Future tank(predator +LPS)

aviationreef · Nov 5, 2015

So i figured i would not make the same mistake i did with my first tank and plan for my next tank. I am not starting another tank for 2 years but planning a tank is a big part of the fun. Also with this time i can really fine tune how i want to do things.

So during my planning i noticed i had 2 directions i was split between. First was a very diverse mixed system, There is enough info on this that i could do it without a lot of research.

The other system and the one i would like some help on possibly planning is a LPS dominated predator system. With possibly a few tangs?

So tank wise i am thinking 180 gallons.
Yellow tang(required let me know if there is something that will not coexist with this)
Naso Tang.
Snowflake or Zebra eel.
Harlequin tusk.
Pinkface wrasse
banana wrasse
Picasso Triggerfish
Lionfish(i like them all honestly)
Puffer(which one is always smiling?)

LPS Dominated(maybe softies idk yet)
I heard LPS will deal with the increase in nutrients from the predator fish more.

As for clean up crew is there anything i can use?
crabs - out
Snails- out
Urchins?
Cucumbers?

Or maybe i can just add A oversized cleanup crew every 6 months or so to clean up the tank and act as food for the Fish.

Thanks for any help. I do not know much about predator tanks as of now but a lot of the fish really interested me.

kyla bidwell · Nov 5, 2015

Im not sure about most of the questions you asked..... but as far as puffers go.......I think a valentini puffer would be a great choice. I had one andit had great ppersonality. Amd I think their colors make them the most beautiful puffer. They are also pretty cheap. Mine was less than $20! I added mine to a reef with some prized coral and it only messed with my acans and a brain. Other than that, he left my corals alone. I put a Koran angelfish in, and he destroyed a TON of coral though. I do NOT recommend any angelfish if you care a lot for you corals. Its just NOT worth the risk in my opinion. Hth

Dtackett · Nov 5, 2015

what size tank are you planning? with your list youre looking at a 300+ gallon system maybe more. remember, anything that will fit in the lion fishes mouth its going to eat, puffers like to nip on slower fish with big fins so he might nip on the lion from time to time (he can his the flowly parts of the fins without getting stung) youre going to want a good cover or screen with the eel and youll need to ensure he cant get into the overflow.

as for your CUC. you wont have a choice, youll have to replace crabs and snails as theyre ate. that's part of the cost with a tank like this. I would find a local vendor/lfs that will sell you snails/crabs at bulk pricing. I have a local one that was selling me hermits at 75 cents each when I bought 20 for my old puffer. I would have him order 20 about every 2 weeks.

aviationreef · Nov 5, 2015

Long term planning, So the stocking list isn't finalized and i am really just working out the kinks. when i am done with planning both systems i can do a comparison of the two. I am more just saying IF i do predator tank these are the fish i am interested in.

I will definitely need to limit the number of fish i get in my system if i want coral as well.
So maybe 5-6 of these fish?
Are there any fish on my list a small lion fish will eat? like a dwarf?
And are you suggesting to not mix a lion fish and a puffer?

As for the CUC Reefcleaners.org are fairly cheap especially if i do 2 day shipping.

As for the valentini puffer they don't have that Smile look that really gets me.

Dtackett · Nov 5, 2015

it depends on how small you get most of those fish. and youre looking for a porcupine puffer. but a puffer in most cases will nip coral.

aviationreef · Nov 5, 2015

porcupine puffer, that is the one.

As for nipping corals from everything i have read they seem very good about staying away from corals, even live aquaria didnt say they eat corals. i saw the biggest issue with them is high waste and the fact they eat inverts.

Ill keep doing more research and see if there is a type of coral they like to nip or if there is a cause for nipping them. Might have to take puffer off of the list as i do not want a FOWLR system. Makes me feel like it is incomplete.

Dtackett · Nov 6, 2015

all puffers have a chance of nipping corals. its one of the ways they keep their teeth trimmed. ive had several puffers over the years and some nipped some didn't. there was no method to it. just luck of the draw. I had a blue spot puffer that didn't mess with anything for 6 months then overnight all of my chalice disappeared and I found him munching on my digitata. ive seen porcs in full beautiful reefs without an issue and ive seen porcs that people were trying to get rid of because they were munching on coral.

aviationreef · Nov 6, 2015

hmm trial and error then... Maybe ill try what Mr. salt water reef recommended which was Quarantine them with a few frags of the corals i want to keep. Maybe you have to give them enough hermits and snails to keep there beaks trimmed?

Dtackett · Nov 6, 2015

tried that lol he liked the taste of chalice better. putting a puffer in with coral is always a risk, porcs seem to have the best standings in a reef out of most puffers though.

aviationreef · Nov 6, 2015

Hmm maybe i can go anemone crazy. but i would prefer a LPS system, or even a few sps if the system can maintain proper water conditions.

Might put puffers on the chopping block.

Dtackett · Nov 6, 2015

most sps are pretty forgiving. I had purple digitata grow under a cfl lol and to be honest, most sps don't want perfect water. think about it, sps grow on the edges of reefs where the waves crash into the reef. this is also the point in the reef with the highest nutrients. not saying they want high nutrients but they don't want all 0 either.