A new 240 gal, need ideas

cougar

Member
I have a new 240 gal, will take time to cycle but I need ideas on fish.
Currently I will be putting in:
1 Blue Hippo Tang
2 Yellow Tangs
1 Coral Beauty
1 Flame
1 Koran
1 Grey Angel
1 Anthia
1 Maroon clown
3 Perculas
This is an eight foot tank, plenty of room.
Thinking of adding:
Dwarf Lionfish
Miniata Grouper
Bluejaw Trigger
Zebra Morray
Could all of these be added?
 

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by cougar
This is an eight foot tank, plenty of room.
Thinking of adding:
Dwarf Lionfish
Miniata Grouper
Bluejaw Trigger
Zebra Morray
Could all of these be added?
Yes, and they will be the only fish left after a week.
They will eat ALL of your fish in your tank now...
 

nicetry

Active Member
Originally Posted by sw65galma
Yes, and they will be the only fish left after a week.
They will eat ALL of your fish in your tank now...
Hardly. I would be concerned however, with the grouper. It would likely make a snack out of your smaller fish, particularly the clowns and dwarf angels, possibly the anthias. Even the dwarf lion would pose a risk to the small clowns. The trigger is a relatively peaceful species as is the eel you've selected, but they are still predatory fish.
I think you'll have bigger issues with the initial stock list. Your tank is a good sized but it's not huge. Choose one of the large angels. The Koran would be a better choice IMO. Greys are enormous fish as adults and pretty aggressive. I think you'd have a good deal of fighting trying to keep two large angels. Anthias might be happier in a group. One male and seven to eight females makes for a nice display. I would choose one species of clown and then only a pair. Even in big systems, they often don't tolerate each other. If this is to be a FOWLR, I'd suggest one of the hardy butterflies, and perhaps a harem of fairy wrasses. Sometimes mixing community fish with aggressive/predatory species isn't always a good idea. In a closed system, these behaviors are often exaggerated. Personally, I'd skip the second wish list, and simply modify the first one. Include groups of smaller fish to add interest and movement. A group of yellow tail blue damsels, a small group of six line wrasses, some of the peaceful shrimp gobies, etc..
 

ebsochin

Member
Just a though, If you want to add an Anthia, why not add 3 or more so they will school.
Their beautiful in groups, especially if you get a male and a few females.
 

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by nicetry
The trigger is a relatively peaceful species as is the eel you've selected, but they are still predatory fish..

ummm ya....ok.....
 

mine?

Member
Since you have such a big tank I would put in a Ray. I think the min tank size for one of those is 180
 

cougar

Member
I have never been a fan of damsels, and I think the gobies would not be a good idea even with my current stock. My 2 angels are doing fine with each other even in the 120. My current stock is not going to change. I am glad to see you agree on the trigger and the eel. My research tells me the same thing. I take it though in your opinion the problem would be with the grouper. What if I went with the smaller bluelined grouper? My perculas like to use the overhang of my hang on filters as there territories so I really don't see a problem with them, especially since they are larger and older already. When I do start to stock I am thinking of putting a group of female anthias, my perculas, and the dwarf angels before the rest of my aggressive fish. Let the system run for awhile with just them in it, does this sound like a good way to go?
 

nicetry

Active Member
Originally Posted by sw65galma
ummm ya....ok.....

Thank you for the well thought out and intelligent response. I guess the use of the emoticons was meant to enhance the overall meaning.
Anyway, the trigger in question is among the most peaceful of the pelagic triggers and many folks succesfully keep them in community tanks and even reef settings. While any trigger can be a gamble, it's about the best choice given the other fish he's selected. The zebra moray is a pebble toothed species and as such not a piscivore. They don't naturally prey on fish. I've kept large SFE's (same family) in with juvenile clowns, chromis and even firefish and he never molested them. While it's not a given, the eel would likely be quite safe with the fish in question.
Your initial response that the fish on the second list would "eat ALL of the fish in his tank" was really quite inaccurate. A bit of research will tell you that. If you want to make blanket statements, please be prepared to back them up. You can certainly include some "predatory" species when discussing community tanks. Many hobbyists have nice systems that incorporate some of the so called "aggressive" species, even in reefs.
I usually try to include a caveat, e.g. "your mileage may vary", as it is with many aspects of the hobby.
Not to get in a pissing contest as I see from some of your other posts you like to "prove" your points, just making observations from experience. I suppose my post count doesn't reflect that but don't let that fool you. ( insert smiley of choice here)
 

bret61081

Member
I have a Blue Throat trigger in my tank with a royal gamma, cleaner shrimp, pepermint shrimp, dwarf angels, hermits, snails and she is very docile...great little fish...just make sure if you do get one that it is in a decent size tank...social and eating before you buy it. I boguht one that was special ordered for me several months ago and was in hiding still a week after it came in and sadly died a week after I boguht it. This one was in a large tank, swimming freely andthey had it for several weeks and was eating....great little fish with lots of personality!
 

