Predator Tank

Right now I have a 55 with a couple corals and some small fish a foxface/maroon clown/flame angel and huma trigger under 3".

I'm thinking about making this tank solely a reef tank with nice coral and buying a larger tank to make a predator tank and moving the trigger into there when he outgrows the 55. I think I have a couple years before I have to make the decision. But...

Question: When setting up a predator tank with triggers/lionfish/puffers ect. what do you do about a clean up crew? What keeps the algea in check and eats the detritus and leftover fish food?

 

When I had my trigger and puffer they didn't bother my hermits or snails at all. Even had a starfish in with them that they didn't mind.

 

Your best bet is to perform weekly water changes and have efficient filtration incorporating biological, chemical and mechanical filtration.
Avioding overfeeding is also a pertinent concept that should not be taken lightly!

 

I like 1. Try substituting a zebra eel since they don't eat fish.

 

like i said i have a picaso trigger and he doesn't mess with any hermits and has even lived with a cleaner shrimp for the past 4 months (actually sleeps beside the thing, they both get under the same rock at night) but I have caught him pestering the snails, ive found mexican turbos can keep him at bay. I cant see getting that lucky with a puffer or lion.

what kind of trigger & puffer do you have?

 

My huma is under 3 inches and he eats my hermit crabs now he picks them up and drops them to try and crack there shells lol but its fun to watch

 

I had a picasso trigger and a stars and stripes puffer...only reason I dont have them anymore is because I decided I wanted coral more than predator fish that eat coral Although I do still have my eel which does not bother coral but may have eaten my diamond goby.

 

you can also put in a large algae eater like a full grown foxface, tang or angelfish