Reef Eel Tank

[Navarre]

I must say im a little worried about keeping an eel and a lion in the same tank. Notbecause of icompatability but the size of the tank. 55 gallons ( im assuming this is US gallons which is even smaller) is far too small for these fish. Both fish are very messy eaters and high nutrients will occur in the system.

Also, even though i mentioned there were no compatability issues, morays feed on lion by attacking from underneath and gutting them. Whilst a snowflake is primarily a crustecean feeder, this doesnt meaen it wont strikeout at a slow moving target that it feels it might have a chance with. Considering the only lion viable in a tank this size would be a dwarf then its a possible target for a snowflake.

 

[puddle_inc]

your the first person to say that they can't be together and that the tank is too small. 55 gallons, from atleast what i've heard, will be plenty big enough. correct me if i'm wrong. and would a well fed eel een try to spend any time trying to kill a deadly venomous fish? and what do you mean, even smaller? it's the size of a 55g, no smaller.

 

[Navarre]

55 US gallons is 45 Imperial gallons which is why i say even smaller as its the smaller unit of gallons out of the 2.

45 Imperial gallons is considered a small tank when operating in marine circles. A good beginner size but this limits the size and number of fish you can have. The 2 such fish you have mentioned will create a huge bioload on our system due to their feeding habits.

There is simply no way a lion other than a dwarf will live ina tank of this size. A snowflake wil be severely cramped also. This is my advice, take it or leave it, you ask your questions but when you get your answers given with perfectly good reasons to back it up you continue to question it.

I am a moderator on this forum and another marine only forum whch is among the largest on the net. My findings are not without backing up my answers with my fellow reefing moderators on other forums and also my own experience.
Im not saying im right of course, feel free to choose your own path, but what i do ask is that if you put forward a question, please do not get defensive nor discount an answer simply because it might not agree with your wishes.

 

[Lynden]

Puddle_inc, I sense you are really starting to get on everyone's nerves.

If you don't like us, fine, go to Reef Central or something and actually get flamed rather than just told it won't work.

 

[puddle_inc]

i really wish everyone wopuld just drop the topic and lets move on.

and navarre, i didn't mean to act like i didn't agree what people were saying, i was just meaning to negotiate new ideas, get more thoughtson the topic, so on.

everyone:

i did not mean in any way i didn't agree with your answers, i never opnce ment to start a fight, i didn't mean to sound like i was gonna do it anyway. i mernt to just nicely argue new ideas and get more thoughts about things. i just ment to get new ideas. i'm sorry for the big misunderstanding.

so lets all drop the topic.

so if i can't find a good prices dwarf lionfish i can aford, what would be atleast 1 fish that i could keep in a 55 gallon with an eel? i seem to be having atleast 1 problem with every fish i find or someone suggests. i don't want to have a 55g with cramped fish, but i also don't want one with just an eel, and i don't want him to feel lonely either, hehe. should i look for a smaller nicer trigger? or maby look into tans or butterflies?

any suggestions?

i'm getting close to the price of the tank, after that, i will get it set up and running, put some live sand and my live rock (30lbs) in and get that going good while i work for the eel price. i'd prefer to buy the eel and fish at the same time, but if i can't find a suitible fish by then, i won't rush and buy something.

i'm gonna go look around at fish sites, i'll be back in a bit probably with new fish ideas. and feel free to suggest a fish.

 

[puddle_inc]

ok, have a couple questions on lions

would a volitan or a radiata be too big?



i don't supose saving up for a cute frogfish would be a good idea since they all say 70 gallons..

no cool puffers seem to be small enough either...

heniochus butterfly maby?

is there any other triggers that may be good?

so would i just need to keep an eye on the humu trigger or is that just a bad idea to risk?

 

[Mr.September15]

Can't we all just get along?


Anywho, i have no clue what the minimum size for a snowflake eel but if you still want a fish that would fit into a 55gallon then a Precula Clownfish is good

 

[puddle_inc]

that would be slightly risky with the eel, unless there bigger then i'm guessing. the only clowns i've seen have been small.

plus, i would feel bad not being able to supply it with anemone, since anemone needs strong currents. i'm not sure how much the current in that tank will be.

i'm thinking about triggers, and i found a couple i'd like to see what people think about

a bursa trigger? or even a clown trigger. but the bursa sounded like it would work. other thoughts please?


EDIT: i highly doubt a dwarf octopus would be a good choice, right? just double checking, i like wierd fish.

SECOND EDIT: crap, i just saw the tank size for those triggers...

 

[puddle_inc]

ok, i just found someone that said a bamboo cat shark could live in a 55 gallon. is that true? and would it be aggressive towards the eel? i saw that you can buy eggs from them and hatch them, that would be cool.

i am sure people hre have nice fish in 55 gallon saltwater tanks,or atleast has some suggestions!

