Two New Tanks For Christmas?

[Wandering Albatross]

Good morning all, a family member of mine is considering indulging me with another tank or two for Christmas, mainly because she wants me to have a puffer, and it's too 'reef safe with caution' to risk in my community reef. The tank/s could be a 20g and 40g, or 20g and 60g. If it happens, I was planning a blue spot or Valentini puffer, can't sex them so a pair is awfully risky for the 40/60g. The 20g I'm torn between a clown and nem tank, since I fear a nem catching some of my other fish in my current tank, and some other highly specialized species tank. I have most of the common smaller reef fish that I can add as extras, but the goal is to house fish I can't have in the main DT.

If I were going to add anything else to a puffer showcase tank, what could I get away with adding, using either the 40 or 60g. Any corals they might not pick? A FOWLR is fine, but a couple corals or blue sponge would be cool... Any inverts that might be safe? Any other predatory fish? I'd die for a lion, even a dwarf, but I've heard tell of puffers picking at lions. And both of these puffers are only supposed to get to 4" and I don't want a lion trying to eat him, unless there's a larger one I could put in a 60g? Dogface or porcupine of some kind? Any smaller fish?

Assuming the second would be a 20g and they don't go higher with a 40g, what would you guys recommend as a special care species tank? I'm thinking one showcase species, with the option to add a few complementary fish/inverts/coral, if they can live with the needs of the main fish. Couple ideas include a clown pair or maybe a small harem with a nem or few, a pair of peacock mantis shrimp, an invert tank, or a predatory crab or lobster, I'm leery of trying seahorses at this point. And sadly too small for even a dwarf octopus or cuttlefish.

If either of these can work in an urchin or some kind of larger starfish (not serpent or brittle), that'd be great too.
Thoughts?

 

[BryanM]

You have to love the clicking of you want mantis shrimp.

I hate that, so they are non starters for me.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

You have to love the clicking of you want mantis shrimp.

I hate that, so they are non starters for me.

Was it constant, or just during the day? I think they look so cool, but that might be a no-go if it's that obnoxious. The tanks would be in my room so I need to be able to ignore tank noise.

 

[mpatterson42]

I have a blue spotted puffer in a 40 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump, there's also two clownfish, a purple firefish, a royal gramma, a mandarin dragonet and a starry blenny. Everyone gets along well. Because of the puffer I haven't added any coral to the tank (which saves quite a bit of money on lights!).

I haven't had much luck with inverts, the puffer has eaten turbo snails and tuxedo urchins, and while I had money cowries for a while I haven't seen any in a few weeks so I think he got to them too. I do have a tiger conch that's been in there since almost the beginning, he's the only invert in there at the moment.

20 gallon is too small for a single peacock. I'd probably set that up with a clownfish pair and plan for an anemone in the future, and maybe some soft coral. A goby/shrimp pair would be good in there as well.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I have a blue spotted puffer in a 40 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump, there's also two clownfish, a purple firefish, a royal gramma, a mandarin dragonet and a starry blenny. Everyone gets along well. Because of the puffer I haven't added any coral to the tank (which saves quite a bit of money on lights!).

I haven't had much luck with inverts, the puffer has eaten turbo snails and tuxedo urchins, and while I had money cowries for a while I haven't seen any in a few weeks so I think he got to them too. I do have a tiger conch that's been in there since almost the beginning, he's the only invert in there at the moment.

20 gallon is too small for a single peacock. I'd probably set that up with a clownfish pair and plan for an anemone in the future, and maybe some soft coral. A goby/shrimp pair would be good in there as well.

Would it be unreasonable to add something small with the clowns too? Couple firefish or a blenny? Would a linkia star be safe, assuming it would be regularly fed?

I have most of those puffer compatible fish already and I don’t mind using more if needed but I was hoping for less reef safe fish that are still puffer safe before resorting to old reliables. If assuming a 60, could I add with the puffer any of the following? Melalunas or other not reef safe wrasse, marine betta or grouper that stays smaller, hawk fish, a dwarf angel of some kind, convict tang, angler, any kind of trigger, rabbit fish or fusilier, or a dwarf lion? Thought a snowflake would be risky when I’m in there cleaning, and might eat the smaller fish.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

On a related note, this family member was looking at aqueon tanks, cause we have a local petco that sells them. Been reading mixed reviews on their durability, seams failing and such, especially with anything larger than a 40g breeder. I currently have an aqueon 40 breeder as my sump, runs about half full with no issues. Would a 60g aqueon be risky, or even the 40g? I feel the price point will be a big determining factor as to whether or not this family member follows through, the 60g aqueon on sale at petco is running about $100. If I'm risking livestock and my floors, what alternatives would you recommend? Something in that size range that's the same brand as the 150g I have is 10X the price, but my 150 is quality.

Thoughts?