Ok, we all have dream tanks, yes? Well, I want y'all to criticize mine. Before I go into that, know what answers I'm looking for. I know *nothing* about water chemistry, so I'd like to know if its rediculously hard to filter, unsafe, etc. I'm no expert on compatability either, and I'd like to know a suggested tank size. Any other suggestions or criticisms are welcome! I'm a beginner in fish, bear with me. I'm a reptile keeper, so I probably reflect that into how I look at fish... Anyway, this is all hyptothetical. When I am able to get a tank of this magnitude, I'll be in my 30s-40s, and hopefully with much more experience (and money! lol). Maybe by then some spectacular new breakthrough in fishkeeping will emerge and this will change, but whatever. Let's just assume I'd have the money for this. Its hyptothetical and 20 years into the future, so relax. 
Alright, heres the stock list:
- I'd like an epaulette or coral catshark. Just one, but I'm not sure which. Are coral cats rare/expensive? Any particulars of either I should know different than other sharks? Also, are the Freycinets (sp) or silky epaulettes avaliable at all?
- Okay, this is probably the most rediculous and hard to keep. *drum roll* A blue-spotted stingray! Oh, twas beauty that killed the beast! WHY are these things so magnificent but so difficult? Is there some kind of trick to it, or is it dumb luck? I know one aquarium bred them, maybe theyll be in good CB supply by the 2030's lol! Are there any just as pretty, but less difficult alteritives?
- A dragon eel. Preferably a Japanese, but maybe a Hawaiian. Are these any more difficult than say, a snowflake? Are they mega aggresive, or are the looks deceiving? Do they get typical aquarium-trade moray size, like 3-4 feet? If I couldn't do these, a zebra would be my preffered alternitive. I'm wondering if a dragon would bother any other monster fish in the tank.
- Last of my 'essentials', a lionfish. I was thinking a red volitans or a radiata. Is either more difficult or larger than the other? These are pretty peaceful towards other big fish right? This is the one I'm least worried about in terms of compatibility. Would that be a safe assumption?
- Okay, now these fish I could live without, but I'd love one or both. How about a puffer? Porcupine, golden, dogface? I'm not sure about these. Will they damage coral and sessile inverts like anemones, urchins, coral, or sponges? Would triggers be any more difficult. I was of course thinking about a clown, or possibly a humu.
- The big issue: A mantis shrimp. Would these be able to live with ANY of the monsters? Would they be a snack, even with the clubs? Or can they hurt the others? Can they damage coral and sessile inverts? This one isn't a problem if its too unrealistic, it can simply be put in a 20 gal. By the way, I was going for a large peacock mantis, a clubber.
- Ok, sessile inverts and some others. I'm not sure of coral, are there any more or less sensitive to big fish? Will the shark, ray, eel, lion, or others bother these? I was worried about puffers and triggers, they look like they could do damage, but I wasnt sure. I had these in mind, although the mantis worries me about some: Electric flame scallop, crocea clam, red knob starfish, black (or banded) long-spined urchin, tree sponge, feather duster, bulb anemone, carpet anemone, and possibly a cucumber or nudibranch. What about plants too? In terms of coral, I was thinking some sort of bubble coral (can a lionfish puncture it?) in particular. I was wondering if soft and hard corals and sea fans would be affected by the fish in any way. Let me know if any of these inverts will harm each other too! Assume I have plenty of live rock. I'd need some for the eel and possible mantis anyway.
Lol, I'm sure that sounds crazy and way to lofty, but I'm not
!
Please respond! My last thread similar to this didn't get much response. But that wasn't the greatest of my threads anyway, I wasn't to clear on it. Thanks all!
But wow, my expectations might need a little lowering, huh? lol
Alright, heres the stock list: - I'd like an epaulette or coral catshark. Just one, but I'm not sure which. Are coral cats rare/expensive? Any particulars of either I should know different than other sharks? Also, are the Freycinets (sp) or silky epaulettes avaliable at all?
- Okay, this is probably the most rediculous and hard to keep. *drum roll* A blue-spotted stingray! Oh, twas beauty that killed the beast! WHY are these things so magnificent but so difficult? Is there some kind of trick to it, or is it dumb luck? I know one aquarium bred them, maybe theyll be in good CB supply by the 2030's lol! Are there any just as pretty, but less difficult alteritives?
- A dragon eel. Preferably a Japanese, but maybe a Hawaiian. Are these any more difficult than say, a snowflake? Are they mega aggresive, or are the looks deceiving? Do they get typical aquarium-trade moray size, like 3-4 feet? If I couldn't do these, a zebra would be my preffered alternitive. I'm wondering if a dragon would bother any other monster fish in the tank.
- Last of my 'essentials', a lionfish. I was thinking a red volitans or a radiata. Is either more difficult or larger than the other? These are pretty peaceful towards other big fish right? This is the one I'm least worried about in terms of compatibility. Would that be a safe assumption?
- Okay, now these fish I could live without, but I'd love one or both. How about a puffer? Porcupine, golden, dogface? I'm not sure about these. Will they damage coral and sessile inverts like anemones, urchins, coral, or sponges? Would triggers be any more difficult. I was of course thinking about a clown, or possibly a humu.
- The big issue: A mantis shrimp. Would these be able to live with ANY of the monsters? Would they be a snack, even with the clubs? Or can they hurt the others? Can they damage coral and sessile inverts? This one isn't a problem if its too unrealistic, it can simply be put in a 20 gal. By the way, I was going for a large peacock mantis, a clubber.
- Ok, sessile inverts and some others. I'm not sure of coral, are there any more or less sensitive to big fish? Will the shark, ray, eel, lion, or others bother these? I was worried about puffers and triggers, they look like they could do damage, but I wasnt sure. I had these in mind, although the mantis worries me about some: Electric flame scallop, crocea clam, red knob starfish, black (or banded) long-spined urchin, tree sponge, feather duster, bulb anemone, carpet anemone, and possibly a cucumber or nudibranch. What about plants too? In terms of coral, I was thinking some sort of bubble coral (can a lionfish puncture it?) in particular. I was wondering if soft and hard corals and sea fans would be affected by the fish in any way. Let me know if any of these inverts will harm each other too! Assume I have plenty of live rock. I'd need some for the eel and possible mantis anyway.
Lol, I'm sure that sounds crazy and way to lofty, but I'm not
! Please respond! My last thread similar to this didn't get much response. But that wasn't the greatest of my threads anyway, I wasn't to clear on it. Thanks all!
But wow, my expectations might need a little lowering, huh? lol
