17 Centrepiece Saltwater Fish For EVERY Size Tank!

In this video, I show you 17 stunning saltwater fish that can be the centrepiece of any tank!
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0:00 Intro
0:24 Under 100 litres/25 gallons
1:44 100 to 200L 25 to 50 Gs
4:09 200 to 400L 50 to 100Gs
5:57 400L 100 Gs plus
8:26 Watch next

[@Nexuhss]

After a decade in the hobby, I’ve learned how much more personality matters than how beautiful a fish is. I have plenty of beautiful fish but I find myself drawn to the ones with little quirks. Especially awesome are the fish that really seem to show intelligence. A 40 dollar jawfish has captivated me more than my copperband ever will. My 2¢

[@merk9569]

I hope to set up my nano tank soon. Do you have any recommendations for a small tank which a beginner can keep alive? A few years ago, it took me 5 months to get it stable where everything and everybody were doing great. Then a hurricane forced my evacuation, we lost power for 5 days and I lost everyone. I haven’t had the heart to try again until now. I enjoyed every single creature in the tank, and loved the crustaceans as much as the fish. Each creature had a unique personality and kept a schedule. I could have set my clock based upon when they would emerge to feed! I will be getting a generator before setting the tank up again. A must for me is a damsel fish. I grew up where they were abundant in the wild and have always loved them. Anything I get needs to get with one.

[@AbdullahAhmed-em5ec]

​@@merk9569 how big were you thinking with the tank

[@juliam4283]

Was it my imagination or did that flame hawkish move its head, but not its body at one point? I didn't know fish could do that!

[@zackcurdes9089]

I have one and I love him, but just know you can’t have shrimps with him.. buttt they will sit on rocks and almost walk across them and if you have snails it’s fun to watch hawkfish try to knock them off the glass 😂

[@brettbarrett2533]

@@zackcurdes9089 Right! my Flame Hawk, is Hands down my most entertaining specimen.

[@fishy_vinny]

Freshwater darter species (which are native to North America) move their head to look around. Darters and flame hawks are some of the only fish that move their head to look.

[@davidroman3849]

Don't forget the marine betta! I've one right now and I love this beauty (even if he doesn't show so often...)

[@tmac1072]

Couldn't agree more on the Flame Angel, that's the showcase in my 55 gallon, I think it is a stunning fish. Mine has never done any damage to the corals. I also have a Yellow Coris Wrasse which I love the brilliant yellow. If I had the honor of discovering/naming this fish I would have called it a Banana Wrasse 🍌

[@davidmurphy4672]

I love my flame angelfish as well. He does nip at my corals but he doesn't bite chunks off more like a tiny nip. I don't see damage. I feed their natural diet to keep nipping down which is food with sponge in it and algae mixed mysis shrimp. I gotta say they love clam a lot too. I have had him 3 months. Super aggressive fish but I love watching go through the rocks not as much as a damsel haha. This fish cleared all hair algae out of my tank. :)

[@LenHere]

We love our 6 line Wrasse in our 30 gallon tank, lots of personality and very beautiful!

[@leeleecee4689]

I have a mandarin goby. Have had her for 4 years. She eats everything, frozen foods, pellets, tiger pods as a treat. One of my favorite fish I have ever kept

[@MTXCraze]

I also have had one for about 3 years. Super fat, eats everything and not shy either! Awesome fish. I actually have 2 mandarins. A green, a green spot and a ruby red dragonet all in a 75 gallon.

[@saramarie516]

Though maybe not true centerpiece fish, I have a tomini tang and timor wrasse that have become buddies and spend most of their time swimming together in the currents. They are very entertaining!

[@jacquelinewood5023]

I absolutely love my Timor wrasse!!!! He has such amazing personality

[@saramarie516]

@@jacquelinewood5023 They are so fun to watch! Besides sleeping, I'm not sure if mine ever stops moving for a second.

[@nicholaspatel3745]

whole heartedly agree on the midas blenny. they have so much character and lots of energy and are beautiful. also they like to peck at hands a little lol

[@dipakvarsani4191]

Nice work as always. My missing pick would have been the Blue Faced Angel !