 

[Lynden]

ok, i just found someone that said a bamboo cat shark could live in a 55 gallon. is that true?

For a couple weeks after they first hatch, maybe. But beyond that point, it would soon perish. Avoid them unless you can supply a massive (at least 6' x 3') tank.

Nearly all Frogfishes would probably be suitable for a 55 gallon or somewhat smaller since they hardly move. As would most Lionfishes.

As for Triggers, I believe Sufflamen Triggers can be accommodated in a 55 gallon. I have no experience and little knowledge for this genus, however.

Canthigaster Puffers could easily be acclimated to a 55 gallon, and many Filefishes could as well. Filefishes are similiar to Triggers, but docile. There are also some reef-safe species, such as the Prickly Leatherjacket. Many are corallivorous, especially the Longnosed Filefish. Avoid that species, as it is extremely expensive, but not difficult, to keep in captivity since it is an obligate Acropora eater.

Clownfishes are suitable for 55 gallon aquaria, and they don't actually need a host anemone. They will lie on the ground when sleeping in the absence of one, and so are very easy prey for a Moray or other nocturnal predator.

-Lynden

 

[andywg]

A shark in a 55 is a complete no-no.

May I ask a serious question? Where are you finding all these people who say something that completely goes against the norms of fishkeeping (such as keeping 2 feet long fish in a 55)?

I cannot think of any frogfish that would not be ok for life in a 55. Remeber that you will really have to have the frog as the only inhabitant due to their habit of consuming everything that will fit in their mouths. depending ont he species this wil range from fish 1.5 to 2x times the length of the frogfish (and an eel will probably make a nice spaghetti like treat for larger frogs).

Most fish which are too large to be eaten have a habit of taking too much of an interest in the frogfish and "bothering" them to death. Another problem is that frogfish have eyes even bigger than their amazingly distendable bellies, meaning they often consume prey too large to digest which then rots in their stomach leading to death for both fish.

P. radiata should fit in a 55 with good filtration (think aggressive skimming and possibly a wet dry) but P. volitans will definitely outgrow it.

 

[boshank23]

i think what needs to be remembered here is that these fish are wild caught, this means a few weeks ago they were swimming in the ocean. i think every marine keeper needs to be concious of this and home the fish acording to their adult size.

what you need to ask yourself is, would you catch a wild bird and stuff it in a cage? the day before it had the whole of the world to fly in and now its in a 4X2X2 cage.

you need to quit acting like a kid when experianced people give you sound advice. if you bothered to listen and take on board what these guys 'n' girls have to say you will really learn something. this is the way it should be; if you cant have a fish because your tank is too small, or you have livestock thats incompatable tuff ####, deal with it!

you sound like you know a fair bit about the marine world, why not put some of that knowlege to good use and stop trying to run before you can walk!

 

[puddle_inc]

boshank! god dangit, don't start this up again, you have surely read all my posts about a misunderstanding and that i was sorry and didn't mean for everyone to think of it as they did, so how about tuff #### for you, get over it, and deal with that ok?



anyway, on another note....


if a radiata will work i may go with that. i was actually surprised that a frogfish could eat the eel, so i guess i am not going with them. (even though they are the cutest most ugliest fish)

about that shark. did you think it could live in the 55 with the eel unitl its a certain size? when it's older, even if they grow fast, i should easily be able to supply a big tub (like the ones they use for cows and horses water).

i'd be very interested in a shark. they have always been one of my favorite creatures. i always wanted to grow up and work at an aquarium with sharks. it would be neat to raise one from birth if it could live it's early months/years in a 55g.

so i'd like to knnow more about these cat sharks. if i did get one, will it be able to live in it's early months/years in a 55g happily? if so, how long should he be when i need to get him a big tub? anyone have a good link for info on these sharks?

i really wish those porcupine puffers could be in a 55, there so cute

anyway, need help with those shark questions! gonna go google them.

 

[boshank23]

the reason i said what i did is because you live in a freakin bubble. keeping a shark in a 55gal for a few months/years untill it outgrows it WTF are you on about?

i am gonna have to stop comming on this forum, its proving to do nothing but wind me up with all the bloody numpties on here who ask for advice then ####ing ignore it.

ALL ANYONE IS TRYING TO DO IS STOP YOU FROM KILLING FISH, GROW THE #### UP AND LISTEN

can a mod please delete my log in details from whatever data base its on i shant be coming back here again, its giving me an ulcer thanks

 

[sianeds]

Calm down boys.

Nobody is forcing you to answer puddle incs posts. If he annoys you then ignore him.

Puddle I must admit you do get angry at people quickly.

Can't we all just get along??? Please