Melonbobs predator build!!!

[Melonbob]

So anyways, I have the tank home and setup. It works out well, cause I'm off for three weeks vacation and I don't have the time to mess with it, so it can just sit there in case of a small cycle. I'm not expecting much of one though, the rock was only out of water for about 2 hours.

I'm thinking of having all the rock to one side of the tank, from the back corner, as a "home" for the lionfish, and having the other side of the tank wide open sandbed. This IMHO would make cleaning the sandbed alot easier, no? Plus I only have 30lbs for a 40g, so it doesn't take up a whole tank worth of space.

I am still looking for input on the live sand, should I reuse it? It was pretty grungy looking, but I bet there is alot of life in there.

What should I do with what I suspect is my gorilla crab? I don't want him cause he's uggo and apparantly not a good fella, but I'm wondering if lfs would have a use for him. If not, how do I humanely "dispose" of him?

Anyways, the kid is off to bed, and I'm gonna arrange rock....hopefully pics up later tonight!

 

[RyanG]

If hes going in a predatory system Id keep him. Whats he gonna hurt? He might end up as a snack for one of your fishes but hey what the heck. Just my two cents.

 

[Bifferwine]

Ryan is right, a gorilla crab would be fine in a predator tank, probably end up as lunch.

 

[Melonbob]

OK, heres a pic of my $100.00 find. Everything you see was included. I am kinda liking the way I'm going with all the rock on one side, but I have no idea how small of a cave a lionfish can fit into. This rock is not nearly as nice as my first tank, I can now see how 30lbs in a 40g doesn't look like alot. I have 50 in my 46 and couldn't imagine how people do 2lbs/gal. Now I know. Anyways, input is always appreciated. Pic 1 is how I got it, pic 2 of course is after cleaning it up.

 

[Piggy]

I like the look of all the rock to one side. There is no way I'm showing this thread to my son he wants a lionfish.

 

[Bifferwine]

I think the rock to one side looks good too. Should be really nice for a predator tank. Keep us updated!

 

[RyanG]

I think it needs an eel!

 

[Bifferwine]

How about one of the larger, non-reef safe wrasses? So pretty, but nobody keeps them because of their appetite.

 

[Oscarsdad608]

I don't think I would keep the gorilla crab in with the small rocks that you have near the bottom. I had one in my tank and it would move small rocks and steal frags all the time.

 

[RyanG]

Mel and Bob, do you all plan on having any corals in this tank or is it going to be a FOWLR predator only tank?

 

[Melonbob]

There will be corals in it for sure, but I'm not sure how much. Right now I have a huge leather mounted in a clamshell that I am going to put in the back right corner. Haven't put alot of thought into that though. I have no idea what I can do with a lionfish!

 

[RyanG]

OH ok then ditch the gorilla for sure.

 

[Bifferwine]

The lionfish won't bother any corals. They are coral-safe.

 

[Melonbob]

gorilla is no more.......

 

[Altohombre]

I second the getting an eel comment.

 

[Melonbob]

Ok, My tank exploded with diatoms and little hair algae while I went shopping today, anyways its dirty. But heres some pics of my first additions!

There ya go! More to come once I do a tank cleaning!

 

[RyanG]

Cool adds. That skimmer is ginormous!

 

[Melonbob]

Yeah, the pumps are questionable, they had some bad batches and one wasn't starting at first. I emailed them though and they sent out a pair no questions asked! Other than the pumps, the quality looks great, and it was pulling crap out before I even added anything

 

[RyanG]

Nice! Customer service at its finest!

 

[dustin_P74]

be careful with the maroons because of the scales sticking off of their face, they can easily get caught in a net