[@whitefang8329]

Really good recommendations. 👍 Thank you

[@jacquelinewood5023]

My star is a powder blue tang. So far he’s been the ideal citizen and no diseases!! Knock on wood. He’s been an extremely easy keeper the 8 months I’ve owned him so far

[@bencobb3433]

Great video again Alex 👏

[@RobBoryckiGolf]

Great job mate I agree with most choices

[@garethfairclough8978]

Recently got a Dragonet, you have to be ready to pay attention and I have had to hand feed mine pods with a pipette. Fantastic fish though, agree that in a 4" tank he is my centrepiece.

[@deanfielding4411]

I managed to keep one for 8 years after feeding it with a pipe and syringe by hand he got eating frozen eventually as long as flow was low.

[@fishy_vinny]

Have you tried feeding live baby brine shrimp? I heard they eat those. When I get one Im going to feed it live baby brine shrimp

[@phsanchez100]

Wish you made two videos a week , your videos are great 👍🏼

[@emilvarga7764]

The best youtuber ever! Keep up the good work!

[@troyandskyelar9588]

Epaulette shark for the 180g+ tanks, gorgeous aquarium friendly sharks

[@andrewc5750]

I love my Radiant Wrasse, gorgeous colors

[@Birdofthetacklebox]

My personal pick for a centerpiece (this is bias BTW) is definitely a moray eel. The smaller ones make great additions to medium reef tanks! They look so cool and unique and unlike other predators they aren’t super aggressive. Anything larger than 3 inches will not get brutally murdered at night time!

[@ReefDork]

😅

[@jeddwyer2127]

I have a foxface just like yours and it’s the fish everyone asks me about when they see my tank!

[@sseeaahhaawwkkssrule975]

Thank you for the video

[@larrymarrs7529]

I really enjoy your videos. Thanks. Love to have a beer and talk fish.

[@larrymarrs7529]

That is, in U.S. Lets make it a pint... if ever I get there...

[@pauldeacon8764]

Nice one Alex! 😀👍👍

[@harlanmichael7088]

Great video!

[@deadeye4047]

The Zebra-Barred Dartfish and Orchid Dottyback are brilliant 25-50gal centerpiece fish. I have ZBDs in my tank, and they are absolutely stunning! I have plans to get an ODB soon, a stunning purple with a bandit mask. Gotta get it!

[@James670]

My Orchid Dottyback is a brilliant centrepiece for my 40gal cube, and her purple colouration just glows under both the reef light and natural sunlight. She can be quite timid at times, but she's quite comfortable because I have a lot of caves, and she often gets brave enough to come out for extended periods of time.

[@faieto1454]

So lovely fish

[@cantusaurus8530]

I think the Golden Dwarf Moray could make the list, they’re pretty small and pretty reef safe. Also cat sharks/Eppaulette sharks are amazing

[@SparkyHelper]

Chalk Basslet FTW in 25 gallon category!

[@josephposada1830]

Thanks again Alex, for another excellent presentation. How about Marine Bettas ?

[@kaiserwilhelmthe2nd662]

i like the new profile and you are almost at 50,000!

[@templehugo1359]

I love the Zebrazoma gemmatum (as a lot of people i guess in regards to their prices😅)! And the Gramma loreto too!❤

[@zoeangelacoslucadano5555]

royal gramma basslets are an adorable addition to any tank! (:

[@MTXCraze]

I just recently set up a 14 gallon. Stocking a yasha goby/candy cane shimp, purple dotty back and a tail spot blenny. also my naoko in my 75 g never swoops around or shows his fins if Im in the room but hes cool and will eat out of my hand.

[@sdcline01]

I think that the twin spot goby is a good center piece it has those two iconic dots it sifts through your sand all day and just awesome colors black blue white brown orange hard to keep though.

[@blunderbuss1395]

after coming back to this video, i just had a great video idea for you, how about a video on wild fish, corals or other critters that you would love to see in the hobby in the future?

[@squidarcherb9707]

My current star is my red cories wrasse or beautiful scopas. But we can’t overshadow the small guys in a big tank! My chromis school, gobies, and small blennies are my favorites

[@Dropswitch]

A red Corris Wrasse is a very striking fish especially when they are adults. I would consider putting them in this list

[@bettinico]

In my 55g tank I feel like I have multiple show fish 😅 My mimic tang is probably the most noticeable as it's bright yellow. My male Lineatus wrasse is probably the most personable and confident. My male GBR red tail flasher wrasse is probably the most beautifully coloured. My clown pair are probably the cutest as they always dance together. And my mandarin dragonet is definitely the most popular to others.

