Preditor Tank...Good Idea or Bad Idea

[derpeder]

I am planning on doing a 100 Gallon Preditor Tank. The tank will include a Lionfish, Snowflake Eel, Angel Fish, Trigger, and Panther Grouper, Maybe Yellow tang if I have room.
I heard that this type of tank gets really dirty and needs cleaning a lot.
What do you think? Is this a good Idea for a tank or bad? Give me your thoughts, suggestions and concerns for my 100 gallon preditor tank idea.
Thanks

 

[fedukeford]

Itd be a good idea, if the tank was 300g istead of 100. that bioload would be HUGE in a 100 gallon, id say mabey the lion, eel, and tang MAX in a 100.
Feduke

 

[stanlalee]

Its a good idea if those are the fish you like. Nothing a long handle scrapper, good filtration and water changes cant deal with. 100 gallons is pretty small to start an aggressive tank. You should probably plan with a 180g or larger in mind. As someone who has a 100g it sounds adequately roomy until you get one and start stocking it but for the kind of fish you want its pretty much the minimum size to subpar for most of them.

 

[chuckcac]

i know the panther grouper can get to be 20+ inches when full grown... 100gal might be too small for that guy...
i want one too... but NO WAY in my 55 :hilarious

 

[derpeder]

Oh man good information thanks....and keep it coming.
Sounds like I may need to lessen the load.
fedukeford: Seems like 100 gallon should be able to fit more then three fish. Is it just the fish I have chosen? or the size they get?
Stanlalee: Well, I already have the tank so 100gallon it is. I got a GREAT deal on it so I could not pass it up. Would Weekly 20% water changes be good enough? I read that for the lion and eel 100 gallon is plenty. Now the grouper I didn't know got that size so that's out; but as far as I know 100 gallon is okay for most angels and tangs, or am I wrong on that? Thanks for your input.
chuckcac: thanks I didn't know it got that big. Just a beautiful fish though!!
So the Lion Fish is really the one I am in love with. What are your guys and gals suggestions to build a tank around a Lion.

 

[fedukeford]

Its the fish you have chosen and the size they get. Most of them get to be pretty large, and are all pretty messy eaters (eat a lot, poop a lot). You could be able to have more than 3 fish, if you chose smaller/less agressive/ less messy fish.
Feduke

 

[fedukeford]

Its the fish you have chosen and the size they get. Most of them get to be pretty large, and are all pretty messy eaters (eat a lot, poop a lot). You could be able to have more than 3 fish, if you chose smaller/less agressive/ less messy fish.
Is this a 6ft or 4-5 foot tank?
If its 4-5 feet i would do:
Dwarf Lion (fuzzy dwarf?)
Dwarf angel (flame?)
School of 3 anthias (1 male, 2 female)
and mabey the SFE if all the other fish are at least 3"
If its a 6 ft tank i would do:
Dwarf Lion
SFE
Dwarf Angel
Hippo tang
Feduke

 

[chuckcac]

have you considered an angler fish? thats an awesome predator to watch in action... you need slow-mo photography to see how fast it eats
my dream tank would be a 300gal predator reef with a panther grouper, volitan lion, porcupine puffer & red/orange angler...
someday... :thinking:

 

[stanlalee]

what he said
there are some large angels that wont outgrow the tank. blue girdled (majestic) and annularis come to mind. You should be able to do at least one tang assuming your tank is either 5 or 6ft long. I have two myself but my tank has somewhat odd demensions (basically the same as a 6ft 125 but 4" shorter which is fine with me since its easier to light). With both Tangs and Angels there are several species that are too large for the tank and some that will work you just have to research which ones will work that you like. If weekly 20% water changes arent enough that is a clear and cut sign the tank is overstocked. Personally I am too lazy to do anything more than biweekly. Weekly changes become old real fast.
As for the lion if you dont have to have a volitan lion there are several others ranging from dwarf to slightly smaller that will work and wont grow to be over a ft long like a volitan. To me most dont look any better or worse than the others to begin with. Perhaps a Radiata is a good compromise between smaller dwarfs and huge volitan.

 

[derpeder]

Well My tank is a 5 footer. Do you guys think I could do a Volitan Lion, Snowflade Eel, an angel and a yellow tang? Or what about a butterfly in place of the angel?
thanks for all the information. This is very helpful.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by Derpeder
Well My tank is a 5 footer. Do you guys think I could do a Volitan Lion, Snowflade Eel, an angel and a yellow tang? Or what about a butterfly in place of the angel?
thanks for all the information. This is very helpful.
I would do all those except choose a smaller lion. One word of caution if your thinking of getting the Lion small Volitans grow to full size in a yrs time so if you get a small tang, a small angel and a small snowflake eel in a very short time you'll have a ft long Volitan amongst a bunch of small fish. If you chose the right angel no need to substitute a butterfly but you could. Might be a bit timid for those fish if you dont get the right one and the right size. If you really want the lion you can have it but sooner if not later your going to have to decide if having it is worth more to you than having the other fish you want.

 

[derpeder]

Well at this point the Lion Fish is the one I want the most. That really got me fascinated with salt water fish. I think I'll look into some of the dwarf lions. They are still brilliantly beautiful fish. Thanks for all the input this really helped.
Anymore advise would be much appreciated.
Thanks