4x2x2 practical for a grouper/snapper setup?

[Kalib]

Thinking of doing a grouper/snapper tank for my new tank. Wondering if it would be a little small for doing a setup for predators. I'll be limiting myself to around 4 or 5 fishes as i understand saltwater predatory fish can grow to big sizes which would definitely place quite a considerable load on the filtration system. I will keep less if i find the filter can't cope.

Fishes i'm looking at would be snappers and groupers. I might keep 1 frogfish, haven't decided on that.

I understand that groupers will attempt to eat anything that can fit in its mouth. So, i'll be looking at the smaller breeds of groupers to keep so my snappers won't end up as food.

For the snappers, specie i'm considering is the fingermark snapper. There's 1 particular specie that won't grow big, probably end up as big as around 1ft in size.

As for grouper, i am considering the smaller breeds(any recommendation?) as i know there are some that can hit huge sizes which a 4ft tank cannot contain.

I'm going to run a 2x20"x12" refugium which would be filled with macroalgae for nutrient export. So, i'm planning to transfer my damsel, clownfish and 3shrimps into the refugium so they won't get eaten by the predators.

Need advise guys, whether 4x2x2 would be ok for such a setup or not.

[Guinness]

groupers = swimming garbage bin. Eat anything. But they don't grow that quickly. Besides, once they reach about 800g, just nice to steam!

I once had a spare 3ft where i kept my a barramundi and a snapper from my fishing trip. They lasted ...... until we got hungry

At least they are easy to feed and are tolerant of water conditions.

[FuEl]

Baby groupers can be caught with hook and line at bedok jetty..

[Kalib]

groupers = swimming garbage bin. Eat anything. But they don't grow that quickly. Besides, once they reach about 800g, just nice to steam!

I once had a spare 3ft where i kept my a barramundi and a snapper from my fishing trip. They lasted ...... until we got hungry

At least they are easy to feed and are tolerant of water conditions.

Ya

Thats why i'm looking at smaller species. Maybe i should reconsider and keep snappers with 1 stingray.

I've ever seen my friend catch a small 6-7inch grouper that ate a live fish. Now here's the interesting part, the livebait is probably just an inch smaller than the grouper. The fish tail was sticking out of the grouper's mouth

[Kalib]

After giving it much consideration, maybe keeping groupers in a 4x2x2 might not be too wise as i could end up restricting myself to only 1-2fishes which is something that i don't want.

I still need to keep in mind that the fish will grow, though right now i can put in 4-5fishes of 4",5" in size, won't be a problem but in future it would be if i'm keeping fishes that has the potential to hit 12" and more.

Maybe i should keep smaller fish like hawkfish in my refugium and use the space in the maintank for other fishes instead. I kind of like the flame hawkfish. My refugium is quite big, 2'x20"x12".