172 Gallon Aggressive Tank Build

[kamikaze483]

I am brand new to the hobby, but I have been reading and researching for 2 years and about three weeks ago purchased a 10 gallon nano that is doing well. LFS still won't let me put anything more in it other than the two clowns and the LR as it hasn't fully cycled yet.

For my main tank, I have been wanting to do a predator tank and originally had asked for a 210 gallon setup. After some back and forth with the LFS and my spouse, we ended up settling on a very attractive Red Sea S-650- the biggest setup they have, but still smaller than I originally wanted.

LFS said that I was still fine with my tentative list of fish in the 172 gallon. Here is the list.

Miniatus Grouper
Volitan Lionfish
Eel (type to be determined)
Porcupine Puffer
Dogface Puffer
Niger Trigger
Tang for algae control (type to be determined)

The rest of the story is this: I don't want a FOWLR. I want the movement and color from the corals. While these fish aren't reef safe, based on my research and conversations with LFS, this just means I can't have a cleanup crew, but my corals will probably be fine.

So 7 fish. LFS said I would even be ok with more than that. I posted on a couple of different reef forums- the feedback from one forum was that I was on a good track for a successful predator reef.

The other forum slammed me (body slammed me) saying that all these fish were too big for this tank. That I needed 300 gallons for the puffer alone... and that my filtration on this tank was too modest to support the bioload.

So I joined this forum to see if you guys could break the tie. I'm willing to adjust species and if I absolutely have to, I will subtract from the list- although I don't want to.

The tank is 172. Already ordered and spouse likes it so no changing that. Paid a lot for the tank (A LOT), but would be able to upgrade to a larger tank down the road if I have to.

I realize this hobby is based on people's opinions and experiences so I guess I am just trying to figure out whose opinion is right. haha.

Thanks for your feedback

 

[Bent]

I am brand new to the hobby, but I have been reading and researching for 2 years and about three weeks ago purchased a 10 gallon nano that is doing well. LFS still won't let me put anything more in it other than the two clowns and the LR as it hasn't fully cycled yet.

For my main tank, I have been wanting to do a predator tank and originally had asked for a 210 gallon setup. After some back and forth with the LFS and my spouse, we ended up settling on a very attractive Red Sea S-650- the biggest setup they have, but still smaller than I originally wanted.

LFS said that I was still fine with my tentative list of fish in the 172 gallon. Here is the list.

Miniatus Grouper
Volitan Lionfish
Eel (type to be determined)
Porcupine Puffer
Dogface Puffer
Niger Trigger
Tang for algae control (type to be determined)

The rest of the story is this: I don't want a FOWLR. I want the movement and color from the corals. While these fish aren't reef safe, based on my research and conversations with LFS, this just means I can't have a cleanup crew, but my corals will probably be fine.

So 7 fish. LFS said I would even be ok with more than that. I posted on a couple of different reef forums- the feedback from one forum was that I was on a good track for a successful predator reef.

The other forum slammed me (body slammed me) saying that all these fish were too big for this tank. That I needed 300 gallons for the puffer alone... and that my filtration on this tank was too modest to support the bioload.

So I joined this forum to see if you guys could break the tie. I'm willing to adjust species and if I absolutely have to, I will subtract from the list- although I don't want to.

The tank is 172. Already ordered and spouse likes it so no changing that. Paid a lot for the tank (A LOT), but would be able to upgrade to a larger tank down the road if I have to.

I realize this hobby is based on people's opinions and experiences so I guess I am just trying to figure out whose opinion is right. haha.

Thanks for your feedback

Well, first of all, your LFS is giving you terrible advise. Never cycle a tank with fish, it's cruel.

Second of all, almost none of the fish you have listed are appropriate for that tank.

The miniatus, or any grouper for that matter are huge, not just in length, but width. They need a ton of swimming space. While a miniatus may be 18-20" in in length, it will be probably 6-10" wide and its weight will be in pounds. Plural. Add in the fact that they are hyper aggressive. Nothing in that tank will be safe once it gets a certain size. There's not a single grouper I can think of that belongs in anything smaller than 250 gallons as a single specimen. In a community I would say 500 gallons. Some people may argue this, but it's just my opinion.

The porky puffer also gets too big for that size. Singly, it would probably be fine. But a 1-1.5 foot fish in a community of other 1 foot long fish is just too cramped in my opinion.

The volatin is also too big IMO. I'd go for a Russell's, or some other species. Volatins are huge. Plus again, add in those huge fish and Its way too cramped.

175 is a fine size for a yellow tang, or some other species, but please research the specific one you are thinking about (don't rely on the LFS), before buying it.

The dogface puffer is also borderline too big. Again combine him with the other huge fish and its too crowded. He or the porky might be fine as the only large fish, but that's the only way it will work.

Same thing with the Niger. It's huge as well, easily a foot long or longer and thick. It could work with the right smaller fish, but with the other fish in the list, I wouldn't.

There are many great eels that would fit your tank, the important thing to remember is to seal the tank up like a vault. It will find the smallest hole and get out, it's what they do.



Me, personally?

I would get a tessalata eel, and nothing else. Fill it with corals and have one, big bad ***, ultra mean specimen and the rest corals. A tessalata eel is insanely aggressive. Add some flow from corals and that would be the tank of my dreams.

I would not, repeat, not put that list of fish together.

 

[BigBlueTang]

I completely agree with Bent. Most of those fish will not do well in a tank that size.

Oops, did I say completely agree with Ben? Don't get a tessie, I personally love eels, but for a species only, get a clown trigger. It'll be fine in your tank. Astounding color, amazing personality, has that "Bad @%@" thing going for it. I love Clown triggers. Plus in a species only, the clown will probably let you pet it...



