What are the coolest "species specific tanks" and do you want to set one up?

[revhtree]

The saltwater reef aquarium hobby is FULL of the most interesting fish, coral, inverts and critters and that's why we love it so much! Sadly not all of these cool critters can live together. In fact some really need to be housed in specific Eco-systems sometimes referred to as a species tank. Some fish can't live together or be housed together, some coral can't thrive under certain same conditions as others, critters get eaten or some corals are just too invasive and so on! Let's talk about them!

What kind of species tank do you think would make for a coolest species specific tank?

Have you ever set up a species specific tank and if so what was it? Still got it running?

image via @Volitans67

 

[dedragon]

i've always wanted to set up a wartskin angler tank because they are just awesome little creatures. I feel like feeding would become costly as i think they only eat live foods

 

[fishguy242]

Yes, seahorses and pipes, no not still running, hopefully sooner than later to restart...
old pics...

 

[Miami Reef]

I really like tridacna clams a lot, but I don’t feel the need to have a tank only for them though (variety is the spice of life) so I just plan to stock a lot of them in my tank mixed in with complementary corals.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I’d see myself doing this for various predators, fresh or salt. Of course, I’d probably wind up trying to keep a lasting supply of feeders in with it.
It also is good for breeding, if that’s your end goal, any other fish is going to reduce the overall amount of fry produced.

Only species specific I’ve had was with bettas, so that doesn’t really count I suppose.

 

[CoralB]

Octopus !!!

 

[AlexG]

Thats an easy question. Mantis shrimp - Stomatopods rule for a species specific tank. Add in some macro algae for an amazing looking species aquarium.

 

[dedragon]

Yes, seahorses and pipes, no not still running, hopefully sooner than later to restart...
old pics...

looks like they really loved to be photographed, rofl. I love pipes and seahorses as well

 

[afrokobe]

Mantis shrimp would be really cool! always loved their psychedelic colors

 

[mandarin417]

I would love to have a deep sand bed tank dedicated to garden eels.

 

[ReeferinTX]

As a diver, Garden Eels and Mantis Shrimp are amazing creatures to watch in the wild.
And seeing as its impractical and Sea Turtles are endangered...
Clown Harem Tanks are just amazing things to watch, the life and motion are mesmerizing even through the activity level is non-stop action.
My Wife's Spirit Animal is the Seahorse, so she is already planning a Seahorse nano for her office in the house (which makes my spirit animal the even elusive American Greenback ).

 

[BanjoBandito]

Cuttlefish or Octopus tank. Probably cuttlefish so I can try and breed them. I'd say we are 3 years out from that venture. I've had angler tanks....super cool, but they just don't do anything. lol.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Banggai cardinals

 

[TheDragonsReef]

Yup i have an 11g cube for a little mantis shrimp, theyre super cool inverts to keep.

In the future I would also set one up for a cuttlefish, octopus or even an angler fish tank.

 

[Montiman]

I would love a Jelly tank. I keep thinking about it but the 3 reef tanks keep me busy.

 

[Big Smelly fish]

For me seahorse tank. I started keeping them in late 80’s in a reef tank. But since then I do seahorses only here are a few pictures of past and present.

 

[Wtyson254]

1. Octopus
2. Carpet anemone
3. Mantis shrimp
4. Seahorses/pipefish
5. Cuttlefish

 

[aurora.k]

Octopus! Though I did have a mantis in my sump and I LOVED it, so fun and such an interesting creature. But Octopus, hands down. This is Moriarty, my Pacific Red Octo, in a Red Sea 250. Eventually, I plan on converting that tank to a seahorse tank. (Or an angler? I love those, so much. Or a cuttlefish? @Wtyson254 forgot about those....)

Moriarty:

 

[Tamberav]

I have a cold water reef tank and a pest nem tank right now.

I have had mantis species tank and a mandarin species tank in the past.

 

[Layton (OR)]

My favorite species specific tanks have always been at public aquariums, the giant pacific octopus. They are simply incredible to watch. Problem solving ability is so cool. Feels like they look into my soul, similar to Independence Day when the alien comes to life and starts communicating in their heads