Build Series|Eps. 22| Saltwater Aquarium Fish Selection

/ reefergil
/ reefergil
I'm putting out the call to all other saltwater hobby enthusiast for some advice on my next saltwater fish picks. I'm pretty set with some of these picks on my saltwater wish list, but can change my mind with other aquarium fish on the list.
The saltwater aquarium build on this 100 gallon rimless fish tank is progressing very slowly. Be sure to subscribe to follow along with this journey as I document all relevant steps I take to build this 100 gallon aquarium.
Any advice on what saltwater fish to choose would be greatly appreciated. Please leave your comments down below.
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[@ReeferGil]

Follow me on Instagram.

[@Chris_topher1117]

Noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dp-r.est.8995]

Thanks for adding in that the max size tank for the tangs as ADULTS/FULL GROWN. People be tweaking because you say you’re going to get a tang and just automatically assume you’re getting a full grown fish.

[@racecarsandreeftanks9660]

Excellent choice in fish. I love having a trigger in the reef. I've had two male blue throats in the past in my 75 reef. They were both excellent tank mates and left inverts and corals alone. They actually got picked on by my powder blue tang. (This round I'm adding it before my tangs) they are by far the most entertaining fish I've had

[@ReeferGil]

Yea, I'm hearing of great success with the Blue Throats, I'm looking forward to it!

[@MileHighReefers]

Love the blue throats! Thanks for the shout out.

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Scott!! Can't wait.

[@OceanLife6977]

Great video bud, and great selection. All beautiful fish.

[@ReeferGil]

Thank you!!

[@aaronfisher8377]

Great video! I wish more people did these as I’m trying to plan what fish to get

[@KreefAquariumhobby]

Awsome fish choise! Love the powder brow. Just added one myself. Verry cool fish

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks K, I can't wait.

[@heidisfishtank7543]

I’ve always heard that Blue jawfish need lower temperatures kind of like Catalina gobies. Maybe a pearl jawfish🤷🏼‍♀️

[@ReeferGil]

Yea, that's starting to be a common piece of advice I'm see in the chat. I think the Blue Jaw is coming off the list for the reason you and others stated. I'll take a look at the pearl jawfish... oh I subbed you too.

[@Fifthimagez]

This was a very well done video I’m not new to the hobby but I’m new to reef tanks

[@i_cant_think8947]

Very late but a VERY must have fish(s) is: A group of halicorese wrasse (2+)

[@ReeferGil]

Nice pick! Yes, my fish population and choices are pretty much established. I post daily on Instagram if you're interested.

[@i_cant_think8947]

@@ReeferGil yeah, I’ll check that out

[@briansfishtanks]

Can't wait to see the tank with fish in it!

[@ReeferGil]

Me too!!! Just got my QT all setup.

[@ScottM]

That is a very impressive list of fish and should look really great. The wrasse is simply gorgeous and for obvious reasons I am looking to get a Scott's Fairy Wrasse myself...lol

[@ReeferGil]

Haha, the name fits too!

[@richiebag6072]

In my opinion coris wrasse is a must. Cleared out a red bug break out I had. Also I love anthias schooling and actively swimming in all zones threw-out the day.

[@ReeferGil]

Nice, I will be grabbing one of these!

[@KillerKev1961]

For Tangs, I love my Purple Tang. For Trigger fish, my Niger is a really good choice-not aggressive and leaves everyone alone. I love the Midas Blenny. Also, a half dozen Baggai Cardinals look stunning. A Tiger Jawfish is always entertaining too. Cheers!

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with these guys! Much appreciated.

[@katehalle407]

Get a RedHawk fish!! Love all the fish! Thanks for sharing!!

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Kate, I can't wait!

[@upsidediy3945]

Beautiful fish , and probablly worth what stores offer. The fifty dollar fish are awsome. I haven't frequented LPS, but good prices for them.... 6:30...

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Upside Town!

[@FOWLR4NOW]

Also, blue dot jawfish are cooler water fish, which is why I personally have never heard of one living to its natural life expectancy in a typical reef tank

[@ReeferGil]

Yea, this has come up a lot in the chat. I didn't know this, so the Blue Jaw is coming off the list. Thank you very much for pointing this out.

[@InfamousAquatics]

Nice list. The Jawfish are my favorite on it!