[@OCTANEslc]

I’m excited

[@MrDon967]

a pair of swallowtail angels are nice also. i have a female n on the lookout for her man everytime i go out :D my swallowtail rarely stops swimming i have a huge open space n she takes the spot light

[@jacquelinewood5023]

I can’t wait to get a pair of those someday!!!

[@MrDon967]

@@jacquelinewood5023 she is a dream. i have a little video posted and a "short" posted you can see her in that. no matter where i face the camera she always makes a quick appearance.

[@aquaticnstuff7666]

I have a target dragonette and green spotted puffer in a 23 gallon display, but its a 3 year old tank

[@dcobbler8897]

Splendid dotty is a absolute terror.. any dotty actually

[@rodrodpr]

I love the queen angels

[@theturnerfamily8453]

I have always wanted to keep a reef tank and the centerpiece of my future tank would be a Christmas wrasse, a sailing tang, or if I were to go big a Queen angelfish

[@nicholasneyhart396]

For a 25-50 gallon tank, an orange spotted filefish is absolutely beautiful and keeps the pests at baym

[@reefadventures9951]

I think a Blonde Naso Tang would bo on my list

[@jacquelinewood5023]

I think a Blonde Naso Tang would make a great centerpiece fish! One of my dream fish as well as the Queen Angel.

[@rlswar]

midas blenny hands down. the personality on them is something else.

[@pelagicswimmer]

orange spotted filefish and feminus wrasse would have made mine, and probably a sohal tang :)

[@bopeep7806]

Harlequin tusk fish gold rim tang Leopard wrasse or exquisite fairy wrasse And another great pair of centre piece fish too have is blue throat triggers

[@bopeep7806]

Checkout the new wrasse !! Rose veiled fairy wrasse omg !!

[@sbohnke7304]

i would say my one spot foxface rabbit fish is my show piece fish. non aggressive, cleans the tank, changes colors and has funny personalities

[@-Wreckanize-]

All the fish I have are listed in your video. Scary, innit?

[@TheMrFreebody]

vlamingi tangs ftw!

[@nimal_r]

Liked it! Will watch it later ;-)

[@jhaych]

Just wondering if you could help me on the following? I'm about to purchase a 580 litre tank, I've currently got a pair of clowns, algae blenny, orchid dottyback and a cleaner and fire shrimp, in the 580l I'm thinking about adding the following - 1 purple firefish, 1 tomini tang, 1 fox face, 1 chalk bass, 1 baggai cardinal and 1 canary wrasse, the tank is going to be run by a 120l, I don't think that's overstocked personally and the fish will be added slowly, what do you think? I'd also consider adding 4 chromis or something potentially.

[@jfmaccoll]

Love Long Horned cow fish :)

[@krisreed3412]

Hey guys! I’m a somewhat experienced freshwater aquarium keeper and I’m looking to finally start my own saltwater reef tank…I’m in the design phase still but I have a 75 gallon tank of standard dimensions and I’d like to have input from the saltwater aquarium community on how I set this up…I’d like to have Bangii Cardinal fish x 2 Diamond or Yellow Goby x 1 clownfish x 2 Royal Gramma x 1 Marine Betta x 1 Flame Angel x 1 Foxface rabbitfish x 1 I figured about 43 inches of fish and subtracted 15 percent of the tank volume for rocks, sand and corals so that leaves me with around 24 inches of volume remaining. Should I add any other fish to the tank? Should I keep it roomy? Is that feasible? Any info is helpful…

[@les959]

nice video alex, my fave was my swallow tail angel i loved that thing before it decided it was a free diver. rip

[@kawaiizombiegal]

1 tailspot blenny, geometric pygmy "hawkfish", hectors/ ranfordi gobies, 2. two spot/yellow candy hog, fourline wrasse(if u can find one), flame back angel i wouldnt put a flame hawk in anything smaller than a 40 gal, and dottybacks are too aggressive 3. solarensis fairy wrasse, naokos fairy wrasse, tominni tang, most halicoeres wrasses but melanurus and yellow "coris" wrasses are good examples, sharpnose puffers, 4. most large angels my personal favorite is the magestic angel( Pomacanthus navarichus,) or , powder blue tang, yellow tang, naso tang, school of pyramid butterfly fish, clown trigger, picasso trigger,

