Help with 180 Gallon Setup

[Andrew Stevens]

Hi Guys,

I've had a few large freshwater tanks in the past but I'm now looking at making the move to saltwater. I really am starting from square one, meaning I have no idea about all the equipment involved, but I will be taking my time with both the research and setup/cycling.

I am interested in the following setup - 180 gallon (6x2x2) :

1. One Volitans or Russell's Lionfish
2. One Harlequin Tuskfish
3. One to Three Yellow Tang
4. One Copperband Butterflyfish
5. One Regal Blue Tang
6. One-Three Schooling Bannerfish
7. Coral such as LPS, Zoanthid and Goniastrea

This is what I would like, I'm looking for suggestions on the lighting and equipment involved, as well as compatibility and stocking levels. Also, if people could suggest fish and coral that might complement the setup I would appreciate it. Lastly, what size tank would you recommend as a quarantine tank? I can get a free 50 gallon tank (4 foot long) and was wondering if I should use it as a quarantine or DIY sump).

Thank you!

Andrew

 

[ihavecrabs]

#WelcometoR2R

Here are some helpful links to answer your questions above:

1. Copy and paste your fish wish list in this thread. You'll get some great advice on compatibility.
2. This thread will cover tank cycling
3. A helpful overview on Quarantine and acclimation

And lots of research can be found on fish diseases and quarantine procedures here: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/fish-disease-treatment-and-diagnosis.771/

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Thank you!!

 

[ihavecrabs]

As far as equipment goes, it all depends how techy you want to get. At minimum I'd recommend the following:

1. Some sort of light strong enough to grow coral. You can choose T5, LED, or Metal Halide. Per fixture, you can range anywhere from 200 - 1000 and depending on fixture coverage you'll likely need multiples.
2. A Skimmer - this is the powerhouse for filtration of your system. Look for one of these used on the market place or locally.
3. Quality heaters (preferably multiple smaller so that if one fails ON, it cannot cook your tank). i.e. if I need 500W total, I'd do three 200W or two 300W. I'd also recommend a heater controller at minmum (of a system controller such as an APEX, but this is not required).
4. Return Pump
5. Power Heads
6. Auto Top off system

As far as a quarantine, I'd do more smaller tanks and cycle fish through one or two at a time, splitting up the aggressors. 20G talls would work well with a 30g+ power filter (basic one, remove carbon), and a heater. Airstone is needed if running medication.

If you opt to use the 50g, get a few power heads pointed at the surface and section it off with egg crate because it will run out of O2 when running meds and aggressors will stress each other to death

 

[Swoody]

I think you are a bit overstocked on your fish wish list for a 180. Unless you are planning on re-homing the blue fairly quickly... and really there is room for 2 max yellow tangs without the blue. You could do 1 yellow and then a smaller bristle tooth type tang and they would be happy in that space taking into consideration the others on your list.

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Swoody, I'll change in to one yellow tang then. Quick question, I just found the Regal Angel and I absolutely love it. Could I do the following:

1. One Volitans or Russell's Lionfish
2. One Harlequin Tuskfish
3. One Yellow Tang
4. One Copperband Butterflyfish
5. One Regal Blue Tang
6. One Regal Angelfish
7. One-Three Schooling Bannerfish
8. Coral such as LPS, Zoanthid and Goniastrea

If it's still too much I can remove the Blue Tang, Butterflyfish and/or just have one Bannerfish. .

 

[Reef_Jack]

Butterflyfish is generally not reef-safe if you want to keep LPS. And Regal Angle is also not reef-safe. The only reef-safe Large Angle is Genicanthus species.

 

[Sailingeric]

Copperbands can be tough to keep. Remember once you get it up and running and cycled, add your fish slowly. Don't go spending hundreds of dollars on fish and dump them in there at once.

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Thanks again for your feedback. I will be starting this process slowly and will add the most peaceful and delicate fish before anything else. I have also removed the butterflyfish from my list but would really like to keep the Blue Tang and Regal Angel if possible. Could I get some suggestions for coral, sponges that are hardier or might not get picked at?

Also, could I add 3 Bannerfish to school together or is this too much bioload? If it is too much, should I remove them entirely or just keep 1?

 

[Captain Quint]

Welcome aboard @Andrew Stevens

Sounds like some great input so far.

We really like pics.

 

[Sailingeric]

To get started you could start with some mushrooms, leather corals such as Devils Hand, toadstools, green star polyps, zoas or kenya tree. I have some nice bright green mushrooms on rock that is pretty, my devil's hand impresses everyone do the size and how it slowly moves its fingers, I had a kenya tree that grew to monster size that I took out but a few branches are still around growing again- they do spread so use at your own risk. My GSP has grown but is kept to a rock in the corner and I pull a little off when it spreads too far. I have four different hammer corals and I have found them fairly easy to keep with proper lighting.

 

[Andrew Stevens]

Thanks Captain!

Pics will be added for sure. First I need to get around to learning saltwater setups, buying the tank.... and picking a spot in my house big enough for a 6 foot tank!

 

[Reef_Jack]

The 180 gallon tank is very heavy. Remember to choose a safe spot with enough support. I have a 175 gallon tank just set up two months ago. and I put it against the bearing wall, perpendicular to the floor joists, and use two jack post in the basement to support the joists.

 

[Swoody]

There are a number of people on board here that keep a regal angel with a reef tank but this is an anvanced aquarists fish. They are very tough to get feeding once arrived and also if you get past that they will probably eat your reef so it is best added into a very mature system. In addition the banner fish will also outgrow a 180....especially 3 of them. You have a nice fish list but for a new tank it is a bit of an advanced stock list... just start slowly and things could work once you get an idea of what a 180 can handle...it seems large but in reality will be cramped with that many fish.... oh and also the banner fish will eat corals as well.