Predator Reef Stocking Help

[Gp!]

I am working on a predator reef stocking plan. The display tank dimensions are 10' x 2' x 2'. I am planning on coral in this tank but the primary focus is the Volitan Lionfish. I am planning for 2 or 3 of them.

This is my plan for regular feedings - expecting everything to be happy with this for routine:

• Hoping to handle most of the feeding with live mollies and guppies.
• Supplement with shrimp
• also probably pellets for the utility fish.

Please take a look - any compatibility problems that will make feeding difficult or overall bad choices? I don't have a great feel for it but I am thinking this might be a little cramped based on max sizes listed by online vendors. If any of these would not be your favorite choices, please let me know which ones you would drop.


Primary

• Volitan Lionfish x 2 (or maybe 3)

Secondary

• Snowflake Eel x 1
• Skeletor Moray Eel x 1
• Marine Betta x 1
• Harlequin Tusk x 1
• Yellowbelly Dogface puffer x 1
• One of the groupers from below x 1
  • Miniatus Grouper
  • Blueline Grouper
  • Red V-tail Grouper

On the fence:

• Blue Throat Trigger or maybe Crosshatch
• I also thought it might be neat for a Yellowback Fusilier or Blueline Snapper but the size gives me pause.

Utility

• Copperband Butterflyfish
• Yellow Tang (maybe a trio)
• Magnificent Foxface
• Kole Yellow Eye Tang
• Convict Tang
• Perhaps also a White Tail Bristletooth Tang and Chevron Tang depending on algae problems

I am struggling with the utility fish for pests. Most of the recommendations I see people using would be eaten in this tank. For example, red bugs on corals and other things like that. Any suggestions here?

 

[lion king]

Sounds good, going to be a great tank.

Volitan lions don't really need a live diet, they adjust to dead food easily and are usually agreeable to a variety of foods. Just include a fatty fish like salmon, try and feed fresh or small batches you freeze yourself, and limit foods that are high in thiaminese. The eels will benefit from the same type of diet. I can expand on this and you can search my threads for more info on predator nutrition. Feeding live in a community tank with other predatory fish is not ideal.

Tip: Feeding lions and eels, stuff chunks of meaty food with pellets, include an algae based pellet. Predatory fish get their green nutrition from the guts and nutritional blocks built from the inverts and fish they eat.

As far utility fish to address pest, have you considered a qt for corals, more and more this seems like a good idea.

 

[Gp!]

Feeding live in a community tank with other predatory fish is not ideal.

I was worried this might end up being the case - same problems if live shrimp are used as well? Had hoped the size of the smaller mollies/guppies would make it okay. The "hunt" is part of the draw if there is any way to keep it without catastrophe.

Tip: Feeding lions and eels, stuff chunks of meaty food with pellets, include an algae based pellet. Predatory fish get their green nutrition from the guts and nutritional blocks built from the inverts and fish they eat.

Thanks for the tip!

As far utility fish to address pest, have you considered a qt for corals, more and more this seems like a good idea.

I will go this route. Figure I should probably still be prepared for the worst since it will be more a challenging fix than with a typical tank.

Sounds good, going to be a great tank.

Awesome - thanks for the input!

 

[Gp!]

@lion king happily things are progressing nicely getting ready on this. Would you recommend a particular order of introduction for highest chance of success with the combination of species?

 

[piranhaman00]

As mentioned you dont need to feed live food. My V lionfish ate dead food immediately with little effort. I had all my gear out that I use to get freshwater gar off live food and didnt even need it!

 

[lion king]

@lion king happily things are progressing nicely getting ready on this. Would you recommend a particular order of introduction for highest chance of success with the combination of species?

The group of tangs together last. The betta and the butterfly need to get feeding established, I would work them in first. Do some research on the copperband, they are notoriously difficult and the betta sometimes needs live to get started. The rest really just as available, nothing elsebreally pops out.

 

[Gp!]

The group of tangs together last. The betta and the butterfly need to get feeding established, I would work them in first. Do some research on the copperband, they are notoriously difficult and the betta sometimes needs live to get started. The rest really just as available, nothing elsebreally pops out.

Thanks!

 

[lion king]

@lion king happily things are progressing nicely getting ready on this. Would you recommend a particular order of introduction for highest chance of success with the combination of species?

The eels together also, compatible sizes.