Stocking a 75 gallon predator tank

[Deepdish]

So I just picked up a new 75 gallon with the intent of starting a nice lil predator tank. Typical 48 x 18 footprint. I have some ideas as far as stocking goes, but I'd love to hear new ideas and feedback from people

Hoping to have
- 2 lions, some combo of radiata, antennata, and dwarf fuzzy
- Eel, love ghost ribbons but very open to morays. Skeletor maybe?
- Inimicus sea goblin (if I can find one for sale)
- Rhinopias, either frondosa or eschemeyeri (would they eat a thinner body eel like the ghost ribbons?)

I love oddball stuff, big personalities, and unique appearances and behaviors. Also a fan of filefish, puffers, wrasses, hawkfish, whatever is an option really.

Thanks!

 

[lion king]

Love all of your choices, be aware that many of your choices are challenging to feed, and may do better on a live diet. The lions, rhino, sea goblin and eel will be completely stocked in my opinion and produce quite a bioload. Your filtration and maintenance will need to be substantial, I would recommend a refugium or even planted macro algae in the display.

Hawkfish and wrasses would be a no-no, likely would become food. As far as puffers go, any of the arothron species would need a bigger tank, and the valentini or blue spot are notorious nippers I wouldn't keep with my lions.

The rhino couldn't eat a ghost eel. A large enough filefish would be fine, just none of the smaller ones and the tassle will need a bigger tank.

 

[Han]

Sounds like it’s going to be a cool tank, I have a 75g predator tank with a radiata lionfish and a hawaiian reef lobster currently. I tried a rhinopias but he unfortunately didn’t last long. Finding healthy ones seems like quite the challenge. Those are all really cool fish you’re considering though, good luck.

 

[sp1187]

triggers, frog/angler

 

[Deepdish]

Love all of your choices, be aware that many of your choices are challenging to feed, and may do better on a live diet. The lions, rhino, sea goblin and eel will be completely stocked in my opinion and produce quite a bioload. Your filtration and maintenance will need to be substantial, I would recommend a refugium or even planted macro algae in the display.

Hawkfish and wrasses would be a no-no, likely would become food. As far as puffers go, any of the arothron species would need a bigger tank, and the valentini or blue spot are notorious nippers I wouldn't keep with my lions.

The rhino couldn't eat a ghost eel. A large enough filefish would be fine, just none of the smaller ones and the tassle will need a bigger tank.

Luckily I have a pretty steady stock of feeders, although they are mostly freshwater ones. Would that be sustainable, or am I going to want to pivot exclusively to saltwater feeders?

Definitely considering a refugium, and was planning on some macro algae in the tank as well.

As far as filefish go, would a tomentosus be too small?

Much appreciated for the big answer!

 

[lion king]

Mollies are the best feeder fish for preds. You don't want to use saltwater fish because of the chance of disease, and a qt would really be prohibitive with time and cost, and any treated fish could potentially be poisonous. You don't want to use rosies or goldies either, these contain thiaminese which will bind vit B1 and become deadly, along with the overall poor nutritional value. A large tomentosus filefish would likely be ok, but it will have to be a large one. I like filefish, they are like small gentle triggers, they are actually cousins to triggers.

You may find some of this interesting:

Lion King's observations of keeping lions long term

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