For my next reef I want a moray, a clown trigger, and a harlequin tusk! Change my mind!

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

For my next big reef I want a moray, a clown trigger, and a harlequin tusk! Change my mind!

...but here me out first...

I've seen people keep these successfully in a community tank. I'm thinking of guys like @TheDragonsReef @HB AL and @OrionN. If the tank is well-fed and maintenance is on point, I think this could work. Ammirite?

KentuckyKobra · May 6, 2022

Why change your mind? I want the same thing. Lol

Glenner’sreef · May 6, 2022

Don’t leave out a nice Barracuda while you’re at it D.

c.poindexter · May 6, 2022

I would never dare to change your mind. You want what you want. Go for it.

Sean Clark · May 6, 2022

I think you would be better off going with 2 moray eels, 2 clown triggers, and 2 harlequin tusks.

Anemone_Fanatic · May 6, 2022

In the 25 gallon peninsula?

ZoWhat · May 6, 2022

Moray? Are you nuts? They are serious PITA Houdinis.... always trying to escape at 3am. you'll hate it 3mos in

Daniel@R2R · May 6, 2022

Anemone_Fanatic said:
In the 25 gallon peninsula?

No. I've got a 225g in the works. I'm thinking maybe in there.

mehaffydr · May 6, 2022

Daniel@R2R said:
No. I've got a 225g in the works. I'm thinking maybe in there.

I say go for it but up the size to 500g

TheDragonsReef · May 6, 2022

It can be done for sure, but each predator adds a lot more waste compared to other herbivores or omnivores of the same size. So expect more water changes and lots of nutrient export. The clown trigger may also eat coral so ive never wanted to try one in a reef. I also like to have large clean up crews and the triggers always decimate them. No cuc+lots of predators=lots detritus and waste. You may end up needing a large refugium, skimmer and possibly even a denitrator to keep nutrients low enough for lps and sps. Or just large weekly water changes. For reference adding my eel alone in my 75g was enough to send my nitrates from 4ppm to 64ppm+ and phosphates from 0.04 to 1.30ppm in 3 weeks. He was about the size of an adult snowflake at the time. That was with a large algae scrubber and a skimmer rated for 150g. I ended up adding a 15g refugium ontop of the scrubber and 30% water changes weekly to maintain acceptable nutrient levels.