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by nicetry
Thank you for the well thought out and intelligent response. I guess the use of the emoticons was meant to enhance the overall meaning.
Anyway, the trigger in question is among the most peaceful of the pelagic triggers and many folks succesfully keep them in community tanks and even reef settings. While any trigger can be a gamble, it's about the best choice given the other fish he's selected. The zebra moray is a pebble toothed species and as such not a piscivore. They don't naturally prey on fish. I've kept large SFE's (same family) in with juvenile clowns, chromis and even firefish and he never molested them. While it's not a given, the eel would likely be quite safe with the fish in question.
Your initial response that the fish on the second list would "eat ALL of the fish in his tank" was really quite inaccurate. A bit of research will tell you that. If you want to make blanket statements, please be prepared to back them up. You can certainly include some "predatory" species when discussing community tanks. Many hobbyists have nice systems that incorporate some of the so called "aggressive" species, even in reefs.
I usually try to include a caveat, e.g. "your mileage may vary", as it is with many aspects of the hobby.
Not to get in a pissing contest as I see from some of your other posts you like to "prove" your points, just making observations from experience. I suppose my post count doesn't reflect that but don't let that fool you. ( insert smiley of choice here)
There are many different ways of doing things....I guess I'm more conservative when i give advice...And there are always exceptions to the rules...Like you see a cat and a mouse sleeping together....Or i saw a rat that road a dogs back...
I don't want to be the one they come back to and say "I got that like you said and it did XXX to all my fish"
So I error on the side of caution...Like you stated triggers can be nice..just like you can swim win some killer whales...But the majority are not..
Also in my short time on this board (compared to some people) I've seen many instances where peoples docile triggers goes psycho for no reason after a long time in the tank and kills everything...There is also someone on here with a Large Mantis shrimp that doesn't bother the fish in the tank....Doesn't mean i'd suggest to people getting mantis's for thier tanks.
I think of triggers like Pitbulls...You just can't trust them 100% All it take us just one thing to set them off...
You are right, If I think I am right...I will prove my point..Although I am not close minded enough to admit when I'm wrong...
It appears you know more about the subject than I, So I enjoy the education.
Thank you for your very information responses...
What Kind of eels would you suggest for community tanks with inverts?
 

cougar

Member
Nicetry, I would like your opinion on the grouper and lionfish. Will my other fish harm the lion, and what would you suggest then with the grouper(bluelined, V-tail, or the miniata) any of those a possibility?
 

d0ch0liday

Member
hey no need to argue guys ..... with live stock its all ways a risk you know.... one trigger might be this way and another trigger might be that way...same goes for eels puffers ect ect you know..... you never know you might get a snowflake eel and a damsel, and the little devil whoops the snowflakes butt...........
j/k
 

cougar

Member
96L 24W 25H, custom made, estimated at 240. I don't know how they do the math but it is pretty big in my living room. Had to get an extra long tank for my 2 large angels and the blue hippo tang. Once up and running they are going to love it.
 

greggti

Member
Today at work I watched a sfe about 8 inches long attack a dwarf lion about 3 inches long. The lion did nothing in his defense. I then observed a niger trigger and an undulated trigger both about 2-3 inches long "gang up on" a large, about 13-15 inch long green wolf eel(dottyback). So yes there are always exceptions to rules and you never know what would happen until you put the fish together. Good luck
 

greggti

Member
And for all you know, the maroon clown may end up being the most aggresive fish in the tank. I watched one at a lfs that was hosted in his anemone , and he was about 5-6 inches long and there was about 3-4 inches between his anemone and the front glass of the tank he was in. As soon as you approached the tank he would ram the glass in defense. There was a huge turbo snail passing by and he repeatedly slammed him into the galss. You could hear the banging throughout the store. Meanest fish I have ever seen.
 
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