsup:

Johny Walker
11/10/2010, 08:02 AM
I'm afraid we're going to need some pictures:lol2:
Great tank btw.

Grtz
Stephen

:hammer:

I hear you. I recently added a potteri and a aurantius :thumbsup:

mpoletti
11/10/2010, 08:07 AM
I'm afraid we're going to need some pictures:lol2:
Great tank btw.

Grtz
Stephen


Thanks Stephen. I have changed a few things over the summer :)

Just for you, but no pictures of them in the tank.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/Golden-1.jpg

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o184/mrpoletti/posted/tank%20build/Potters-1.jpg

allsps40
11/10/2010, 10:32 AM
I have had 2 different cherub angles at different times. The first way great never nipped at anything. Had that one until I sold the setup when I moved. The second one I got was great for several months. Then one day it decided to start picking at my crocea clam. It had to go kill that that clam and was worried it would move on the the next one.

Frick
11/10/2010, 01:13 PM
Has anyone noticed BETTER polyp extension with nippers? I have seen some millis that were just the furriest colorful sticks. The owner told me the secret was that his butterflies encouraged polyp growth. Do any of you think there is any truth to that?

schoolisbad1
11/11/2010, 11:22 AM
I had pyramid butterflies in my pretty small sps 54 and never saw them touch any coral. My ellibli angel... cruises around and nips, almost everything, but haven't seen direct bad results. Growth seems to still be good and I can see colors on bushy acros now the polyps are hiding, still see polyps. I can't speak for millis tho, that might be weird with no PE.

DML08
11/11/2010, 01:31 PM
Mark, Really diggin your Angels.. I have always wanted a couple but was Scared.. this thread push me to add a couple....

stunreefer
11/11/2010, 03:17 PM
New fish look awesome Mark!
there's no way u can have a tank w/o angels PERIOD!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

We all knew you'd be back Manny, and deep down so did you ;)

mpoletti
11/11/2010, 03:55 PM
Mark, Really diggin your Angels.. I have always wanted a couple but was Scared.. this thread push me to add a couple....

Just be careful Dominic.

*Disclaimer* Once a reefer adds an angelfish into their reef tank, they understand that PE is only needed for cool pictures, Silly coral names are just for marketing and like many including Manny have said, "a tank without an angelfish is not really a reef tank" :lol:


New fish look awesome Mark!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

We all knew you'd be back Manny, and deep down so did you ;)

Thanks Austin, good chatting with you this morning :beer:

las
04/13/2015, 11:52 PM
Do u guys still keep nippers and how is your reef doing over the past 5 ish years with these nippers in there?