Are snowflake eels considered "Reef Safe?" And other questions.

Cowfish928 · Jun 12, 2016

Hello I am new to this forum. I am on other fish forums, but I would like to use this one for My Saltwater questions. I have a 107 gallon. I really want to use a canister, preferably a Fluval Fx6.I don't have the space for a sump. But My LFS says it's a nitrate factory. And people I know, do not recomend it. I was thinking I can fill 2 of the compartments of the filter media with crushed live rock. But I am not sure if I can. I really would love all the advice I can get. I also want to have hard and soft corals, but I want a Snowflake Eel so badly. At the same time, I want a clean up crew because I don't want the coral to suffocate with hair algae. But the eel would eat the snails and shrimp. Are there any shrimp and snails that won't get eaten? Also any ideas on lighting, considering I want hard corals. Any opinions would be fantastic. I'm excited to join in on this forum.

Humblefish · Jun 12, 2016

Don't think you'll be able to keep any crustacean with an eel, but I know some who keep them with snails. @Duke4Life is a big eel person.

When you say hard corals? Are you meaning SPS or LPS?

FeliciaLynn · Jun 12, 2016

I don't have any particular experience with canister filters, but they've become pretty unpopular in for reef tanks. Having a sump with a good skimmer is really the recommended way to go.

I do however, have some experience with eels. I've had a snowflake eel in my mixed reef tank for over a year now and he's been a wonderful addition. He's everyone's absolute favorite fish and has a ton of personality. They are definitely reef safe with some minor restrictions. Snowflakes are a good choice because they are pebbletooth eels, so they mostly eat crustaceans in the wild and are unlikely to prey on fish. They also stay smaller than a lot of the other eel species. In terms of coral, they won't eat or nip at any corals, so the only risk is them bumping into or knocking corals over. My snowflake gets pretty excited during feeding time and he going slithering all over the tank and tends to plow into my corals. He doesn't bother anything in my tank, but if you have a bunch of delicate SPS or small frags, the eel could break SPS branches or knock little frags around if they're not glued in place well. Also, they can knock over rockwork with their burrowing if your scape is not well secured. For clean up crew, I have some turbo snails, hermit crabs, a red mithrax crab, a tuxedo urchin, a big serpent starfish, and two fighting conchs. The eel doesn't even pay attention to the urchin, fighting conchs, or serpent starfish. Also, surprisingly enough, mine leaves my mithrax crab alone. They've been together for over a year and the mitrax crab is still alive and well. My eel has started picking on my snails and hermit crabs a bit recently. He likes to crab the snails by their shell and bash them against the rocks trying to crack them open. So far he hasn't succeeded and the snails just crawl off once he loses interest.

Cowfish928 · Jun 12, 2016

Thanks for the response! I am not sure, what is the difference between SPS and LPS? (I'm new to saltwater) @Humblefish

FeliciaLynn · Jun 12, 2016

Cowfish928 said:
Thanks for the response! I am not sure, what is the difference between SPS and LPS? (I'm new to saltwater) @Humblefish

SPS are small polyp stony corals. Since the polyps are small, even when they are extended you can see the hard stony structure of the coral. LPS corals are large polyp stony corals, which have much bigger polyps which often completely hide the hard skeleton when they are open. SPS corals are things like acroporas and montiporas. LPS corals are things like euphyllia (frogspawn, torch coral, hammer coral, etc), brain corals, bubble corals, and acans.

Humblefish · Jun 12, 2016

Cowfish928 said:
Thanks for the response! I am not sure, what is the difference between SPS and LPS? (I'm new to saltwater) @Humblefish

LPS = Large Polyp Stony (Meaty corals with stone bases like frogspawn, duncan, flower pot, etc.)

SPS = Small Polyp Stony ("Colored sticks" like birdsnest, acropora, monticaps, etc.)

You can probably keep LPS with a canister, but it will be difficult with SPS because of the nitrates. I'd advise staying away from SPS until you get more experience under your belt.

Eienna · Jun 12, 2016

Eels can be fun but they do require some individual care. Yes, they will eat most invertebrates, though ours did leave my turbo and trochus snails alone. Unfortunately, some snowflake eels develop a taste for fish. They're also rather sensitive in my experience. Would not call them a beginner fish.

Canisters are like filter socks. They CAN be a nitrate factory - if you don't keep them clean. They can be fine with a cleaning schedule of once or twice per week. When I had a canister filter, it was the fluval fx5, which I highly recommend if you're going to get one.

Do you need a list of beginner-friendly livestock?

Cowfish928 · Jun 12, 2016

Wow thank you for all this information ! @FeliciaLynn I definitely will get an eel then, because they seem so unique. Thank you for sharing your experience with me!

I wont get snails then, but if the crab is ok, then maybe I will try some crabs.

@Eienna I think I will give a Fluval fx6 a go. I will clean it once a week. I mean if I made a sump, how big does it have to be for a 107 Gallon?

@Humblefish thank you for telling me!

I will definitely be cautious if I get an SPS. I will wait Later on until I have the experience.