[@ReeferGil]

Thank you sir, I'm getting mixed reviews on it. Sorry to hear about your pup.

[@Flownon]

Nice list, here are some of my personal experiences: - Kole Tangs are the hardest working Tang in the Hobby imo. Mine hates Blennies. Not saying yours will because their are many other factors. I would be surprised if it didn't at least harass the Tailspot Blenny. Mine kept a Starry Blenny pinned down in a cave. Any time the blenny tried to come out to do blenny things, the Kole tang would attack it vigorously. This was in a 220 gallon... My first choice in that family is always Chevron but they are expensive. Also, Kole tang is from Hawaii so keep in mind the price might go up. - Hellfrichi Firefish: I have had problems with Blennies harassing my Hellfrichi. - Clown Goby: Great personality imo. Putting one with a Trigger might make it more challenging for it to compete for enough food. It all depends on how well established it gets so I would add it early. My fav clown goby is Citron. - I had a pair of Bluethroats in a reef with Shrimp for years never had a problem... My only other advice is to feed at least one food with lots of Micro algae.

[@ReeferGil]

Sweet, thank you very much for all the great info! Really appreciate you sharing your experiences, lots to consider here.

[@ReefEco]

Hey Reefer Gil - nice video, and great that you are spending as much attention to your livestock as your build! So many people don't have a plan. As you allude, the tangs and trigger will need to be juveniles/small, and may outgrow your tank relatively quickly. I totally look forward to your build when you upgrade to that 6 or 8 foot tank! : ) Love the blennies and the Helfrichi as well - beautiful fish. Bluedot jawfish I have been tempted by many times, but they are a temperate water species (70-74 degrees). Some get lucky with them, most not. Can't wait til you have fish in your awesome build!

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Eco, I may have to reconsider the Jaw Fish, I wasn't aware of the cooler water they would prefer.

[@ReefEco]

They are beautiful, so its too bad keeping them at 78 is hard on them. Here is a good article: www.tfhmagazine.com/details/articles/a-cool-fish-in-more-than-one-sense-the-bluespotted-jawfish-opistognathus-rosenblatti-full-article.htm

[@ReeferGil]

Thank you bud, you're awesome!

[@reeferboy3278]

Also a few tanks ago I had fairy wrasses and some other ones i cant remember. They did nothing when it comes to pests. The only wrasses ive kept that took care of montipora eating nudibranch and stuff like that is the yellow corris wrasse and the melanurus wrasse. However the yellow corris wrasse went after my crabs as they got bigger. Every fish has different personalities though, just want to share my experience.

[@ReeferGil]

Awesome ReeferBoy, thank you very much!

[@PawleyWalnuts]

I love my copper band butterfly but hard for him to get enough food with tangs in tank. They are timid eaters and constantly have to compete to get enough food. Have had mine for a year and it’s a lot of work to target feed him. Thinking about swapping him out.

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks for sharing Ryan. Sounds like a pain.

[@PawleyWalnuts]

It’s is. Great fish but lots of attention needed especially if keeping with aggressive eaters.

[@FOWLR4NOW]

Red Hawkfish are mainly planktivores, like Anthias or Chromis. Never heard of one eating a cleaner shrimp 👍🏼

[@ReeferGil]

These look like really cool fish, can't wait to pick one up!

[@boston_8198]

Take a look at the mystery wrasse it's a very beautiful fish u might want to add. But get as a juvenile bkus older ones can come with issues such as picking at ur ornamental shrimps

[@ReeferGil]

Most wrasses run the same risk. Going to definitely consider additional wrasses.

[@SCReefer]

Nice fish list Gil..

[@curtisbridgen1493]

I would have to have a Mandarin Dragonet. But would have to be in phase 3 to have a good copepode population. But a must have for me. I am starting a 125g build.

[@ReeferGil]

Definitely a beautiful and very cool fish!

[@ricardovaladez5676]

Nice choices 👍maybe a Melanuris wrasse, mystery wrasse or a yellow coris wrasse.

[@ReeferGil]

Sounds like a great combo! Thanks CoralCrayz!

[@ryanmonaghan8020]

Great selection, the trigger is coo

[@ReeferGil]

I'm looking forward to getting this guy!

[@CescaTheDarkHorse]

Nice video Gil and some good choices :)

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Cesca!