[@ashleyspice297]

Nako wrasse every tank should have one saw one on one of your vids had to have one did not see him for a week or two but now he is the boss dive bombing swims around the top of the tank GET ONE luv you vids by the way 👍

[@MrMichaeljacksonfan0]

Can’t go wrong with a beautiful lion fish (my favourite fish in the ocean)

[@hawkslayer2351]

I like the spotted hawkfish and it is half the cost

[@franciscoaguilar7505]

I’ve had 2 Naoko Wrasses but both jump out the tank 😭. Even with a lit on one managed to jump out through a small gap. My showpiece is my yellow tang and the leopard wrasse

[@enderking1247]

So ummmmm Morish idol is the king of beauty as well as difficultly to keep

[@michaelhans2509]

I thought it was going to be my Quyoi Parrotfish which I love. But, actually is is my Porcupine Puffer that gets the most attention. The only named fish in my 180 gallon tank. Yes, I have corals and neither has touch them so far.

[@ReefDork]

The Quoyi was in the video originally but I edited him out at the last minute! Lovely fish 👌

[@michaelhans2509]

@@ReefDorkThe BRS 160, Dutch Reefer and you all had one. That’s what inspired me to get one. Now, none of those tanks have one. Oh well, I love it and I don’t have the SPS that you have in your tank. Same with your lights though. You the reason why I have reef breeders. Thank you for being such an inspiration.

[@mylovzlifestyle]

Wow

[@Davids_United-Fam]

Can you show me a list of all the fish in that tank not sure if it was a goby or blenny I seem with 2 pretty nice stripes o it but that thing looked awesome and the mandarin to.

[@Calilasseia]

For me, the Royal Gramma was a near criminal omission from this list. Now available as tank bred, utterly stunning colours, far less troublesome than Dottybacks on the aggression front, and if you have a large enough aquarium to house several without friction, you could even see them breed! For those with big tanks and a willingness to restrict themselves to a few sizeable fish, Lionfish are again show stoppers. Yes, venomous spines add to the issues, but these are obvious conversation pieces, especially if you pick up unusual ones such as Pterois radiata. Again for the big aquarium with big tankmates, how about a Pantherfish? What it lacks in colour, it more than compensates in terms of personality and quirkiness. Like the Lionfishes, nice and hardy too. Back to the small ones ... there are other Centropyge angels to choose from. If you're prepared to live with a feisty one, Centropyge acanthops, the Purple Fireball Angel, is a standout, but DON'T mix it with any other Centropyge or war will break out. Likewise, if you're prepared to live with aggression, a Strawberry Dottyback is another show stopper, and again hardy, but needs a LOT of care integrating with other fish. Back to the big ones ... one catwalk star I've not seen much of lately is the Blue Birdmouth Wrasse. Needs a VERY large aquarium to be happy, but possibly one for whoever is looking for something different. And, for the adventurous keeper of big marine fish ... how about a Cerise Grouper? Take a peek at what this looks like as an adult, it'll leave you with your eyes on stalks, but will be one for the king sized aquarium. Pair it up in 1,000 gallons with a Jigsaw Triggerfish and leave your visitors gasping. :)

[@andywatson29]

Adult gold flakes look different to the striking juveniles, they lose the yellow body which starts to go brownish. Flagfins a similar species keeps its yellow colour and is a good alternative

[@connorribera4198]

I can’t BELIVE I’m your friend now ..😞 realizes that you have 6 hundred thousand friends

[@dangeren904]

What about the voral beauty angel? Those have also very beautiful colors!

[@peterperez4493]

White tail bristle tooth tang, pyramid butterfly fish, powder brown or white cheek tang

[@scottgleason4511]

Clown trigger sadly is my fave also ☹️

[@MrMastavida]

anampses femininus definitely wins my award for most wow factor centerpiece fish.

[@ReefDork]

Great shout 🙂

[@apss5736]

Thumbnail fish reminds me of my jewel cichlid

[@kippertheman]

my flam hawk fish name is skitchy epok

[@zxl_wizard4433]

What would you recommend for a 10 gal nano tank? I’ve been getting into nano tanks and Im used to a lot of tangs and things, what type of fish do you prefer I have 2 clowns in there right now. (Any fish is fine, I want a sorta cheep fish) thanks!

