Dream tank

[Josh_Canada]

I am in the beginning of stages of a 125G agrressive FOWLR tank. The stand is short, fitting my tank safely under my TV, a beautiful combination. Dimensions are 6'x18"x22". I am going to run a fluval fx5 canister, powerhead(s)? and quality HOB skimmer (suggestions?) due to size constraints, no sump unfortunately. The amount of liverock is debateable due to current stalking idea:

-1 volitan lionfish (ideal purchase size 8". Would I want to use less liverock to give this venemous 15" basketball more room?)
-1 snowflake eel (waiting at LFS length of 1')
-1 miniatus grouper? (Waiting in shark tank at a local Big Al's, at 6". Heard these can be agressive but will only realistically get 1' long)
-1 regal tang (Would this squeeze in? Ideal purchase sixe 6"+ Does the scalpel of the surgeonfish give it the same authority as the venemous rabbitfish? Or would it get victimized?)

Water changes will sit at 1/3 of water every 10 days. My city's water is perfect for african cichlids and saltwater, large water changes aren't that big of a deal. I would feed these fish: prawns, silversides, calamari and sheets of quality algae (for the tang). Some turbo snails i have that keep falling on they're back might meet a cruel fate by snowflake.

This is my dream. Any input appretiated!

 

[jmccown]

You honestly need a sump and live rock both for a successful tank

 

[dzfish17]

You honestly need a sump and live rock both for a successful tank

You dont need a sump for a successful aquarium. I dont use a sump and my fish are thriving. A sump is good for gas exchange, holding equipment, and added water volume but not a necessity. I do however recommend alot of LR and a good skimmer. I would also make sure that a sumpless tank has plenty of surface agitation for proper gas exchange.

 

[namxas]

I agree...preferable, not a necessity.

I do like CL's if you can't run a sump tho.

 

[Sonicblast12]

Live rock is a bit overstated, large fish don't really need it. The lion is definitely going to want the top half of the tank free. Just get that canister filter seeded with bacteria.

A remora pro is a good HOB skimmer. Maybe a bit undersized for large bodied fish, but if you skim wet it pulls out plenty. Get the drain fitting. The good news is that if you're running without a sump, the remora is very sleek.

 

[Josh_Canada]

Live rock is a bit overstated, large fish don't really need it. The lion is definitely going to want the top half of the tank free. Just get that canister filter seeded with bacteria.

My thoughts exactly.

I also have no clue what a 'CL' is...

The fx5 puts out 900GPH, but has a lot of foam inserts that prohibit flow. Should i supplement additional flow via powerhead(s)? Any idea of how the tang would fair?

 

[jjk_reef00]

I would get a hang on the back skimmer. The supper reef octopus ones work well.

CL is closed loop but for your sized tank powerheads are a great idea.

I would skip the regal tang and get something that doesn't grow so big. Kole tang, purple or yellow tang, etc...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079

 

[anbosu]

I would get a hang on the back skimmer. The supper reef octopus ones work well.

CL is closed loop but for your sized tank powerheads are a great idea.

I would skip the regal tang and get something that doesn't grow so big. Kole tang, purple or yellow tang, etc...
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079

+1 on the smaller tang, other than that it looks good if you are really going to use that much salt for the water changes.

 

[LisaD]

I agree you don't need a sump, and a good HOB skimmer on a tank with that kind of bioload would be most advisable. +1 on the suggestions of the AquaC Remora Pro - I have used one for a 120 gallon tank, bare bottom, lots of live rock, heavy stocking. If one's not enough for the tank, add another one.

I find that live rock contributes to a more stable tank. I would definitely put at least 100 lbs live rock in the tank. It would also help make the tank more natural looking and provide cover and territory for the fish. Properly sized and placed live rock shouldn't cause any kind of swimming space problem for the lionfish or other fish.

Also, how close is your television going to be to the tank? Salt water is very corrosive and can ruin electronics. Even if it's close by.

Good luck, post pictures one you get it started!

 

[moorish idol 1]

i THNK YOU SHOULD JUST BE ABLE TO FIT A TANG REGAL BLUES ARE a bit docile but perfectly capable of defending themselves.

 

[TitanTV]

This is mainly a question for myself probably more than the OP. Won't the grouper end up eatting the eel? I always thought the eels, being long and skinny, sticking out from under a rock or something would entice the grouper to try and swallow him.

 

[Josh_Canada]

Also, how close is your television going to be to the tank? Salt water is very corrosive and can ruin electronics. Even if it's close by.

Good luck, post pictures one you get it started!

I will surely post pics . The TV is above the aquarium. This is the only wall in my basement suite where this tank would fit and be practical, (the only other spot is in the spare bedroom). I am going with a glass lid, it has a plastic trim for the back part, which i can cut to size around the filter intake/outake. I'm not sure how the salt comes in to play, i thought evaporation was purely FW.

This is mainly a question for myself probably more than the OP. Won't the grouper end up eatting the eel? I always thought the eels, being long and skinny, sticking out from under a rock or something would entice the grouper to try and swallow him.

The eel gets to 2' maximum VS the miniatus hitting a realistic 10-12" range. I could be wrong, but IMO the risk is minimal.

A lot of family/friends ask me 'where is Dory?' when they see my reef tank. The 8' tank minimum in that linked article seems a little steep to me, but the fishes happiness is #1 in this dream of mine. Any other ideas for a resilient tang to live with these brutes?

I was planning on about 80-100lbs of rock. I believe this could hold territory for both of the rock-dwelling fish: the miniatus grouper and snowflake eel, whilst giving the tang and lionfish room to co-exist.

Thank you for the replies everyone!

 

[namxas]

FWIW, a friend of mine with an awesome 180 reef sold his regal and vlamingii to someone with a larger tank. Even the regal gets large, so a 125 would be a temp home at best.

 

[anbosu]

This is mainly a question for myself probably more than the OP. Won't the grouper end up eatting the eel? I always thought the eels, being long and skinny, sticking out from under a rock or something would entice the grouper to try and swallow him.

It would have to be a really small eel.

 

[Josh_Canada]

My personal prefrence right now is to the regal and kole tangs. Yellows in LFS's around here are always in rough shape for some reason. It's kind of an anomally
I was surprised it was said a smaller tang would be a good thing, I guess they must be tougher then i thought.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

If you get a regal tang do minimal aquascapeing because I saw one at my LFS in a reef tank that was a 6ft 210 heavily aquascaped and the he had no where near enough swimming room and was very strest and he was only 6in. With this said I would recomend a powder blue they are smaller but very aggressive and should be the last fish added, most definatly the last tang.

 

[Josh_Canada]

If you get a regal tang do minimal aquascapeing because I saw one at my LFS in a reef tank that was a 6ft 210 heavily aquascaped and the he had no where near enough swimming room and was very strest and he was only 6in. With this said I would recomend a powder blue they are smaller but very aggressive and should be the last fish added, most definatly the last tang.

The volitans lionfish is going to be roughly the size of a basketball so i'll definetly have the open-water aspect covered. :thumbsup: . I too am a fan of the powder blue tang. Finding one of a good size may take a bit of time. It VS the kole tang at this point.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

You can find powder blues on DD sometimes.

 

[Josh_Canada]

You can find powder blues on DD sometimes.

I believe DD only ships within the states. Bummer

 

[Josh_Canada]

Update: If all goes well, the tank, lid, light, filter, remora pro skimmer, powerhead(s), liverock and sand should be in this weekend. I am leaning towards the powder blue tang, given the fact it gets a bit bigger and more aggressive.