Preds or Community?

FisheriesOmen · Sep 2, 2012

Ok so I have a 20L upgrade taking place here soon and was torn between Preds or Community fish.
Here are the lists:

Preds:
2 Leaf Scorpionfish
1 Cockatoo Waspfish
1 Fu Manchu Lionfish

Community:
2 Bluestripe Pipefish (yes I've researched their care)
2 Neon Gobies
The rest I would have to decide (main thing would be the Pipefish cause I want to breed them).

The scape will be the same no matter which I choose(SPS, LPS, Softies and Macro Algae).

SeahorseKeeper · Sep 2, 2012

I would do preds but lighten the bioload for a 20L.

wysiwyg · Sep 2, 2012

love my pred tanks

FisheriesOmen · Sep 2, 2012

This was the stock list recommended by the peeps on LL. Also will use my 10g for a refugium, so not that worried about bioload.

FisheriesOmen · Sep 3, 2012

Ok well it is currently tied..... C'mon people just push a button.

blackx-runner · Sep 3, 2012

why do you care what we would want LOL. It is your tank.

cdrewferd · Sep 4, 2012

Personally, there's no way I'd put 2 scorpions, a waspfish, and a lionfish of any size in a 20L. Would do a 55 at minimum. Not to be that guy, but this is just my opinion.

SPSjunky · Sep 4, 2012

a 20 is pretty small for a predator tank imo.I love banded pipefish so i'd say go for the pipefish!!!

Pkunk35 · Sep 4, 2012

I think breeding the pipefish will be insanely difficult but since I want to see more people breakthrough in this area of the hobby, I am encouraging you to try!

FishLipz · Sep 4, 2012

Pipefish vote here. So much more potential for learning

FisheriesOmen · Sep 4, 2012

Thanks everyone for the opinions and votes! I think those last few people swayed me back towards Blue-Stripe Pipefish! I know how much of a challenge Pipefish are but Blue-Stripes are considered "Easy" relative to other Pipefish and that's where I'll start. I don't know size-wise what would be best for Predators(as I'm new to Preds) so I think it would be best if I went for something a little more Adventurous and Purposeful, like Breeding Pipefish.

Thanks for all the Input! I think I have made my decision of Pipefish.

Pkunk35 · Sep 4, 2012

FisheriesOmen said:
Thanks everyone for the opinions and votes! I think those last few people swayed me back towards Blue-Stripe Pipefish! I know how much of a challenge Pipefish are but Blue-Stripes are considered "Easy" relative to other Pipefish and that's where I'll start. I don't know size-wise what would be best for Predators(as I'm new to Preds) so I think it would be best if I went for something a little more Adventurous and Purposeful, like Breeding Pipefish.

Thanks for all the Input! I think I have made my decision of Pipefish.

Just have a decent harpactacoid pod population and they will feed themselves in the beginning. As for food particle size I found that cyclopeeze is the preferred size and they can be trained onto cyclops fairly easily with time, although some seem to be much more eager to eat prepared than others.

I think you'll love the bluestripes, very entertaining and they are great swimmers so keeping them with coral is a breeze. One additional observation I had about them is that they like to have a place to settle down at night and mine would settle onto the big ball of chaeto every night to sleep next to each other.

I'd love to see any progress you make on breeding. When i had a pair i never even observed them mating.

mainereefer · Sep 4, 2012

I vote predators!!

FisheriesOmen · Sep 4, 2012

Pkunk35 said:
Just have a decent harpactacoid pod population and they will feed themselves in the beginning. As for food particle size I found that cyclopeeze is the preferred size and they can be trained onto cyclops fairly easily with time, although some seem to be much more eager to eat prepared than others.

I think you'll love the bluestripes, very entertaining and they are great swimmers so keeping them with coral is a breeze. One additional observation I had about them is that they like to have a place to settle down at night and mine would settle onto the big ball of chaeto every night to sleep next to each other.

I'd love to see any progress you make on breeding. When i had a pair i never even observed them mating.

I will be sure to PM you once I make a build thread and then later.....hopefully.....a Breeding Journal!

Sorry mainreefer but I have realized I prefer more Utilitarianism Fishkeeping, and I don't have the space to attempt breeding preds at the moment. Also with Pipefish, I can also keep a Neon Goby pair which I just found a Breeding Journal on. . . . :tongue: