Species Tanks?

[SoloChromis]

So who all here have a species tank of some kind? Whether it be sea horses, anglers, a mantis, garden eels etc. I find species tanks fascinating because it means this one particular species grabbed your attention and held it there long enough for you to invest in and dedicate a whole separate tank to house them, *just* for the sake of watching their interesting behavior. Right now I've got my 20g peacock mantis shrimp tank, but it also houses an orange tail blue damsel, assorted macro algae/marine plants, sponges, feather dusters, xenia, and some LPS, so I don't know if it'd still be considered a "species tank" per say, nonetheless I set the tank up with the purpose to house a mantis shrimp (something that would most definitely not mingle too well in my main tank). I've also been interested in one day setting up an octopus tank, more mantis tanks, to house different species, and of course a clown tang species tank, which I've posted about already (yes, a clown *tang*, AKA the largest species tank around). So who here already has, or wants a species tank, and if so, what kind?

[ichthyogeek]

Something that I cooked up once I saw Apogon parvulus:
40Breeder
20-30 Apogon parvulus (they're tiny)
Multiple varieties of Seriatopora hystrix to act as a cover for each fish at night
no sandbed, but live rock and rubble to simulate the top part of a reef
Stomatella snails to act as algae control
Amphipods to clean up any messes

[billdogg]

Although he has since passed, I had a 4' moray (Gymnothorax Undulatus) for 25 years. I tried for the first several years to keep other large fish n the tank (Emperor Snapper - got eaten, XL guinea fowl puffer - tried to get eaten, biggest yellow tang I've ever seen - got eaten) he eventually ended up by himself in a 150DT, 300g total volume tank. I hand fed him a couple times a week, several large fillets from the seafood counter at krogers. Once fed, he seemed to like being petted, but it sorta would freak people out when I'd stick both arms in the tank.

[johnike]

I've got a 29 with 3 gobies that take turns or all hang out with a pistol.
I've kept Mantis shrimp and am considering another.
Tried seahorses, wasn't for me.

[Breadman03]

I'm in the process of setting up an anemone tank. I have 3 BTA's and a gigantea, and plan on several more gigantea and a magnifica. I'm using a 93 cube for now, but plan on going bigger in a future house.

[SoloChromis]

Originally Posted by ichthyogeek

Something that I cooked up once I saw Apogon parvulus:
40Breeder
20-30 Apogon parvulus (they're tiny)
Multiple varieties of Seriatopora hystrix to act as a cover for each fish at night
no sandbed, but live rock and rubble to simulate the top part of a reef
Stomatella snails to act as algae control
Amphipods to clean up any messes

Now *that* would be cool If you could somehow raise the rim of the stand to hide the floor of the tank, almost like a sort of framed, kinetic photo of the "canopy" of the reef. That would be an amazing set up, kinda like those intricate, well thought out planted tanks, with a school of neon tetras darting through the aquascape. The red spot cardinals have to be one of the most exciting additions to the hobby that we've had in recent years, and if you're still considering a set up like this, I think it would be an impressive feat and you've got my vote to try it

[andrewkw]

My Garden Eel tank :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY17FyoifxU

It's simple, easy to take care of and unique. It's also a nice environment for some fish. I don't keep coral in it simply because the tank is for the garden eels. I also have a 180 reef right beside it.

Before the Eels I had 2 different Octopus in there but they only live about a year. I've had the garden eels for several years. While you could keep them in a reef its a heck of a lot easier to keep them in their own tank. I empty the skimmer, prune the macro and recycle reef water change water for its water changes. Nothing special and lots of enjoyment. Look at them!

[ichthyogeek]

Originally Posted by SoloChromis

Now *that* would be cool If you could somehow raise the rim of the stand to hide the floor of the tank, almost like a sort of framed, kinetic photo of the "canopy" of the reef. That would be an amazing set up, kinda like those intricate, well thought out planted tanks, with a school of neon tetras darting through the aquascape. The red spot cardinals have to be one of the most exciting additions to the hobby that we've had in recent years, and if you're still considering a set up like this, I think it would be an impressive feat and you've got my vote to try it

Oh I'm definitely considering it...but first I want to get through college, so for now it's a dream to be fulfilled afterwards!

[heathlindner25]

I've had "peety" my peacock mantis in a 65 (live rock, skimmer only) going on 3 years now....something about having a apex predator....lol

[SoloChromis]

Originally Posted by andrewkw

My Garden Eel tank :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY17FyoifxU

It's simple, easy to take care of and unique. It's also a nice environment for some fish. I don't keep coral in it simply because the tank is for the garden eels. I also have a 180 reef right beside it.

Before the Eels I had 2 different Octopus in there but they only live about a year. I've had the garden eels for several years. While you could keep them in a reef its a heck of a lot easier to keep them in their own tank. I empty the skimmer, prune the macro and recycle reef water change water for its water changes. Nothing special and lots of enjoyment. Look at them!

That's an awesome set up for sure, nice job I'll just add garden eels to my list of potential tank setups

[SoloChromis]

Originally Posted by ichthyogeek

Oh I'm definitely considering it...but first I want to get through college, so for now it's a dream to be fulfilled afterwards!

Amen to that, I'm in that same boat

[JamesHolt]

Originally Posted by ichthyogeek

Something that I cooked up once I saw Apogon parvulus:
40Breeder
20-30 Apogon parvulus (they're tiny)
Multiple varieties of Seriatopora hystrix to act as a cover for each fish at night
no sandbed, but live rock and rubble to simulate the top part of a reef
Stomatella snails to act as algae control
Amphipods to clean up any messes

At $20 each that would get expensive quickly (cheapest I could find them).. That would be a very nice looking tank though

[Genera]

Originally Posted by JamesHolt

At $20 each that would get expensive quickly (cheapest I could find them).. That would be a very nice looking tank though

You could buy about half a Gem Tang with that much money.

[KafudaFish]

Peacock mantis.

Would like a garden eel tank one day.

[ichthyogeek]

Originally Posted by JamesHolt

At $20 each that would get expensive quickly (cheapest I could find them).. That would be a very nice looking tank though

DFS LA has them @5 for 80$...and I'm pretty sure that 's where all the "saved" money from reducing rock and sand costs would go.

[SecretiveFish]

We have a Calcinus laevimanus (Left handed hermit crab) tanks because kiddo was enamored with him. He had been banished to the sump because he was a snail killer and wouldn't stop knocking over corals, but now he lives in a tank with just him and a shrimp.

The shrimp was an after thought.. the tank was really just set up for him!

[JamesHolt]

Originally Posted by Genera

You could buy about half a Gem Tang with that much money.

Cant get my Magnificent Foxface (Siganus magnificus) to act right yet, so not spending big money($500 on fish is alot for me) on anything yet...

[moriarty]

Had a miniata grouper in a 240 by himself (and a few cleaner shrimp) for several years. This was the grouper's decision however, and not my own.

[Genera]

I have a species tank.