To go predator or not?

[mysteriousreef]

We currently have a 100 gal reef tank that we are looking to expand into a 180gal tank--our 100gal would then become a predator tank. We have about 2 years of experience in the tank hobby and need some feedback regarding this decision.

 

[mrwilson]

What predators do you have in mind?

 

[mysteriousreef]

Not sure just starting to do some research. We maybe thought of a lion fish and a puffer.

 

[DamnPepShrimp]

Well a puffer will eat your corals. Lionfish, groupers and eels are good for predator reefs.

 

[kade427]

if you go fowler one fish thats an eye catch are young boxfish but they get big really big and if they die remove them right away.oh fun thing about these are if they die you can take them out set them on top of your light and dry them out. they look the same as when they were alive

 

[LisaD]

What kind of "predator" tank do you want? There are a lot of choices and different kinds of predators.

You can keep corals with some of the slow moving ambush predators, like scorpionfish, lions, marine bettas, groupers, etc. You just have to watch that the high bioload. If you want to stay with a literal predator definition, you could even consider seahorses for a predator tank, as long as you kept them with compatible tankmates.

What kind of fish do you like? My favorites for personality, which happen to be fish that would bother corals, are puffers and triggers.

You might be able to keep a dogface puffer or larger sharpnose puffer, a smaller trigger (like a picasso or niger) and a moderate sized eel, like a snowflake, in that tank.

 

[mysteriousreef]

Two fish I would definately like to consider are a puffer and a lionfish.

When converting a reef tank to a predator tank what sort of equipment conversions or upgrades need to take place?

 

[Kengaroo131]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12231505#post12231505 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mysteriousreef
Two fish I would definately like to consider are a puffer and a lionfish.

When converting a reef tank to a predator tank what sort of equipment conversions or upgrades need to take place?

usually a good protein skimmer is a must to have. high tech lights are not necessary, just make sure you have enough light for your live rock. good size sump, this comes in handy by increasing your water volume making your bio load smaller, with fish only tanks, most of the fish eat meaty foods thats why a good protein skimmer and larger water volume is always good.

 

[mattsilvester]

Good skimmer...... big sump..... macro algae...... high display-to-sump turnover (5-10times).... all this helps.

Dimensions of the tank? That will be your limiting factor.

Lions & puffers...... there are very good odds of the puffer picking at the lion. The puffer will also eat all the food before the lion gets a chance.

In my view, lions are best suited to slow moving predator tanks, rather than mix-and-match with nutters like puffer fish......

You cold get a nice display of different lionfish going on in that tank..... would make for a very pleasing easy to keep display.

Altrnatively, I might look at avoiding the lion and gonig with something like a snowflake morray, a puffer and a small trigger.....

The only thing I know for sure at this point is that the bigger the skimmer is the better...... I;d run your choice by the guys here before buying it, if I were you.

HTH

Matt

 

[meola]

I recently completed what you are talking about doing. I moved actually 3 tanks around as I started a 180 reef - moved my whole reef over from a 125 - then moved my predators from my 92 corner (which they were outgrowing slightly) to the 125g.

I would agree with the above about the puffer picking/out eating the lion fish. I have a french angel (6"+) and porcupine puffer (5"+) and a snowflake eel (13"+) and I had a hard time getting food to my lion and eel. The lion since passed. I only have experience with porcupine so maybe another type of puffer would be better.

I am looking at a harlinquin tusk and yellow tang to add to the predator tank as both would give some color and both seem like hardy fish. I would love a naso or achilles also but I don't think the tank would hold the load and the size they could grow into. There is lots of options, but its best to make yourself a list - research them, then make sure you add them accordingly

And I have noticed the waste in the predator tank's protein skimmer to be almost double the larger reef tanks - so make sure your skimmer is top notch