[@ReefDork]

I don't think I'd have more than 2 clowns in a tank that size personally

[@neilbright5346]

I'd agree, and even suggest clownfish may outgrow 10gal personally. Have a neon goby in my nano which I enjoy, not a huge personality but interesting enough to watch and very easy to keep.

[@bettinico]

If it's got good enough filtration, then perhaps a Coral goby.

[@zxl_wizard4433]

@@ReefDork Ok thank you so much!

[@zxl_wizard4433]

@@bettinico Ty!

[@bedamo91]

what about the best one of them all .. the Atlantic blue tang !

[@madaandreea1742]

Which Blue reef safe fish do you recommend for a 300 l Tank? Tank you

[@ReefDork]

Solon wrasse is a good choice

[@SanMartan]

Scribbled angel yall

[@coreybates9322]

Petco had a black phantom for 20 usd needless to say he wasn’t there for long

[@davidwyatt6599]

How about My favorite Golden Butterfly

[@eros4211]

Finding any fish that can work in a nano, according to most youtubers and bloggers, is impossible. I regret buying the biocube 16 at this point and it's not even set up yet

[@ReefDork]

I'm about to setup a 13 gallon nano - i'll be keeping 2x yasha gobies with pistol shrimp and a royal Gramma...

[@samerbayoumi6378]

did you mmake the music for your videos ?

[@ReefDork]

No, I use a subscription service called Epidemic

[@stevenmiller1203]

Marine beta and they can be kept in as small as a 47 gallon breeder

[@justinossharktank876]

I got a marble cat shark as my center peice lol i got vids of him on this channel but hes my prize fish i got a flame angel yellow and purple tang a coral beauty and BLUE CLOWNFISH no joke they cost me over 500$ i got vids and pics of them on this channel

[@davechippendale8998]

No Foxface Alex?

[@ReefDork]

The two barred and blothced rabbits almost made the list, but the fox is more fox worker than a centrepiece for me (pretty though they are!)

[@bananna7465]

Blue throat trigger

[@darkang3l921]

I believe the marine betta, or comet, would make a really nice centerpiece fish. I love the look of them, they look like a starry night sky with the spots contrasting the deep blue.

[@benjaminwhite5079]

Australian tusk fish

[@geoffbarry8085]

If you put a black backing to you tank it would cure my ocd😅

[@martybean71]

No dragon wrasse

[@blunderbuss1395]

how come you never recommend macroalgae when it comes to dragonets? you even mentioned pipefish without bringing it up

[@ReefDork]

In the display tank? It's not necessary. If you mean in the sump, that's what I mean by refugium.

[@blunderbuss1395]

it's not neccessary yeah, but ornamental macroalgae tanks like ones for seahorses seem much more fit for caring for them, seeing as pods adore hiding in macroalgae as much as the dragonets adore munching on pods and they look super pretty, to boot!

[@87ckwest]

Shark 🦈

[@fuffoon]

The Macropharyngodon Bipartitus on the thumbnail was rather plain until I put it one in my tank. I would not hesitate to place a paired couple. They swim funny, have good character, and become strikingly colorful at certain angles..

[@ReefDork]

It's a Macropharyngodon Geoffroy on the cover...

[@fuffoon]

LOL, I saw that.

[@fuffoon]

@@ReefDork So now I have a bipartatus female. Very nice but I would like a male. Not easy to find a male these days.

[@paulnolan9634]

Alex.. can I ask.. I have a tank 18 months running. No usual fish loses . Except! Every wrasse u buy last a month or so then dies. Is this me or a wrasse syndrome. Regards Paul

[@ReefDork]

Some wrasses like macropharyngodon and anampses are notoriously difficult to keep. But halichores and generally fine.

[@paulnolan9634]

@@ReefDork thank you. Much appreciated

[@kimamazing7063]

gem tang

[@ericperry72]

Not sure how you make a list like this and you don't list the Australian Harlequin Tusk as the number one show piece fish.

[@fireblade9973]

Just added a small copperband this evening. My yellow tang is being a complete dick with it 😩. My lfs has got a lovely mystery wrasse in at the moment.

[@johnnymotorboat8824]

I couldn't tell if these are the actual names or just how British people talk.

[@ReefDork]

Tally ho!