n2dcwitme

Hi,

I recently received a used 45 gallon tank in which my parents had a reef system. They found it to be more work than they were willing to put in, and they didn't have much success. After much reading and pondering, I've decided to give this a shot.

Over the weekend I stocked the tank with live rock, live sand and 4 damsels. While waiting for the tank to cycle, I'm pondering which direction to go.

My first thought was to go with a FOWLR setup. Unfortunately, the fish I find most interesting mostly seem to require larger tanks in the 75-100g range, namely Triggers, Tangs, Butterflies, etc...esp. a triggerfish. They're just cool.

I'm wondering if any Trigger would do well in my relatively small tank. I've read that the Orange Striped Trigger, Balistapus undulatus, may do well in a 50 gallon tank. I'm wondering if any other species of Triggerfish may do OK in my relatively small tank. I've not read much on the other fish mentioned, but will gladly accept feedback/recommendations on them as well.

Or, perhaps, maybe I should stick with smaller, less aggressive, reef-safe fish to start, eventually adding some corals and inverts, then, if all goes well, start a larger tank with more aggressive fish.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

harpua2002

Welcome to FL!

Unfortunately, I just don't feel that a 45 gallon tank is suitable for any trigger, at least in the long term. If you want a FOWLR tank and you like fish with a lot of personality, you could try a dwarf lionfish (warning- these are venomous. If you are allergic to bee stings, I'm told you are likely allergic to lionfish stings). If you think you might want to go the reef-safe route, I would suggest a fairy wrasse, very colorful and active, and will beg you for food and interact with you after a bit.

n2dcwitme

Thank you for the reply. You've confirmed my hunch. Oh, well.

Thanks for suggesting a dwarf lionfish. Didn't know there was such a thing. I'd ruled out lionfish thinking they were too large.

So, if I chose a dwarf lionfish, I'm assuming it would be his (her) tank alone. Would be nice to have a few fish...

harpua2002

You could keep a dwarf lion with other fish of similar temperament that are too large to fit in the lion's mouth. A longnose or arc eye hawkfish would be cool IMO, or maybe a larger fairy wrasse.

n2dcwitme

Cool. A valentini puffer might be fun, too, maybe. Thanks for the ideas.

locoyo386

Hi there,

You could try a small Humu Humu trigger, like 1-2 inches. They are the slowest growing triggers and can do well in that size tank for quite a while. They are also one of my favorite triggers.

n2dcwitme

Thanks, locoyo386,

I've been toying with that idea as well. Got a while to think about it. My ultimate decision may depend on who's in stock at the LFS when I'm ready to buy.

It's just too bad my parental units didn't have a 100g tank.

Not sure if anyone will respond to the rest of my question, given the title, but how about Butterflies & Tangs? Too big for my tank, too? Think I already know the answer, but enjoy everyone's feedback so far.

locoyo386

Hi there,

I did not mention Butterfly nor Tangs as they will need to be moved to bigger tanks in about a year or so. Most of my Tangs already outgrew the 55's they were in, now they are in a 240 gallon community tank with the Butterflies. The Tangs will do fine for short periods of time, like 1-2 years and that's all. At the moment my Purple and Sailfin are the only ones that are still happy in the 55, but they seem to grow alot slower then the other Tangs I have (Powder Brown, Mimic, Convict, Naso, Powder Blue). The difference is thei individual need for swimming, it will depend on the specific individual Tang. The Butterfly Fish do better in smaller tanks then Tangs, but they don't fare out with more aggressive eaters, thus the more room they have the better they will eat. Once they get to close to tank size, specially when more aggressive eaters, the more they tend to stop eating. Once they stop eating they might not eat again, they get very picky after that, not sure why though. I lost a couple of them before that way before I realise what was going on.

locoyo386

If yo want more permanent fish that are pretty cool, you should look into the Dwarf Angels, like the Flame, Lemon Peel or Red Stripe. Then you could fill it in with other fish that are more suited for that size tank. What are the dimensions of the tank I might be able to help you better that way.

JRDroid

I personally wouldn't get the humu humu with plans on moving it to a larger tank unless you already have the larger tank. A lot can happen in life that prevents you from being able to upgrade your tank when you thought you would, and your fish suffer for that.

n2dcwitme

Thanks, both of you. Your words of wisdom are most helpful. It probably is (much as it hurts) better to forego the Humu Humu for now until I have a suitable tank and stick with more appropriate fish for the small tank. I have too many hobbies as it is, and who knows how long this one will keep my interest, though it is something I've always wanted to do.

At the moment I'm thinking smaller, more aggressive fish will be the ticket. My heart isn't set on anything specific, but a dwarf lionfish, valentini puffer (though not recommended by anyone--they just caught my eye), dwarf angel and maybe a little wrasse sounds pretty cool. If I stick with the "rule of thumb" I'm limited to 3 (maybe 4?) smallish fish. I want them to be happy and stick around for a long time.

