Reef Safe

Coral reefs are profoundly complex ecosystems. Nature’s ultimate balancing act, they are basically impossible to perfectly replicate even in very large aquarium systems. This is so because it is necessary to exclude (due to their predatory, aggressive or disruptive nature) many key species. Parrotfish, for example, eat coral and would be a nightmare for reef aquarists. Reef aquarium systems are the ultimate “community tanks,” with the animals not just living (more or less) peacefully alongside one another, but oftentimes even depending upon one another. Any species, ornamental or utilitarian, that harmoniously fits into the group could be called reef safe. Most tangs, for example, which do not eat coral, inverts or small fish are widely regarded as reef safe; lionfishes, which gulp down any small fish they can, certainly are not. While some species are like little angels, and others demons, there are yet others that do not fit neatly into either the “reef safe” or “not reef safe” categories. The hawkfishes might come to mind here; though they are totally cool with small fish and are not particularly aggressive, they cannot be trusted with small shrimp. In some cases, non-predatory/non-aggressive species are deemed to be not reef safe for the reason that their behavior or physiology poses a threat to tankmates. For example, the sea apple (a sluggish filter-feeder) is entirely “peaceful” but nevertheless can wipe out a whole tank in a day due to toxins it secretes when seriously distressed. In this section you will learn which species will, or will not, make for benevolent and innocuous members of your reef aquarium community.