Flame angel/snowflake eel/Blonde Naso Tang/Zebra Lionfish/Sailfin scorpionfish

bigde

bigde

New Member
I was just wondering with this mixture of fish in a 55 gal tank with 80 lbs of live sand and 55 lbs of live rock ( want to do three pillars with archs connect the pillers together no coral no inverts just what ever grow on the live rock after curing). now the question is with these four fish and the eel i know they will be out growing the tank eventually i am not to prone to the eel just think that the eel would be a neat addition. Are these fish going to pose a problem after acclimation and such. I think they should all reach about the same size but grow rates r going to be different. if they are all added together would that help. or should i grow one before another and what order would best be suited for territory issues that might arise? any help would be appreciated
 
fishonlyman

fishonlyman

Member
I'm sorry. You just cannot put those fish altogether in a 55 gallon. Naso unicornfish can't be housed in anything under 120 gallons. The eel can be kept in a 55 gallon, but only by itself or barely any other thing in the tank. You can certainly put a flame angel in the tank. But, you will have to test the level of copper in the tank. The angel is hardy, but extremely sensitive to high levels of copper. It is possible to put a sailfin scorpion and a dwarf lion fish in a 55 together. Just take extra precaution to avoid any injuries. Also, if you house these fish, you can't put a wide variety of fish species in the tank, since scorpions aren't compatible with many fish species. Also, although I admit your biofiltration is good, you may need to use less live rock so your fish has an ok swimming area. Less space in a tank increases aggression. So, if I were you I would put this in my tank:
1*small, bottom dwelling goby
1* chalk bass
3*green chromis.
1* small dwarf angel.( Maybe a flame angel, if you really want.)
Be sure to add the angel at least two months after your aquarium is stocked with other fish.
 
bigde

bigde

New Member
ok wo with the lion and the scorpion fish in the same tank with about 20 lbs of live rock and 2 inches of live sand i still want to put the flame angel fish in. I want to stay with a aggresive looking fish tank i dont want any othere fish in there but those three. the lion and scorpion would throw out a mean look with the flame angel giving that dont touch color of fish
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
A Lion and a scorpion in a 55G, no way.
I agree with the poster above, you can not stock a 55 with those fish. No tang belongs in a tank smaller than a 75, and the tangs you have listed need 6' long tanks.
You need to do a lot more research before you stock your tank. (not trying to be a b*tch, but it just sounds like you don't know what you're getting yourself into)
 
bigde

bigde

New Member
BTLDreef no no i am just starting hae my fish tank from a freshwater and i want to convert it to saltwater i wanted to go with and aggresive looking tank i appreciate your input you said no to the lionfish and scorpion fish my next question is if i am looking for an aggresive tank what are my options. first saltwater tank and would like to go with aggresie my two roomates have a tropical and a small reef tank. So was trying to get something mean looking. i am planning on going to 120 gal in about year and half so that is something to keep in mind when thinking about the future.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by Bigde
http:///forum/post/3198022
BTLDreef no no i am just starting hae my fish tank from a freshwater and i want to convert it to saltwater i wanted to go with and aggresive looking tank i appreciate your input you said no to the lionfish and scorpion fish my next question is if i am looking for an aggresive tank what are my options. first saltwater tank and would like to go with aggresie my two roomates have a tropical and a small reef tank. So was trying to get something mean looking. i am planning on going to 120 gal in about year and half so that is something to keep in mind when thinking about the future.
I'm one of those people that believes that anything can happen, so don't plan a 55G around the "I'm planning on buying a 120 gal in about a year and half" Anything can happen between now and then, and you don't want to get scr*wed with fish that outgrow the tank.
Anyways, a Zebra Lionfish or a dwarf would be okay, you definitely can not do both. Scorpions are messy eaters and usually only eat live food, so it would be too much on your bioload to have both in the same tank. Research feeding methods for lions, many people don't know enough about it and kill them.
If you buy a small enough lion, you can do a lion with a flame angel. Just be aware that the angel could nip at some of the lions fins, but it usually does not happen.
If you didn't do the Lion, you could have some more options.
Take a look at jawfish, a lot of people think they look mean (but they're not).
Do you want a fish only, or a reef with aggressive fish? An aggressive tank is hard to do in anything smaller than 90G to be quite honest.
Pick one fish that you're absolutely set on and then I, and others, can help you get started on a stock list around that fish.
Also, this tank had freshwater in it? Did it even have copper or ich treatments in it?
 
