I have a 55 gallon saltwater tank with 50 lbs of live rock, 20 snails, 20 hermits, and a kleins butterfly. my water quality is ph 8.2 - 8.3 nitrate 10 - 15 ppm nitrite 0 ammonia 0 SG 1.023. i run a ehiem pro 3 canisterfliter, a seaclone 150 skimmer which is ok not amazing thought, and i have a few powerheads. i really want to get into taking care of fuzzy dwarf lionfish. i was thinking of doing a male and a female, of a Male Female Female trio. i am worried about the bioload however and i was wondering if the ehiem can handle it. and if not ways that could help the bioload like mabe adding a bio filter?? any suggestions would be great. also how hardy are these fish if anyone has kept them.
dwarf lionfish
- Thread starter tymon
- Start date
bamato
New member
Fuzzy's are fairly hardy, and easily kept. Like I mentioned in your other thread, you're going to be pushing the bio-load on this one. How often do you clean the canister filter? Sometimes those can cause more problems then they are worth.. Also, a skimmer upgrade will be necessary the more I think about it. These fish are very messy eaters, and leave lots of debris in the water column (another reason your canister filter will become a bacteria breeding ground).
if i keep up with water changes every week and clean a canister a ton do you think i could keep two of these? instead of 3. I will hand feed them not just poor food into the tank. i also run an in tank rufugium that works as a bit like a bio filter i have chaeto and micro algee in it with live rock rubble. if i added a biofilter would this help? because i do not have the money to drop on a really good skimmer. it also needs to be HOB and i do not know if there is really good ones of thoses i have been looking.
bamato
New member
You could keep two in there comofortably. Whether you keep lions in there or not, it's good practice to clean the canister regularly anyway. With an "ok" skimmer, refugium, and live rock, you should be ok.
When you say dwarf lion, to which species are you referring to? If it was me, I'd mix it up a bit. Perhaps a fuzzy and an antennata. Or a fuzzy and a fu manchu (if you're up to the weaning challenge). Or a fuzzy and a hawaiian... etc.
When you say dwarf lion, to which species are you referring to? If it was me, I'd mix it up a bit. Perhaps a fuzzy and an antennata. Or a fuzzy and a fu manchu (if you're up to the weaning challenge). Or a fuzzy and a hawaiian... etc.
i run the seaclone 150 skimmer and its doing good because i do not have a lot in the tank but when i get the lions should i add another skimmer would that help?
i was thinking the remora hob http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaC_Re...rotein_Skimmers-AquaC-AC3121-FIPSHOSI-vi.html
or would something like a biofilter help.
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/Marineland-Emperor-400_p_2341.html
or i could make another biofilter withh live rock rubble.
i was thinking the remora hob http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaC_Re...rotein_Skimmers-AquaC-AC3121-FIPSHOSI-vi.html
or would something like a biofilter help.
http://www.saltwaterfish.com/Marineland-Emperor-400_p_2341.html
or i could make another biofilter withh live rock rubble.
Byron3e
New member
Pretty female Brachypterus
You know more than i do. How can you tell its a female?
I do not have lions yet, so take this with a grain of salt, and let the more experienced guys chime in as well....
I was under the impression that two Dendrochirus types in the same tank may be asking for problems. I have read that mixing two dwarfs say one of Dendrochirus and one Pterois was a wiser choice....(which, sadly would eliminate or at least discourage combining the Fuzzy Dwarf(Dendrochirus brachypterus) and FuManChu (Dendrochirus biocellatus) in the same tank.
Please correct me if this is wrong, or over-cautious.
My question is would the 20 snail and 20 hermits already in his tank just be food for the lions? Or would they be left alone if the lion was adequetly fed?
Thanks, trying to learn as much as I can myself before I go for a lion tank.
I was under the impression that two Dendrochirus types in the same tank may be asking for problems. I have read that mixing two dwarfs say one of Dendrochirus and one Pterois was a wiser choice....(which, sadly would eliminate or at least discourage combining the Fuzzy Dwarf(Dendrochirus brachypterus) and FuManChu (Dendrochirus biocellatus) in the same tank.
Please correct me if this is wrong, or over-cautious.
My question is would the 20 snail and 20 hermits already in his tank just be food for the lions? Or would they be left alone if the lion was adequetly fed?
Thanks, trying to learn as much as I can myself before I go for a lion tank.
I have read so many different size requirements for dwarf lions. I have also read so many compatibility issues with them too.
I have become attached to the idea of getting a dwarf lion or two, (don't have any yet) and would like to have some opinions from Lion keepers...
So please don't assume that I have already done this or insist upon doing it, just want opinions so I can weigh some options.
