Predtor Reef Tank

[dunhawk]

How do you keep a p[redator reef tank clean if you can not have inverts to keep it clean. Are there bigger inverts or special ones you can have to keep it clean??????
I want to have a volitan lion and a nice trigger like niger or pinktail but I do not know how I would keep the tank clean.

 

[jackri]

Well first I would say you are your best clean up crew. Second I would still venture that snails are a good bet. I had a trigger pick off hermit crabs but never touched a snail. Water changes and a good scrub down as needed are always your best bet.

 

[melypr1985]

I agree with jackie there. I think you should go ahead and try snails. although i did, at one time, have a snail as large as a base ball get eaten by a porcupine puffer. but as long as you have a good skimmer and clean your tank regularly you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[9supratt4]

Predator Reef Tank?? Triggers eat corals...no?? Unless it's just a Blue-Throat....they are known to be reef-safe.

 

[jennln]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3165777
Well first I would say you are your best clean up crew. Second I would still venture that snails are a good bet. I had a trigger pick off hermit crabs but never touched a snail. Water changes and a good scrub down as needed are always your best bet.
Agreed. My pred/reef tank has snail and crabs alike...been a little over 6 months now and not one member of the clean up crew has been touched. (Not even by the trig lol)

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by 9supratt4
http:///forum/post/3165935
Predator Reef Tank?? Triggers eat corals...no?? Unless it's just a Blue-Throat....they are known to be reef-safe.
No, no trigger that I'm aware of, actually sets out to 'eat corals.' I think what happens, is that more so the coral 'happens' to be in the way. Many triggers, excluding planktivores, like to grind their teeth on the rock, and are just generally a 'mouthy' fish, liking to sample everything, from rock to powerhead to heater, etc, to try and find something else edible. Many times a trigger might nip a coral, and if it's something hardy like a toadstool, you'd never notice, but if it's something like a brain, one nip could spell the end.
As far as maintaining a reef without a CUC, it's not that hard, and many people fall into the falsehood that CUCs are absolutely necessary, which is a farce. As said above, you'd be the one maintaining. The tank should have good flow so all the scraps get filtered, large and frequent water changes to maintain acceptable parameters, and very strong filtration. As big of sump as you can fit, the biggest and largest skimmer you can afford (rated for at least 3 times your tank size), etc.

 

[dunhawk]

if I do not have a trigger but I do have a lion some tangs and a foxface could I have big inverts like fighting conchs or urchins or anything else????

 

[cranberry]

How big of a tank?

 

[dunhawk]

125 gal

 

[coral keeper]

Originally Posted by 9supratt4
http:///forum/post/3165935
Predator Reef Tank?? Triggers eat corals...no?? Unless it's just a Blue-Throat....they are known to be reef-safe.
I have a Niger Trigger in my 180 gallon mixed reef. He doesnt touch ANYTHING at all! Not even the CUC, corals, or small fish such as clown gobies. The key is to keep them healthy and very well fed.

 

[ophiura]

Many triggers are natural predators of inverts...just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't regardless of how well fed it is. So seastars, brittlestars, snails and shrimp are at risk, obviously less so with certain species than others.
The bigger issue, IMO, is water quality so you really must consider what you hope to keep reef wise. Few people have their cake and eat it too in these sorts of situations.

 

[deadly_legend]

I know i dont know much at all, but couldn't you also have an urchin to help clean up a bit, atleast with some algae build up? atleast thats what ive read on some things, but its my suggestion

 

[ophiura]

Oh, this is an interesting thing. triggers are some of the few fish really well designed to eat urchins, and it is quite fascinating to see. First it is thought in some regards that their eyes being so far behind their mouth allows them "through" the spines if you will. Triggers are quite inquisitive (which can itself be fatal for the inverts) but they seem to figure out if they turn the urchins over, they can get at the side that is easier to chomp on. Really quite interesting to see...from the fish perspective

Not so much from the urchin side i suspect. I think this is far less common for bluethroat and pink tail though than it would be for other species.
It is all about what you are willing to risk...I would say if you want SPS corals or even stony corals, many triggers are not the best choice. soft corals would be decent, since they are at less risk and are less finicky about water parameters. Also they can get by with less light. IME at least, lions may hang out in more shaded areas if the tank lighting is bright (eg for SPS).

 

[melypr1985]

i've seen video of triggers blowing the urchin on its back and eating the innerds. Pretty cool to watch!

 

[dunhawk]

so if I go with no trigger but a lionfish is there any invert I can keep that will help keep it clean. Also lets say I forgo a reef tank. Can I go with sponges with tangs, foxface, lion, & harlequin tusk. Thanks for all the help.
What fish eat sponges?????????

 

[cranberry]

The wrasse will eat the snails and such as well......

 

[jackri]

If I remember right angels can eat sponge, or maybe it was the moorish idol. I think you could get by with a lot of softies/leathers in an aggressive reef.
Problem with saltwater is there are just soooo many cool things out there that don't always mix well lol

 

[jstdv8]

In reguards to the lion, I dont think hes going to be a problem. I have a full arsenal of hermits, 5 snails, an emerald crab and a blue legged crab, The only one the lion even glanced at was the emerald, I really didnt think he was going to make it through the night, but he has been in there for a week now and the lion doesnt even look at him anymore. The emerald is pretty good size so that helps, but my lion could easily take him down if he wanted to as hes about 9-10" and his mouth is neverending. The lion is really messy as his poop is really large, i usually end up sucking alot of it out with a large turkey baster and suck up any I can when i do my water changes. the lions are only aggressive towards things that are smaller than it so you could have a good sized tang as well in there, puffers and lions do not go together usually. I have a 90 gallon and the lion is my only fish ATM, there used to be an urchin but he commited suicide by eating through my koralia wire.

 

[aquaknight]

Originally Posted by jackri
http:///forum/post/3171227
If I remember right angels can eat sponge, or maybe it was the moorish idol. I think you could get by with a lot of softies/leathers in an aggressive reef.
Problem with saltwater is there are just soooo many cool things out there that don't always mix well lol
Angels, large angels at least, are known to eat sponge, and a foods that contain sponge, are a must for captive large angels. Moorish Idols as well are thought to consume sponge.
Originally Posted by dunhawk
http:///forum/post/3171210
so if I go with no trigger but a lionfish is there any invert I can keep that will help keep it clean. Also lets say I forgo a reef tank. Can I go with sponges with tangs, foxface, lion, & harlequin tusk. Thanks for all the help.
What fish eat sponges?????????
Your fish list looks pretty decent as far as compatibility, assuming you have a large enough tank. But wanted to point this out, have you research the care needed for sponges? Even the most successful stories of sponge survival in aquariums is limited at best. Almost all decorative sponges, tree/ball sponges, die very shortly after purchase.
The Lionfish should leave any invert with a hard shell alone (snails/hermits), though the Tuskfish will eat hermits, but IME with 3 Tusks, have not bothered any snails.