Predator Tank

[dustinw]

Over the next few weeks ill be starting a predator tank. The tank I'm going to use is a 110 gal acrylic tank (48 long 18 wide and 30 tall I believe.) This is going to be my first predator tank. I've got a 160 gal reef tank and everyone is doing great. My question is, is it going to be that much different as far as care goes. And also I know that a special type of substrate needs to be used cause some predators roam across the sand bed and you don't want to scratch their belly's. Any advice or options would be helpful. Thanks

 

[LegitFish]

I would use sand no bigger than a #3. As for care, should be easier, just different food requirements. Watch temp, salinity, and pH.

 

[TriMax]

predators are usually bigger, eat more, and therefore create more waste.

 

[dustinw]

Ok Thank you, Now as far as create more waste, do you believe a standard canister filter would be ok?

 

[tyler1503]

Ok Thank you, Now as far as create more waste, do you believe a standard canister filter would be ok?

I wouldn't do a canister filter with a predator tank. A large skimmer would be great though. Water changes are a must too, a lot of people can get away with missing a few here and there on a community tank, but not a predator tank. Generally too much waste is produced so there's far too many nutrients in most cases. You normally have to stock lightly too to keep nutrients down.
What fish are you thinking?

 

[dustinw]

I was thinking a snowflake eel and maybe a shark or lionfish. But just a couple for now.

 

[TriMax]

Lionfish are aggressive as far as eating anything that will fit into their mouth. However, a lot of fish that will go in a predator tank will pick on the lion, most of the time killing it. They are a great reef fish. They need to be kept with non-aggressive fish, preferably ones that are too big to eat. :bigsmile:

 

[tyler1503]

I was thinking a snowflake eel and maybe a shark or lionfish. But just a couple for now.

That size is too small for a shark long term. You'll need atleast a 6x2x2 tank even that's pushing it. Most eels and lions would be good in that tank though. There's some awesome scorpions getting around the hobby.

Lionfish are aggressive as far as eating anything that will fit into their mouth. However, a lot of fish that will go in a predator tank will pick on the lion, most of the time killing it. They are a great reef fish. They need to be kept with non-aggressive fish, preferably ones that are too big to eat. :bigsmile:

+1 I found more so with the fuzzy dwarfs. They camoflauge a lot better than say a volatin. I found it's more the herbivores that wana pick at them thinking they're rocks.

 

[dustinw]

Thank you for the advice i'm new with the predator tanks so please keep the advice coming. Now with the sharks, I know that a 4ft tank ill be to small long term but I plan on getting a bigger tank or them in the future.

 

[tyler1503]

Thank you for the advice i'm new with the predator tanks so please keep the advice coming. Now with the sharks, I know that a 4ft tank ill be to small long term but I plan on getting a bigger tank or them in the future.

No worries. If you go a bit overkill on the filtration and keep up with water changes you'll be fine :)
You could keep one for a while and if you can upgrade to a bigger tank, that'll be good. They need a sugar grain fine sand to prevent scratching they're bellies.
As for the eel, I'd go for a zebra over a snowflake in a tank that size. They're a bit more expensive, but they're known as he most fish safe eel in the hobby. Plus they're generally super friendly with people. I has one and I could rub his tummy and hand feed him :)

 

[dustinw]

That's cool. Ill defiantly look into that. Thank you.

 

[Kworker]

I believe all sharks should remain in the ocean.

The perfect predator tank would be a nice Moray of some sort. Depending on your budget that could mean any range of things.

I would love to do a Caribbean style tank with a Fire Coral eel and gorgonians.
Either that or a Hawaiian Dragon Moray.

On a budget I would look for a few of the ones that pop up at your LFS. Snowflakes are real cool but are too common for my tastes.

I had a friend who had one in their firehouse tank, a hawaiian.. had a yellow nose and accents. A pity they decided to bring it back to the LFS after I helped them set up the tank.


Another alternative would be for a Cephalopod tank. However, they apparently have a very short lifespan.. which for some may be a good thing since it would mean you wont be committed to it for nearly as long.

Lionfish are okay. Not nuts over most. Dwarfs are cool.


I would chose one type of predator and focus the tank entirely on it. Opposed to a FOWLR type setup with tons of aggressive fish.

 

[tyler1503]

I believe all sharks should remain in the ocean.

The perfect predator tank would be a nice Moray of some sort. Depending on your budget that could mean any range of things.

I would love to do a Caribbean style tank with a Fire Coral eel and gorgonians.
Either that or a Hawaiian Dragon Moray.

On a budget I would look for a few of the ones that pop up at your LFS. Snowflakes are real cool but are too common for my tastes.

I had a friend who had one in their firehouse tank, a hawaiian.. had a yellow nose and accents. A pity they decided to bring it back to the LFS after I helped them set up the tank.

Another alternative would be for a Cephalopod tank. However, they apparently have a very short lifespan.. which for some may be a good thing since it would mean you wont be committed to it for nearly as long.

Lionfish are okay. Not nuts over most. Dwarfs are cool.

I would chose one type of predator and focus the tank entirely on it. Opposed to a FOWLR type setup with tons of aggressive fish.

Agreed. Every predator tank should have a moray of some sort. They're the epitome of predators in my eyes :) Dragon morays are expensive. The cheapest I've seen them advertised for is $1500, plus they're a fish eater and usually (from what I've read) won't tolerate another moray so a species tank is a must for them.
Cephalopods are awesome too. But like you said, they do too live long. If they survive the car ride home most won't live longer than a year or 18 months unfortunately, plus they need very strict husbandry in most case.
Building the tank around a specific species is a great idea that not many people do. It would make the tank that little bit more unique and interesting.

 

[coralfrenzy88]

I have a 125 with an epaulette shark 26 inch and tessalatta eel 22 inch and that's it. I run a protein skimmer rated fo a 220 and I still have algae on my glass with biweekly w/c. My guy and gal are super healthy and growing quickly and so now t my point. I thought I would be able to upgrade yearly and I have upgraded just a few months back to the current 125. However im already thinking cost effective and to be honest I would go bigger first other wise you are gonna spend a few thousand first, then 5 thousand, then for a sweet full blown predator at 10 ft long, 5 ft front to back, and 18 inch tall like im doing for sharks, rays, and puffers then you will sped like 8-12k....in the long run find a really great big set up on CL or r2r and go ith it because otherwise you will spend a fortune on upgrading tanks, lights, and filtration not to mention having to recycle tank every so often and adding rock when doing so that's new to keep rock/water volume ratio right. This has been my experience every step of the way and its best to take your time like im going to do with my LAST upgrade so I don't have to again :)