fish compatibility question

You know snowflake eels get to 32 inches right?
And niger triggers get quite large, I wouldn't recommend that one.
- now Free

 

Yea no trigger, the other thing I just thought about is that any trigger would probably go after the dorsal flesh on the snowflake. We had that problem a couple of times with large angels
- now Free

 

Yea no trigger, the other thing I just thought about is that any trigger would probably go after the dorsal flesh on the snowflake. We had that problem a couple of times with large angels
- now Free

 

My opinion is I think you need to rethink your entire stock list for this tank.

First what are you planning on feeding the lion? Frozen foods if it eats it won't be enough to sustain it so you need to keep that in mind. Also you will almost never see the dwarf lion but it will surely make a meal out of any fish or shrimp it can catch and fit in its mouth.

As far as the powder brown tang, I would only do it if you have a qt ready to go. They get ich really easy and unless you are prepard to deal with that I would pass. I would say this for almost any tang. Bristletooths such as kole tangs seem to be a little hardier and don't get as large.

 

I tend to agree with Mthomp regarding the predators, they may make it difficult to keep water quality nice for a reef, but I know it's been done by many people. I was paranoid about ich or a sickness when I added the Powder Brown. The store I bought mine from was nice enough to hold it for a couple weeks before I brought it home. He was harassed a little for a few days, but he staked out a place on the opposite side of the tank of my yellow tang to sleep. He never showed any signs of sickness. People always make a big deal about tank length for tangs, but I think its own place to sleep at night is understated.

I'd go for the powdered brown.

Even when the tangs became friendly with one another, they still slept in their own spot.

 

I would agree with some of the other above comments. What you have is a somewhat dense stocking list that WILL make it difficult to keep the tank clean and/or clean enough for corals. But although your list is somewhat unconventional, it's not exactly novel. If you want a big thrill factor, you'll certainly get it from casual observers, but most fish guys will find it questionable and maybe even somewhat bland.
In case it had not occurred to you, or nobody ever mentioned, the goal should not be to stock this tank up immediately (contrary to what is portrayed on TV). What you have is a list that is possible, even inspiring, but you should introduce one specimen at a time, unless there are reasons to do two at a time instead as in the case with multiple tangs (this tactic can help alleviate territorial stressors). You should add a specimen every few months as the last has settled in and recouped from the ordeal and made a FULL recovery (few people are good at identifying ill or stressed fish, it will take years of training and experience). But you may fin along the way that you will stop short of your full list due to behavioral issues, feeing problems, disease, compatibility, water quality, empathy for their joy of free and open space etc.
And as far as compatibility goes, these are all just guidelines, each fish will have its own distinctive temperament, behavior, quirks and personality. That's the beauty of this hobby, getting to meet personalities from creatures you never expected to find them in. It's just like the Leopold quote in my signature, I'm amazed at the qualities I've found in these animals.

- now Free

 

I know you said no to the trigger, but I have heard they will bite the spines off a lionfish. My fuzzy dwarf tagged my a couple weeks ago, pretty intense but it is fine now. I have had fuzzys and they all seem to come out during the day once they settle in and take a wide variety of food. I also like wetwebmedia, but I feel that liveaquaira recommendations are quite good size wise. Sure better than a great deal of advise I have seen on various forums. For example WWM says 75g for Harlequin tusk and liveaquaria says 125g and I would side with LA on that one.

This is good advise.


And look for for those lions, even small ones.

 

I had a Niger and a Volitan in the same tank before and there were no issues. They both were about the same size. I use this link when I am looking at making a fish purchase. The guy will not tell you what you should put in your tank but will tell you what he thinks about your intended purchase based on your set up and existing live stock.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2068112