Duke4Life · Jun 12, 2016

I wouldn't hesitate in getting an eel. Here's a mini write up I did yesterday:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/1-year-with-a-chainlink-eel.252908/#post-2984334

Duke4Life · Jun 12, 2016

I have no clue about snowflakes but wanted to add I do have peppermint shrimp, snails, hermits, and had a skunk cleaner shrimp with mine with very little issues. The peppermints keep his den area clean and live in that area of my tank.

dwebb1031 · Jun 12, 2016

Technically yes, reefsafe just reefers to the fact the fish will or will not eat coral. Your eel isn't going to. Now the concern is he will eat any fish that fits in his mouth and they don't have a shut off they don't get full necessarily they may be content for a bit. A fish that you think is to big isn't. I feed mine fish big enough that you can see where they are in his body almost double in circumference.

Eienna · Jun 12, 2016

The answer to that would be 'as big as you can make it and still have decent access'. Skimmers are not a requirement, but they ARE extremely helpful, and you're probably going to want one down the road, and a sump is a terrific place to put it. A heater could also go in there. It keeps the equipment from messing up the pretty picture of your reef <3

If you were hoping to include a refugium, chances are it will help some but not a huge amount unless the thing is much bigger than you can fit under the stand. I personally still use a section for macroalgae and small critters like copepods. Just recently added miracle mud, too, so we'll see how that goes.

Maybe it WAS the fx6. It's been a while XD

Duke4Life · Jun 12, 2016

dwebb1031 said:
Technically yes, reefsafe just reefers to the fact the fish will or will not eat coral. Your eel isn't going to. Now the concern is he will eat any fish that fits in his mouth and they don't have a shut off they don't get full necessarily they may be content for a bit.

Just curious but what type do you have? Always looking to expand my knowledge of what others have experienced. I can only base my experience off my chainlink, but I could offer food repeatedly after he eats and he refuses, this can be several days. I think a juvenile eel need to eat more often than adults due to their metabolism, just like children. Mine has went from twice a day to ever few days.

FeliciaLynn · Jun 12, 2016

Duke4Life said:
Just curious but what type do you have? Always looking to expand my knowledge of what others have experienced. I can only base my experience off my chainlink, but I could offer food repeatedly after he eats and he refuses, this can be several days. I think a juvenile eel need to eat more often than adults due to their metabolism, just like children. Mine has went from twice a day to ever few days.

My snowflake will just eat and eat and eat until he explodes, but he only goes for the frozen food I offer and once I am done with feeding time, he calms down. He doesn't particularly hunt any of my other tank inhabitants. He'll nip at fish if they get too close to him, but he doesn't actively try to hunt and eat them. He also doesn't hunt my invertebrates besides harassing the snails.

Cowfish928 · Jun 12, 2016

Ok this is the space I have under my Aquarium.

Measurements
The two cabinets on each side is 18'' in length
They are 19 1/2'' wide
And they are 23'' high.

Is this enough space for a sump and whatever else I need for the Aquarium? Also I will get a HOB Protein skimmer. But I don't know what I'd be able to fit or what I can do.

@FeliciaLynn

@Eienna

@Humblefish

Also, I know Mandarin fish are not good starter fish. But once the tank is very established, and the other fish are thriving well, could I get one with an eel? Do they get along?

Eienna · Jun 12, 2016

Hmm. That IS rather a small space. I'm also thinking for the love of all that is Pete PLEASE don't forget to level your stand!! It doesn't look terribly sturdy...was it made for aquariums? If not you're looking at potentially disastrous bows and breakage. Now, as for what you can do down there, I suggest buying or making a sump to those specifications (don't try to make it if you're not experienced in DIY). you should be able to make a small refugium for copepods (since you're thinking of buying a dragonet). Remember to include space for a small return pump. The other side could hold an FX6 for the purpose of removing solids. Then you can add your HOB skimmer to the main tank. Could be a bit of an eyesore unless you hide the intakes somewhat, but it should fit the bill perfectly.

Eienna · Jun 12, 2016

Now, as to your getting a dragonet...I do have a bit of experience to share. That tank will most likely not be big enough to sustain a copepods population for long. You will have to add more periodically, possibly monthly, and that can get a bit pricey. That said, my mandarin transitioned to New Life spectrum Small Fish pellets within about four months. Once he was eating that reliably, I stopped adding copepods and he did wonderfully (it's an amazing pellet food) until a tragic tank crash. I miss my little buddy.

Most people train them onto mysis shrimp, though you must heed the individual's mouth size. Live brine shrimp is decent and live blackworms rock that I've heard of. In most cases, however, these fish still require some copepods for their continued health. Contact Paul B. here in the forums to find out where to find his plan for a continuous brine shrimp hatch and feed contraption.

Eienna · Jun 12, 2016

I do not know about keeping it with an eel. They are small and slow enough for said eel to take easily if he gets a taste for fish.

Duke4Life · Jun 12, 2016

If it was me I'd modify that and get rid of the center drawer section, opening up the whole bottom for your sump and other equipment. This wouldn't be very hard to do.

Eienna · Jun 12, 2016

Duke4Life said:
If it was me I'd modify that and get rid of the center drawer section, opening up the whole bottom for your sump and other equipment. This wouldn't be very hard to do.

Yes, but it would compromise the load capacity of the stand. Not a good idea.