What a pretty fish..

Not my pic.. But I wish it was

 

[Bent]

I completely agree with Bent. Most of those fish will not do well in a tank that size.

Oops, did I say completely agree with Ben? Don't get a tessie, I personally love eels, but for a species only, get a clown trigger. It'll be fine in your tank. Astounding color, amazing personality, has that "Bad @%@" thing going for it. I love Clown triggers. Plus in a species only, the clown will probably let you pet it...



What a pretty fish..

Not my pic.. But I wish it was

i thought a 170 was waaaaay to small for a clown trigger?

 

[GimpyFin]

First off, congrats on the tank. The red seas are pretty nice for a plug and play system. I kinda agree with Ben, though, on the stocking. Not an ideal fish combo for a 170. An Eel or maybe the lionfish and tang are the only ones I'd even consider on that list. The problem with aggressive/predator tanks is most of the fish get huge and usually require at least a 300+ gallon tank. Probably not what you wanted to hear, but there are plenty of cool fish you can add to that size tank with or without a reef. Also, If that small tank with the clowns hasn't cycled, I would consider getting a small bottle of bio spira and adding it in. It will help prevent them from getting hit with the ammonia spike.

 

[uncleL]

Looks like you have a nice setup I would go with a clown trigger and I would go with a snowflake eel. Maybe a dwarf lionfish

 

[leviburns89]

+1 with what Bent said.

Just because you have a large tank, doesn't mean you can have all the fish you want.

The list you put up would cost you a small fortune, and probably kill itself

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[dweber618]

+1 to Bent on all points about fish size. I genuinely believe you would be setting yourself up for disaster and heart break as all those fish grew.

My LFS has a huge tank with two Tessalata eels in it and they are cool! They have a few aggressive damsels I'm there as well that seem to manage just fine.

 

[Bent]

+1 to Bent on all points about fish size. I genuinely believe you would be setting yourself up for disaster and heart break as all those fish grew.

My LFS has a huge tank with two Tessalata eels in it and they are cool! They have a few aggressive damsels I'm there as well that seem to manage just fine.

Tessalata is my dream fish.

I would name it Tessa.

 

[Jeff4777]

I am brand new to the hobby, but I have been reading and researching for 2 years and about three weeks ago purchased a 10 gallon nano that is doing well. LFS still won't let me put anything more in it other than the two clowns and the LR as it hasn't fully cycled yet.

For my main tank, I have been wanting to do a predator tank and originally had asked for a 210 gallon setup. After some back and forth with the LFS and my spouse, we ended up settling on a very attractive Red Sea S-650- the biggest setup they have, but still smaller than I originally wanted.

LFS said that I was still fine with my tentative list of fish in the 172 gallon. Here is the list.

Miniatus Grouper
Volitan Lionfish
Eel (type to be determined)
Porcupine Puffer
Dogface Puffer
Niger Trigger
Tang for algae control (type to be determined)

The rest of the story is this: I don't want a FOWLR. I want the movement and color from the corals. While these fish aren't reef safe, based on my research and conversations with LFS, this just means I can't have a cleanup crew, but my corals will probably be fine.

So 7 fish. LFS said I would even be ok with more than that. I posted on a couple of different reef forums- the feedback from one forum was that I was on a good track for a successful predator reef.

The other forum slammed me (body slammed me) saying that all these fish were too big for this tank. That I needed 300 gallons for the puffer alone... and that my filtration on this tank was too modest to support the bioload.

So I joined this forum to see if you guys could break the tie. I'm willing to adjust species and if I absolutely have to, I will subtract from the list- although I don't want to.

The tank is 172. Already ordered and spouse likes it so no changing that. Paid a lot for the tank (A LOT), but would be able to upgrade to a larger tank down the road if I have to.

I realize this hobby is based on people's opinions and experiences so I guess I am just trying to figure out whose opinion is right. haha.

Thanks for your feedback

I wouldn't recommend putting all those fish in a S-650. Its an amazing tank and its going to look great congrats, but that many / those fish require a larger tank. The S-650 is 172 gallons total system volume not just the display and the bio load would be pretty high for your skimmer. Not that you couldn't keep up with that type of bio load from whatever type of life forms in the tank, it would just be more work and isn't ideal really. Especially if you do want a reef the nitrate could be annoying.

 

[Bent]

I'd love to have the room for a blue spot grouper though. Freaking great.

 

[cougareyes]

My dogface puffer leaves my snails, hermits, and even urchin alone; but he would rip the corals to shreds, puffers are not reef safe. A niger is questionable; look at the bluejaws; they have a better reputation for being reef safe and stay smaller. I see no problem with the lionfish in that tank, I've keep them in smaller for many years and they aren't that active unless hunting. A few tangs to choose from; tomini, white tail bristletooth, kole, powder brown, powder blue, yellow.

 

[BigBlueTang]

i thought a 170 was waaaaay to small for a clown trigger?

For a community tank, perhaps.

However, Steve(Snorvich) and I helped out another person who got one for a 150. I think steve's knowledge doubles mine, and I trust his judgement.

I'd get a clown trigger. But no other fish, or you may find their head's stuck to an overflow. Ew.

 

[MMacro]

For a community tank, perhaps.

However, Steve(Snorvich) and I helped out another person who got one for a 150. I think steve's knowledge doubles mine, and I trust his judgement.

I'd get a clown trigger. But no other fish, or you may find their head's stuck to an overflow. Ew.

Hmmm...
A very active fish that can get almost two feet long in a 170?