[@ZachShannon]

I agree with Rico.. you should get at least one more wrasse.. they perform lots of benefits to a reef.. maybe trade out one of the tangs for a copperbandand butterfly, and incorporate it into phase 1 since they’re such timid fish.. this would come in hand just in case a pesky aptasia snuck in under your nose

[@ReeferGil]

Ug, I hate aptasia, almost impossible to keep out of the reef tanks. Thanks for the advice!

[@pauldeacon8764]

Hi Reefer Gill! I really enjoyed your video!! Some other nice peaceful fish are blue/green chromis & I know you are not meant to keep angels together but I also like the Coral beauty angelfish!! 😀

[@ReeferGil]

LOL, so funny I got this comment. I just added 4 green chromies to my QT to keep it cycling. They wont make the main tank since I already have established fish in there, but I really thing these guys are cool. I can see why they made your list.

[@South-Texas-Drones_5801]

I had blue jaw trigger in my 125 mixed reef, model citizen and such characters

[@ReeferGil]

They are awesome fish for sure!

[@PawleyWalnuts]

I’d avoid the Fox face and powered brown. Fox face and a Blue throat are messy shitters with all these tangs on your list. Personally i love my BTT. Pick one. Powered brown, eh and they can be inch magnets like the powered blue. Quarantine should address. Blue dot Jaw fish should go in 1st. They don’t do well when added to establish tank they will jump. Yellow eye like tang is awesome but if you run a clean system they can starve. I few nori daily but they need to graze non stop. If your keeping sps I’d avoid so many tangs. Purple tang is a must. Good list!

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Ryan, so many more fish than in my previous system will definitely become a challenge keeping a low nutrient tank. Guess I will have to see how it goes, QT if an absolute.

[@serenabowman2214]

Great tang selection but you missed 3 of my favourites out lol 1. Achilles tang 2. Powder blue 3. Clown tang my favourite out the three but they get HUGE. Yellow tangs also look great when there's mulitple schooling ☺

[@ReeferGil]

Powder Blue is not off the list, but the other two requires larger systems and would likely outgrow mine too fast.

[@serenabowman2214]

ReeferGil yes that is true as they do get big, but there absolutely stunning fish 😊

[@atfinthehouse8631]

Tribal blenny. Various other gobies and dragonets (don’t forget to pod-seed). Red stop light cardinal fish. Anthias.

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks ATF! Pods planted too!

[@reeferboy3278]

Hey i was thinking about getting a foxface too, i just started another tank. Im worried because ive heard they can sometimes pick on zoas or maybe some kinds of lps. Have you heard of this?

[@ReeferGil]

Not specifically on the FaxFace, but then again I've just started looking at it.

[@captivebredcanada]

I was expecting a Conspic on the list right till the end. You have one in the thumbnail.

[@ReeferGil]

Good looking fish!

[@carlsonmoncrief3370]

I hate to be the person that points this out, but I feel like I have to bc I have a kamohara blenny. Fangtooth blennies are venomous, not poisonous...

[@ReeferGil]

Ha, okay. I'll give you that.

[@lineman4204]

Blue eye atheist fish. Bright orange with a blue slash under it's eye. Can't get enough of orange in a reef tank. Does great in groups. One male and females will be best.

[@ReeferGil]

Orange does rock! Thanks!

[@leeandmandybattersby5958]

My hawkfish killed my fire fish it was very aggressive .... I also love a yellow tang ...... great video

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Lee, I'll be sure to consider this. Thanks for sharing.

[@MarlenBresler]

+1 tailspot, helfrichi, flame angel, diamond, jawfish, and leave the fish choices to the wife. you know what they say happy wife happy reef tank.

[@RogueAquariums]

Marlen Bresler besides helfrichi firefish being a very nice specimen to your tank, they are expensive and not as hardy IMO. I’ve lost 4 of them over the year. Hard fish for me to keep. 😕

[@MarlenBresler]

TY Rogue Aquariums but Its Gills tank and IMO fish are like coral some will just love it and stay and some species will just not stay. i'v had 4 diamond gobies in 6 months go carpet surfing with tight lid on tank?

[@ReeferGil]

You got that right Marlen! LOL, thanks for the post!

[@ReeferGil]

Ug, that's discouraging. I'll give it a shot and see what happens.

