Ok, so last night my wife and I were at the LFS and I saw a beautiful blue headed wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum). These are not reef safe. I knew this at the time of purchase, and they won't attack or bother corals, just inverts.
That said, I have now set the tone for an interesting type of reef tank. I've already upgraded my skimmer to one much more powerful than is normally needed for my tank. I will add a tang or 2, and maybe an algae blenny for algae control. I'll need to step up water changes to control my levels with a high bioload. I'm also going to research alternative ideas, like vodka dosing.
Depending on what the wrasse bothers, I may be able to stock some snails and crabs, but that remains to be seen. I have a feeling my dwarf ceriths will be gone within a week.
Now the good news... I've resigned myself to not having shrimp or many other common reef cleaners, and there are many non-reef safe animals that only bother inverts. I can now add more diversity than I would have otherwise been able to. Including eels, and other unlikely reef candidates.
Please note that this was an impulse buy, but I knew what I was getting into. I don't advise trying this, but I will see how it goes, and I think with proper upkeep, I may be able to pull off a reef with some "non reef-safe" livestock.
Wish me luck, and let me know if you have any other suggestions for algae control without a standard cleanup crew.
That said, I have now set the tone for an interesting type of reef tank. I've already upgraded my skimmer to one much more powerful than is normally needed for my tank. I will add a tang or 2, and maybe an algae blenny for algae control. I'll need to step up water changes to control my levels with a high bioload. I'm also going to research alternative ideas, like vodka dosing.
Depending on what the wrasse bothers, I may be able to stock some snails and crabs, but that remains to be seen. I have a feeling my dwarf ceriths will be gone within a week.
Now the good news... I've resigned myself to not having shrimp or many other common reef cleaners, and there are many non-reef safe animals that only bother inverts. I can now add more diversity than I would have otherwise been able to. Including eels, and other unlikely reef candidates.
Please note that this was an impulse buy, but I knew what I was getting into. I don't advise trying this, but I will see how it goes, and I think with proper upkeep, I may be able to pull off a reef with some "non reef-safe" livestock.
Wish me luck, and let me know if you have any other suggestions for algae control without a standard cleanup crew.