JRDroid

I think either a coral beauty or dwarf flame angle fish with a dwarf lion fish and some corals would make a very nice 45 gallon. I am sure you could do another fish or two, but I don't know which ones. I am planning on setting up a 40 some time soon and am going to do a flame angle and a dwarf lion.

n2dcwitme

Cool. So, am I out of my mind for considering the valentini puffer? The "book" says they're compatible with the lionfish, etc, though I understand it can be difficult to get them to eat.

JRDroid

I really have no idea. I am a novice in salt, I only know that the dwarf lion and dwarf angle are compatible because i researched it.

locoyo386

True, but personally I think that the Humu Humu is not bad in that size tank. It will be quite a while before it even reaches 4-5 inches. It would also depend on the dimensions of the tank.

locoyo386

Hi there,

locoyo386

In general Triggers, Lionfish and Puffers don't mix well. Like with everything there are always exception to everything, thus it could be possible. When it comes to fish there is really no absolute rule to compatability, but in general most of the times it works out fine.

As for the Valentini Puffer, I think it would work with a Dwarf Lionfish (Fu Manchu LIonfish). They are more melow then other types of puffers, not as aggressive either and it seems as if no other fish really bother them at all. Mine is in a 20L with a damsel and neither bothers each other. I had a Porcupine Puffer with a Volitan Lionfish and the puffer tended to pick on the lionfish to the point I had to seperate them.

harpua2002

I agree, valentini puffers are pretty laid back most of the time.

n2dcwitme

Wow, what a can of fish I've opened I'll post my tank dimensions later this evening.

locoyo386

Funny, like I said most people that keep saltwater fish will have their own opinions about the hobby. Take all opinion and take what makes sence to you. Sometimes what worked for one will not work for others and so forth and so forth. I mainly take things that make general sence and say that it is certein it will happen. For example a Grouper with small fish, WILL NOT work, the grouper will eat them, etc. etc. You know somethings are really just the way they are. Like with, I have alot of 10 gallon tanks. All of them are ment as stepping stoned for my fish. All the fish I get that are small, all of them fo in the 10's first. This is mainly for observation, then placed into bigger tanks as they need them, you know. Most will tell NEVER to put a saltwater fish in that small of a tank AT ALL. To each their own I guess.

n2dcwitme

Here's my tank. 12"x18"x36" Needs a bit more rock, arranged more carefully. It is what it is edit: That is, it's 33.66 gallons, according to the handy dandy calculator. Mom first told me it was 44, then 45, then 40. It's 33. She's getting old.

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locoyo386

LOL, well are going to get all at one point. Yeah it's around 33 gallons but most likely originally sold as either a 29 or 30 gallon tank. That's a good size tank as I like the 36" dimension better then the 24". Personal opinion the 12" dimension will limit the size of fish you can possibly keep in that size tank. What it boils down to is this (my opinion anyways).

1.) If the fish is not a swimmer (most Tangs, some Triggers, some Angels) or too aggressive (some Wrasse, most Triggers, some Angels, some Tangs), then you should be fine with a max size of 6".

2.) Volume will determine the amount of fish you put in. Max 2 fish at max size. Max 6 fish if only one at max size or smaller, unless if max size fish is trully a peacefull fish then you could go with 2 fish max size and four filler fish. The filler fish should be 4" or less and same aggression level as the bigger one/'s or slighty more. They all have to have the same aggressive approach to food, otherwise the weaker ones will stop eating.

crazedACD

What about a nice little filefish...same family as triggers, although not quite as personable. I've had matted green filefish at my store and they all seemed hardy and did well.

n2dcwitme

Hey, filefish are kinda cute, in an ugly kinda way, like a pug.

Guess I was originally drawn to triggerfish for their personalities, but any fish is gonna be fun. I'm even getting attached to my little damsels. I'd originally planned to put in a fish who would eat them. Having second thoughts on that now...

locoyo386

I always thought that the Filefish were hard to keep in home aquariums, but really not sure as I have never kept one. My favorite one if the Colored Filefish (Pervagor melanocephalus). I might try that Filefish one day. Outside of Tangs, the Trigger fish are my favorite fish and in my opinion are the second easiest fish to keep in the home aquarium, second only to Damsels. There are two things that I don't like about the Damsels; one, they are very agressive towards all other fish including the Triggerfish, second, they turn a brown/black ugly color when they get full grown. Other then that they are pretty cool, always swiming around and creating a dynamic enviroment. One of my tanks is set up that way. I have two Triggers, Niger and Humu Humu with Spotted Grouper. The filler fish are all damsels, Domino, Sargent Major, Yellow, Velvet Blue/Yellow and Goldstripe Maroon.

crazedACD

I've had the green, matted filefish at my store-they ate readily, seemed happy, lived a month or two each in the tanks before selling. Their downside is that they might eat ornamental shrimp or other inverts-they do eat aiptasia though .

n2dcwitme

Think I'll hold off on the inverts for a while, though I would like a clean up crew. So many choices...

locoyo386

That's why I have TONS of tanks all over my house. I am thinking of opening a fish store just to keep up with my hobby. I think It would not work as I would not want to sell my fish, .

n2dcwitme

Gotta admit I've been checking Craigslist for used tanks, starting with a small quarantine tank...

locoyo386

Well considering your tank size (45), a 10 or 20 will do just great gor your QT.