Compatibility first:
I have come to feel fairly confident that a Dwarf Fuzzy Lion (Dendrochirus brachypterus), Pterois mombasae Lion, a scorpion fish and fox fish would all co-exist fairly well give the appropriate size tank.
I am curious to learn about other possible non-lion tank mates though. Please consider these from different dwarf lion prospectives and make suggestions.
Dwarf Lion & Snowflake Eel
Dwarf Lion & Tomato Clown fish w/ anemonea (my son's request)
Dwarf Lion & Marine Beta
Dwarf Lion & File fish (suggestions on which are welcome)
Dwarf Lion or 2 with all of the above
Then size requirements (please indicate dimension or volume concerns)
I could do a 24"x18x24tall 40 gal
with a 41"x18"x24 tall 60 gal mixed reef tank
connected to a 125gal sump
or reverse and do the 40 gal mixed reef and the 60 fowlr.
I have 130lbs of nice and big Pukkani rock from BRS and SRO 2000 skimmer.
I would love to hear some opinions or what combos would work out well for the Fish only section. I don't have the experience with the fish only side, so I need to know how to adjust my expectations from a busy reef mode. I know that much, but if I am able to do 5 or 6 with the 60 as opposed to 3 or 4 with the 40 that would make me go big on the FOWLR side, however if it isn't going to make much difference, and I could only keep 2 or 3 in either then I would stick with the small tank for the fish only.
Also chime in if you think I would be foolish to try to interconnect the two, with the large sump. Would I be better off dividing the sump and seperating the two water systems?
Thanks for your help, I want to have the best of both worlds but am 100% willing to compromise as neccessary for the sake of the fish's best interests. I am trying to do the leg work and prevent an impulse or just one more attitude and go in with my expectations realistic.
I will post a build thread (hopefully very soon) I have my two tanks cut and external overflows ready to be attached...plumbing is figured out, and stand lumber was delivered half way through this crazy long post.
Now I go to sleep....gotta love night shift
I have become attached to the idea of getting a dwarf lion or two, (don't have any yet) and would like to have some opinions from Lion keepers...
So please don't assume that I have already done this or insist upon doing it, just want opinions so I can weigh some options.
Compatibility first:
I have come to feel fairly confident that a Dwarf Fuzzy Lion (Dendrochirus brachypterus), Pterois mombasae Lion, a scorpion fish and fox fish would all co-exist fairly well give the appropriate size tank.
I am curious to learn about other possible non-lion tank mates though. Please consider these from different dwarf lion prospectives and make suggestions.
Dwarf Lion & Snowflake Eel
Dwarf Lion & Tomato Clown fish w/ anemonea (my son's request)
Dwarf Lion & Marine Beta
Dwarf Lion & File fish (suggestions on which are welcome)
Dwarf Lion or 2 with all of the above
Then size requirements (please indicate dimension or volume concerns)
I could do a 24"x18x24tall 40 gal
with a 41"x18"x24 tall 60 gal mixed reef tank
connected to a 125gal sump
or reverse and do the 40 gal mixed reef and the 60 fowlr.
I have 130lbs of nice and big Pukkani rock from BRS and SRO 2000 skimmer.
I would love to hear some opinions or what combos would work out well for the Fish only section. I don't have the experience with the fish only side, so I need to know how to adjust my expectations from a busy reef mode. I know that much, but if I am able to do 5 or 6 with the 60 as opposed to 3 or 4 with the 40 that would make me go big on the FOWLR side, however if it isn't going to make much difference, and I could only keep 2 or 3 in either then I would stick with the small tank for the fish only.
Also chime in if you think I would be foolish to try to interconnect the two, with the large sump. Would I be better off dividing the sump and seperating the two water systems?
Thanks for your help, I want to have the best of both worlds but am 100% willing to compromise as neccessary for the sake of the fish's best interests. I am trying to do the leg work and prevent an impulse or just one more attitude and go in with my expectations realistic.
I will post a build thread (hopefully very soon) I have my two tanks cut and external overflows ready to be attached...plumbing is figured out, and stand lumber was delivered half way through this crazy long post.
Now I go to sleep....gotta love night shift
I have made the choice of only gettting a fuzzy. i think the hermits will be eaten i have read that to. however i have read the snails should be fine. and larger butterflys and angels ussally will not be bothered by the dwarfs. it is fish like puffers that will mabe get stung because of their curousity. i have also read that a green wolf eel could do well and they also do not get that large 12-18 inches max. but the problem with the snowflake is when it gets bigger it will become very aggressive. also is it true the eels try to escape. because i do not keep a cover on my tank. and was wondering if that happens alot.