[@MarlenBresler]

go for it nothing turns over a sand bed like diamond goby they are like a free-kin snow blower except for some of my lps's weren't to fond of getting covered in sand

[@cubanreefer1582]

Never had anyone issues with the blue jaw trigger other than feeding him shrimps pieces wish is their favor

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Cuban, really looking forward to this particular fish.

[@robertmoshier9789]

Tang police here. Lol. Wouldn't the hippo grow to large for your tank? You said in the video they do best in a 180 gallon. You only have a 100 right? 4 feet long? Although I did hear hippos are slow growers. Do you plan on upgrading in a couple years when it gets bigger?

[@ReeferGil]

Oh for sure. I'd only get one if I could find a small juvenile. Otherwise I might look at a juvenile Powder Blue. In either case, they would come out once they've started reaching adulthood. No plans on another upgrade for a looooong while, lol.

[@mr.reeftank1456]

I highly doubt you will have any issues with the trigger. I have one thats 4.5 5in pretty peaceful fish unless your trying to feed something meaty not to mention super fast! Just trying to feed my eel he can shoot across a 6 foot tank in secs and steal the food from the tongs as soon as it touches the water, the sound of his teeth biting together is so loud! He hasnt touched any coral or clean up crew, these guys can def put away alot of food thats for sure...

[@ReeferGil]

Man, I really appreciate this post. I'm starting to have less jitters about getting a Blue Throat Trigger. Thanks!

[@tawilhome9426]

whats that white fish in the vd ,looks close to a bicolor dottyback,thanks

[@ReeferGil]

Not sure, where in the video timeline did you see it?

[@saltyjohns8687]

nyaquatic.com has great prices on tangs. Really good prices on the purple tangs when he has them in.

[@ReeferGil]

SWEET John, thanks for the link. I'll check them out.

[@ethankruger9869]

blue fin cardinals,and more wrasse

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks Ethan!

[@got2envy]

Do not get the Fox face if you want to keep zoas and palys, had mine for 3 years and suddenly one day he snacked on most of my zoas :(

[@ReeferGil]

Dang that bites! Will keep this one in mind, thank you!

[@SuperYellowtang]

Nice video buddy my system is still a young system just added a gold rim tang 6 inch absolutely stunning fish , did have a clown tang he was a absolute bitch had to remove him tank is a lot more peaceful than before 👍

[@ReeferGil]

Haha, I'll stay away from the clown tangs. Thank you sir!

[@legozombiemocmaker8026]

Where have you seen a blue spotted jaw fish for 50.00 dollars the cheapest one I have seen is $100.00

[@ZachShannon]

James Lance he’s in California, fish are cheaper there since the LFS don’t have to pay to have the fish shipped to them from LA

[@mattarruda]

Ellis aquatics in Compton sells them for $45. Go check him out. Has a shop based out of his garage. Doesn’t have to charge for overhead. He can get you anything you want. Equipment, fish, coral, Aquarium’s. Just ask

[@ReeferGil]

Well at the time I did this video, the Blue Jaw was $50 on Live Aquaria. I just looked, it's now $130! Yikes.

[@felipesparber9861]

Add a naso tang

[@c4snipar]

Blue jaw goby for $50? Now I am seeing them like anywhere from $100-$185ish in 2019

[@ReeferGil]

Wow, really? I haven't checked their prices as of late.

[@dominictracanna2352]

Swiss guard basslet

[@ReeferGil]

Awesome! You just may see this guy! Thanks for the advice!

[@tsurro8086]

That’s allot of fish, I wouldn’t do dory, big and useless, I would get a coral beauty and potters angel, both dwarf, eat algae, no anthias. I would get three at least or more, much better looking reef with them, no sandbed here, so I don’t have any wrasses or sand needing fish, by the way ur old tank was simply awesome looking!

[@ReeferGil]

Ha, thanks Surro. I'll go with the Hippo or Blue Tang, not sure. Guess I'll decide on whichever pops up first.

[@mustachehunting3009]

Sargassum Triggerfish

[@19801emmanuel]

You seriously are not adding a mandarin fish? 🥺

[@ReeferGil]

Not on a new system.

[@robertquiles5347]

Achilles tang

[@RustyShacklefardd]

Dorry

[@ReeferGil]

Thanks for the post, if you have Instagram, I post daily there.

[@dawgpound3]

Thanks for this video

[@ReeferGil]

And thank you for taking the time to post!