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jamest0o0

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well I am looking into getting a tank in the 180-220g range for a FOWLR in my living room.... I just quickly made up a wish list so please do not attack me too much, I am just kind of getting an idea of what I can have/what I want in my tank before I go out and buy another tank :) so.... here is my list...



volitan lionfish (I've heard mixed opinions on puffers and triggers nipping their fins so please help here)

I'd love a triggerfish, but really have no idea on what kind to research suggestions here would really help, I liked the cross hatch and blue lined, but just seeing their awsome colors, I know there must be a catch haha....

naso tang

honeycomb puffer (being my first pick) or porcupine puffer

pinkface wrasse(being first pick) banana or lyretail

zebra moray eel

I really liked the imperator, blue girdled, blue face, and annularis angelfish equally so any suggestions on which one of those to look into would be great

and finally saddleback butterfly

any help would be great, like I said I'm just trying to get a list together that I can use to start my research.... thanks!
 
I think its a pretty good list...You are correct about the Lion/Trigger/Puffer potential issue, I have even heard of large angels not making good tankmates for Lions. Getting the Lion is something you will have to decide if its worth the risk, IMO not with your tankmates.....As far as which Angel, my choice would be Emperor. I would suggest the Sunset Wrasse (aka Banana) but i'm biased, I really like mine. Trigger, I am again biased but I like Sargassum or Niger, both low on the aggression chart but beautiful, interesting fish. Bluethroat is great too...Forget Blueline, big and nasty when they grow up. As far as the "catch" on the Crosshatch, no catch, just a $400 pricetag.
 
so would a 180-200g be fine for this? also would this be all I could have in the tank or would there be room for another fish?
 
I think 7 or so good sized fish are fine in a 180 or 220, provided a few things

Fish are all semi-compatable....don't put an Undulate Trigger with a Lion. Don't put passive fish with big angels, big tangs, puffers and so on. Just make a good plan and stick with it...You're already doing that.

Excellent water conditions....Regular water changes, don't skimp on a protein skimmer (buy better than you think you need), I am also a proponent of a good UV....plenty of filtration from LR and LS and good circulation.

Understand what your fish need to survive...Including diet and space requirements and tempermant.

Go least aggressive in first, most aggressive reputation fish in last, and so on.

Ask lots of questions.

Sounds like you have done a lot of research and have a good backgroud with a smaller tank. Just take it slow.
 
thanks a lot

I've made my share of mistakes lol so just trying to go right with this tank.... rushed into the 55g before I found out about this site = /
 
.Actually, I have a 240g tank with a Huma Huma Trigger, A Volitian Lion, Porcupine Puffer a emperor angel (adult) and about 4 other large aggressive fish. I have not had any troubles with the fish. Make sure the fish you feel is most aggressive is smallest and added last. My puffers have always been very docile. They do not even attack my hermits. Aggressive fish are just like any other animal one may be fine living in a tank for ever while another is a complete terror.

I think you should be fine with your selections
 
alright thanks very much, still can't believe I did that good taking 5 minutes to write down some fish I like, now just need to research some on them..... can I have some opinions on what order I should add them to my tank because most sites just say the fish is semi-aggressive or aggressive....

one more thing the zebra eel is "difficult" to care for? why is this?
 
zebra morays are not difficult, I've had mine for many years. it was the only survivor, back in 2005, of a disease outbreak. they are great eels, and compatible with fish, though they hide a lot.

I have the following and am going to add a couple more fish (for a 220):

black tip grouper (small red grouper, gets no larger than 16")
dog face puffer (one of the mellower and smaller "true" puffers)
Hawaiian pinktail trigger (gets ~10" and is fairly mellow)
zebra moray (the one I've had for many years)
Brazilian dragon moray (gets 30", will eat small fish)

I am going to add 3 from the following list (can't make up my mind) and may get rid of one eel:

harlequin tuskfish - one of the best fish!
a large angel (Koran, emperor or majestic)
blue spotted rabbitfish (have one in another tank)
niger triggerfish (have one in another tank)
volitan lionfish

So far, the niger is very mellow, but I'm not sure it would not harass a lion when it gets bigger. The pink tail is pretty big and never bothers anything, and I don't think the puffer would be aggressive with a lionfish either.
 
what about the honeycomb puffer, no one ever talks about it, but the pics I've seen of them have great color so I'd be very much interested in them, if not I can always go with a porcupine :)

thanks!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12396579#post12396579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jamest0o0
what about the honeycomb puffer, no one ever talks about it, but the pics I've seen of them have great color so I'd be very much interested in them, if not I can always go with a porcupine :)

thanks!
Click to expand...

I must be honest, I don't know which puffer you are refering to? Map Puffer perhaps?
 
Actually I think a Dwarf Puffer is a great idea. Completely different from your other option you mentioned (Porky Puffer) which get huge and create a lot of waste. Your Honeycomb reminds me of a Hawaiian Blue Toby.

As to the order you add the fish...I have limited knowledge on Butterfly Fish having never kept one, however he is a "catch 22", likely one of your less aggressive fish, yet I think Butterflies should not typically be added until the tank is somewhat established, hopefully someone else can better elaborate on that. I would put the puffer in early, as he is hardy and small. If you do a Lion, in early, they are very hardy. Since it sounds like you will be doing a less aggressive Trigger (Niger or Bluethroat would be perfect) you can add them fairly early, again very hardy. 3 or so months in you could do the Naso and Wrasse (Sunset I hope:D ) then at least 6 months in your big Angel and the Eel...Your Angel will likely eventually be the "boss".
 
I agree, the sharpnose puffers are great fish that stay small. You may be able to keep more than one species in that big a tank. I haven't found them to be extremely aggressive, though they can be fin nippers. If you want to keep a lionfish, you'll need to keep one of the smaller species (they still get around 7") to avoid having your dwarf puffer(s) being swallowed. Start out with an adult puffer and juvenile lion, and add the puffer(s) first.

As to other puffers, one of the porc species stays around a foot, so if you get one, make sure you get the right species! There is also a nice spiny box puffer that stays around 10". Check out www.wetwebmedia.com for more info. Their size information on the species is very reliable.
 
I saw the spiny box puffer and it was listed as "difficult"... anyone know why?

so I should get a dwarf lion because the volitan could swallow the puffer?
 
Make sure your Puffer is big enough to not get eaten. Small lions are easier to get to accept dead food anyway so this is a good thing. Spiny Box's are more difficult to get to eat from what my LFS tells me. Also remember that the Spiny Box and Porky Puffers are prone to Ick. So watch them at the pet store, quarantine or even pick them up form your LFS before they put it into their tanks. They handle Fresh Water dips very well. I have dipped them for up to 15 minutes. Also DO NOT take them out of the water, but I assume you already knew this.

I love puffers they are such happy looking fish!
 
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