Aggressive tank suggestions

[lenny]

Lenny the seahorse guy is now going to be... Just Lenny. It's time to put the love of the seahorse tank on hold. Lots of reasons, but mostly the fragility vs. cost of the ponies, and my having had to go back to day-jobbing it, combined with getting back to playing more music at night (which is going to involve a lot more traveling and time away from the house) and this does not leave me enough time to micromanage the tank to maintain what I think is the right level of care and feeding for a seahorse tank.

I'm switching over to an aggressive fowlr type setup I think, but was looking for input and suggestions.

I THINK I really want a Volitan Lionfish. That being said, I'd love to hear from folks who have one, or have dealt with aggressive tanks. I'm looking for suggestions for compatible tankmates, and/or things I need to think about. I have begun to do my research and found out quite a bit, but I've learned that I can also learn a lot from my fellow enthusiasts.

Sooo.. If any of y'all have suggestions or input, I'd love to hear it. I'm considering a lionfish, a copperband butterfly, a snowflake eel and a tang or two, but these are just the initial thoughts. (and it's a 90 gal, with a 30 gal sump type setup with UV and a protein skimmer and a phosphate reactor going already. I could also put my 13gal refugium back in the mix.)

Thanks y'all. I look forward to your thoughts.

 

[nanonano]

I had a FOWLR tank a long time ago with 2 Triggers (Niger and Picasso), a big Lunar Wrasse, a Volitan Lion, lawnmower blenny, and several more fish I can't remember.

The Lion was the most peaceful member of the tank.

The Picasso tried to kill everything. He was the most evil fish I've ever had besides the Red Devil I had in my South American Cichlid tank.

 

[dakota9]

Gotta have a puffer of some type

 

[jp30338]

Puffer, Lion, Wrasse, a more aggressive type of butterfly(blackback, raccoon, saddled), eel, an angel. A tang may not be best if your tank isnt 6ft. long.

 

[gnashty]

Yeah, scratch the tangs - especially in a 90. Puffers and Triggers is what I would do and adds so much color (Picasso Trigger) and personality (Porcupine Puffer) to your tank. One of each is about right - dont mix puffers in a 90g.

My trigger used to spend most of his day re-arranging my sandbed to his liking and the puffer just hung out like a puppy, always beggin for food!

I have heard that while lionfish are beautiful, they will eat anything that fits in their mouth. The trigger and puffer would likely nip at all the frilly things hanging off the lionfish so be careful if you mix them.

good luck - keep us posted!!

 

[nanonano]

Definitely get a good sized Lunar Wrasse. Still one of my favorite fish ever. They are awesome.

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[lenny]

Excellent suggestions so far

 

[pufferchris]

i keep a porcupine,,clown trigger,,snow flake ell,,and a yellow tang the clown trigger is very aggressive though watch your fingers and arms haha

 

[fish scales2]

Most Triggers just get two large so I would go with a Pinktail or maybe a Bluethroat.
I love puffers but Porkys get MASSIVE quick 3' for some. You might consider a Dogface.
Volitans also get massive and have quite the large mouth. Have you looked at some of the Dwarfs? There are some really nice ones around.
If you do a Butterfly of anytype you should consider Pairs only. Not mated pairs just add them in twos.

Some other considerations might be:
Longnose hawk
Dragon Goby
Harlequin Tusk
Dragon Wrasse
Spanish Hog
Goldstripe Morons (maybe my favorite clowns) I have one that lets me hold him out of the water and hosts my hand)

 

[lilrobb]

Fish Scales2;491185 wrote:
Goldstripe Morons (maybe my favorite clowns) I have one that lets me hold him out of the water and hosts my hand)

Nice - I love morons!

 

[fish scales2]

LilRobb;491188 wrote: Nice - I love morons!

The darn thing would suckle on my finger, twas on purpose.