Need help with Triggers

[fishfood]

I don't know much about aggressive fish such as trigger so i have some question. I have 2 reef tanks and that is what i stick to. My parents have a 110 gal tank that was a semi-reef tank about 5 years ago before i left for college.
Well since then everything basically died except a mandarin. The tank has probably about 100 to 150lbs of live rock. My parents don't really know what they are doing with the tank and went and bought a huma huma, a niger and 3 damsels last week. I'll be going home next week and will be messing with the tank.(I'm the only one who messes with it and that is only every christmas). Who knows what the water quality is but my mom said there has been no algae in the tank for 2 years now. Just brown lr. No calcium for coralline to grow either.
How messy is it going to be when the triggers get their hands on the mandarin. Is there any way they may let it alone. I think at this time it is larger than the triggers.
What else should i know about these guys. I have 3 days before i fly up to PA to take care of the situation.
Thanks
Drew

 

[treble]

Well theres probly no way your goin to keep those triggers from getting the damsels or the mandrin. They might live for a couple more weeks, but olny if alot of hiding places are available. You will either have to move them....or suffer the consequences, sorry to say it. That tank probly has a really good bio filtration, and it will need some time to ajust to the new fish. I wouldn't add and other fish for about a week or two. It will get kinda messy, but what filters do you have running on it?

 

[fishfood]

They are running a wet/dry sump with it. There is plenty of place for the fish to hide in the rockwork. My main concern is for the mandarin because it has been alive for probably 6 yrs now. I'll have to try to find someone to give him to or something but not many tanks will be able to handle him because of his feeding habits. It just sucks that they went and got those fish. I was going to suggets to turn the thing into a fowlr tank but make it a community tank. Triggers aren't community fish. Thats what they want though. If/when the damsels die what else do you suggest to put in. I was going to tell my parent to just have the two triggers and the damsels if they survive.

 

[nevurrmore]

I would suggest an eel (snowflake,zebra,chainlink), a wrasse (red coris,sunset,lunar), or maybe a large angel (passer). As long as these are introduced at around the same time, and none have enough time to dominate the tank you should be fine. You wouldn't have any problems with the eel though unless it was too small.

 

[tangcrazy]

It really depends on the size difference, if the triggers are the same size as the damsels, then they should all be fine. Damsels are pretty aggressive too. Now if they had put a clown trigger in there, it would probably be a whole different story; I have a clown and he is the MEAN one!! It really is sad for the mandarin, I hope you can get him out before he stresses too bad. Anyway, I think you'll like the triggers, they are pretty cool fish. Triggers are very messy eaters, but they can also withstand less than perfect water conditions. Best of Luck, Merry Christmas!

 

[fishfood]

The one thing that would have stopped them from buying these fish is if i would have told them i was taking the tank back down here to florida with me. That was the original plan but then i found a 75g with mh and vho lights and a berlin skimmer for cheap and got it.
I think that the trigger are fairly small so the damsels should be fine for now.
Unfortionatly I won't get to enjoy these fish because i only get to go back home once a year.

 

[trigahappynigerog]

there might be a possiblity they might let the mandarin live. but why dont you take the mandarin with you to florida in your reef??? triggers are very hardy, colorful, and very active fish. if they put the triggers and damsels all at the same time they will live together. they might want to think about:
eels:
snowflake
zebra
wrasse:
harlequin tusk
dragon
red coris
hawkfish:
arc-eye
freckled
Squirelfishes
any
All these fishes are pretty hardy, colorful, active and easy to keep. and since the triggers are still small you can add fish.

 

[fishfood]

Well i figured the damsels may be able to handle themselves in there. I would love to bring that mandarin down here but i'm flying and don't know how that would work out. Plus the 75 still isn't set up. Hopefully by the end of january. There is already one in my girlfriends 55 but he doesn' seem to be getting enough to eat. I'm going to try to get some pods reproducing in my refugium once the 75 is set up so hopefully hers will make it.
So assuming the damsels live it would be possible to put in a wrasse? I may do that.
Then i'll just have to show them what to do to take care of these guys.
thanks