bigde

bigde

New Member
i never added any chemicals to it. I also am not stuck to anyone fish i would love to be able todo a reef tank with aggresive fish that would help with the bioload correct. i have been trying to see what type of fish could go with inverts for a reef tank but it is slow going and hard to determine which ones can or cant when one place tells you one thing and another place tells you another. number one reason i got on here to get direct answers from one source. i actually very fond of the scorpionfish if i had to pick one to go with becuase it is not as frequent in LFS around here. Everyone has lionfish but i dont see alot of Scorpion fish. So to pick on that looks mean that would be it. but if posible to go with a reef and invert safe fish with the same looks i would pay alot more money.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
In a 55G reef tank, here's what I would do:
(Scorpions are very hard to care for, so I'm going to list the lion which is a little easier - but it could be swapped)
1 Dwarf Fuzzy Lionfish/Zebra Lionfish
1 Yellow Watchman Goby OR jawfish
1 Reef Safe Wrasse - Flasher would work well
1 Dwarf Angelfish (the Flame would be a good choice)
CUC: SNAILS
5-10 Cerith Snails
5-10 Nassarius Snails
10-15 Trochus or Astrea Snails
You can try some hermits, some lions leave them be, some eat them. Try mexican reef hermits, they're cheap enough.
**Lionfish, scorpions and dwarf angels are really not "beginner" fish, so do lots of research before you decide to do this.
 
bigde

bigde

New Member
ok if i went with your suggestings in what order would i add the fish so as not to create a promblem with territory issues. I would add after the tank has cured of coarse and the angel 2 months after the fish have already been added. how long after the tank had cured do i wait with the snails and hermit crab?
 
sean48183

sean48183

Member
If your really in to the scorpion you could definatly make it part of your reef down the road after you have gotten in the swing of things a little bit. Scorpions are reef safe in that they don't eat corals but they do put a heavy bioload on your filtration. In a 55g for aggressive options you could go with maybe a maroon clown or tomato clown, the flame angel, snowflake eel, maybe throw in a blue devil damsel and finally add the scorpion in a few months. These all are all tough hombres who can handle themselves and would make the tank pretty interesting. Of note though is snowflake eels hide alot. I have had one for 3 years and I only see him at feeding time! It really sucks.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by Bigde
http:///forum/post/3198076
ok if i went with your suggestings in what order would i add the fish so as not to create a promblem with territory issues. I would add after the tank has cured of coarse and the angel 2 months after the fish have already been added. how long after the tank had cured do i wait with the snails and hermit crab?
The order for fish, the way I wrote it, or switch the lion/scorpion with the wrasse. It might actually be wiser to start with a wrasse and really get a good grasp of keeping a saltwater tank.
Definitely do snails and hermits BEFORE fish. Once you are certain the tank is cycled, add 1/3-1/2 the CUC, wait two weeks or so, see how things go, if everything is good, add a fish and the other half of the CUC. That's what I always do.
The angel should be the last fish, especially if you decide to go with a lionfish. Lions look aggressive, but they're a very docile fish and a dwarf angel could scare it and even beat on it if they already have territory established when the lion/scorpion is added to their environment.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by sean48183
http:///forum/post/3198180
If your really in to the scorpion you could definatly make it part of your reef down the road after you have gotten in the swing of things a little bit. Scorpions are reef safe in that they don't eat corals but they do put a heavy bioload on your filtration. In a 55g for aggressive options you could go with maybe a maroon clown or tomato clown, the flame angel, snowflake eel, maybe throw in a blue devil damsel and finally add the scorpion in a few months. These all are all tough hombres who can handle themselves and would make the tank pretty interesting. Of note though is snowflake eels hide alot. I have had one for 3 years and I only see him at feeding time! It really sucks.
+1 also a good option ... there are so many out there, just do some research on what you really want
 
cranberry

cranberry

Active Member
The goby will have to be big enough that it isn't edible. My lions would stalk it and eat it in a red hot second.
 
skate020

skate020

Member
i would have to agree, sorry on this one, but yeh, no tang in anything under 75g
you could as BTLD said make a reef with say.
1x dwarf fuzzy lion.
1x flame angel.
3x lyletail anthias.
you could swap the lion with another dwarf lion but once again as BTLD said, the others are alot harder to care for, if you have experience with them could have a fu, but they take FOREVER to get onto frozen. need a big supply of Live food.
hope this helps:)
 
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