55g Predator tank

[jelwyoming]

I am moving a full grown antennated lionfish from a 30g to a 55g. I would like to add a couple of tank mates. What other predators or aggressive fish work with this size lionfish? He's 7". I had a large angler with him, until one day the angler fell on the lionfish. It resulted in him being paralyzed for 2 weeks before he died. His falling on him was partly my fault as he was motivated to move while I was cleaning the tank.
What do some of you have in a tank like this? I was considering another, different lionfish, or a snowflake eel and a Harlequin Tusk. Some sort of algae eater as well, like a large lawnmover blenny or a kole tang? I am going to limit it to just one or two of these, so I need to choose wisely. Other considerations; leaf fish, humahuma trigger, scorpionfish, or another angler. What is working for all of you?

 

[jelwyoming]

Anyone have a similar predator tank? What do you have in it?

 

[jelwyoming]

Any one? Is there any puffer that will do well in a 55g with only one or two other fish?

 

[aquabod]

hi, a 55 gallon is a small aquarium for a predator tank,i had a 55 gallon with a lion fish, DF puffer ,SF eel, and a picasso trigger and it seemed ok at first but after a while you will get a huge algae and nitrate problem. these fish consume a lot of food and create a lot of waste. i dont see a problem with the lionfish in a 55 and maybe even another type of smaller growing lion fish like a fu man chu...i also had a problem with my trigger becoming so tame and aggressive when feeding that it appeared to stress the lionfish and as a result the lion became reclusive and didnt show a lot of interest in feeding. if you add sand sifters make sure they are big enough for the lion not to eat and introduce at the same time. ive kept lion fish for years and have notived that they dont pay any attention to even small fish that they are use to seeing on a daily basis but when a new specimen is added it will hunt it down!! as tempting as it will be add a small amount of fish with the lion and dont forget that the triggers,eels,puffers get huge and quickly. hope this helps

 

[jelwyoming]

Thanks for that feedback.
I am making a bit of a change now. Some how, someone in the house used bug spray near one of my tanks. I ended up loosing the lionfish that I have had for several years.
The new plan is for the 55g with just a dwarf fuzzy lion, the SF eel and the spiny puffer that I already have. Oh yeah, and a H. Tusk. That will probably more than max out the system. I do have a 40g sump with a big EuroReef skimmer. I am hoping to get by with this for a time. If they get too big, it will justify another bigger tank!

 

[LisaD]

You can't put a HT in a 55, they get too big. I think you will be maxed with the first three fish, and the puffer will surely outgrow the tank.

 

[jelwyoming]

I wonder how fast they grow? It may be a step to another bigger tank.
I see that the minimum size for an HT is listed at 55g. I probably wouldn't have bought him if I'd know otherwise. A local friend had one in his tank for 3 years at a size of about 5". Was that a rarity?
I figured on moving the puffer out at sometime. This was definitely a stepping stone for him. He's a spiny box puffer at about 3" now.

 

[jelwyoming]

I had just ordered that HT. I was able to change the order to a red wartskinned frogfish. So, if I move the puffer out in a bit, I will have the dwarf fuzzy lionfish with the SF eel and a wartskin angler. I feel better about this since now I will be able to keep more of a cleanup crew too.
Thanks for the advice.