Input needed on stocking ideas

[BigRedHair92]

I'm in the process of trying to figure out what I want to put in my 180 gallon tank, and as this is my first serious saltwater tank I'm a bit overwhelmed at the options. The only things I know I'm going to have for sure is 2 clowns, as they're in there already and I've had them for about a year and a half now. I've compiled the below list in my first pass of looking through fish, and I'm assuming there will be some issues with fish, but I'm hoping to get some of that info here so I can decide what to research more going forward. I'll break them down by type (ish) of fish.

-Royal Gramma
-Hawkfish - I know I want one, just not sure which species
-Goby - I think I want 1 or 2, not sure on species but it looks like a yellow or diamond watchman goby might be ones to go with. I also like clown gobies
-Wrasse - I'm thinking about a few of these between Fairy and Flasher wrasses.
-Foxface - this one is almost definite, as it's my wife's favorite
-Damselfish - I'm think about a few Azure Damselfish, as it seems like they're the most likely to get along with other fish
-Angelfish - I'm not sure on this, it seems like the smaller ones don't get along with corals, but I do like the look of the Coral Beauty and Flame Angel
-Dottybacks - I like the look of the Orchid Dottyback
-Firefish - Thinking about one of these
- I think the Bar Goby looks neat
-Cardinalfish - Thinking about 2 Banggai and 2 Pajama
-Blenny - seems like the most docile will be the bicolor and midas
-Athias - Dispar seems common, but I didn't find a lot of information on others that might work in a community tank
-Tangs - Thinking about a Hippo, Orange Shoulder, Chevron, Convict and Powder Blue


This will be a mixed reef tank. Like I said, I assume some fish above are not compatible due to similarity in color or being in the same genus or competition for food (like algae grazers). The Powder Blue Tang is my favorite of the bunch, but I know they have quite the reputation for being bullies. Any information on the above list is very appreciated, whether it's the fact that 2 fish just won't work, or if there is something that you think I should look at instead. Thanks in advance!

 

[JumboShrimp]

I think in a 180 a Longnose Hawkfish will glide around nicely from rock to rock, and down to the sand bed. And Orange Shoulder tangs are cool as adults. Several Azures and Talbots together would be OK in a 180. Best wishes.

 

[ekandler]

The only info I can help with is tang aggression. Easiest way to characterize it is you’ll want to avoid tangs with the same facial structure. 180 is a big tank, so you might be okay, but that’s the general rule. Keeping a powder blue and a blue tang together may cause issues. Yellow tang with a purple would be another example. I have a powder blue, Desjardinii sailfin, tomini, and yellow together and they’re very happy. I’d highly recommend adding the powder blue last, they are jerks. Once you compile your list of fish take a look online at aggression and what order they should be added.

 

[i cant think]

IMO that’s too many tangs for a 180 but this is me and my opinions/experience:
The pelagic tangs (PBTs, Hippos, Orange Shoulder & Lieutenant ect…) do SO much better in 8-9 foot tanks whereas Ctenochaetus, Convicts/Polyzona, Zebrasoma, Achilles and Goldrim tangs do better in a 6’ tank due to them not being AS pelagic as some of the other guys.

 

[i cant think]

Appart from that, let me break this down:

- Gobies - most if not all of these fish will do well if added in before the larger aggressive fish. WARNING:
Dotty backs may not work out with these fish.
- Dottybacks - These fish are aggressive to most other cave dwellers.
- Hawkfish - Most species will do just fine, my personal favourites are A. bimacula, C. polyactis, P. forsteri
- Wrasse - Go all out with these fish! Don’t just limit yourself to Paracheilinus and Cirrhilabrus, get yourself some Halichoeres, Anampses, Macropharyngodon wrasses! But most importantly: Go get yourself a lid before you spend big money on a wrasse that carpetsurfs.
- Damsels - Not a clue what this fish family is, I avoid these fish like the plague. I just know them as “Spawns of hell”
- Angelfish - These are beautiful! Get yourself a Genicanthus semifasciatus or Genicanthus melanospilos and you should be fine with coral safe. The Lamarcks is also more coral safe than the other guys.
- Firefish - Same family as gobies, same issues
- Cardinalfish - Should be just fine !!GET A BONDED PAIR!!
- Blennies - Anything except the Midas and bicolors, I have found those guys to be the most aggressive and least coral safe, best bets are Linear blenny, Tail spot blenny, twin spot blenny.
- Anthias - Must be fed several times, other than that should be fine however Id recommend only getting 2-3 at first due to them always whittling it down to 2-3 eventually.
- Tangs - Look at the above comment, also chevrons are almost impossible to get hold of UNLESS you get it from a tank break down, screw you hawaii.

 

[BigRedHair92]

Appart from that, let me break this down:

- Gobies - most if not all of these fish will do well if added in before the larger aggressive fish. WARNING:
Dotty backs may not work out with these fish.
- Dottybacks - These fish are aggressive to most other cave dwellers.
- Hawkfish - Most species will do just fine, my personal favourites are A. bimacula, C. polyactis, P. forsteri
- Wrasse - Go all out with these fish! Don’t just limit yourself to Paracheilinus and Cirrhilabrus, get yourself some Halichoeres, Anampses, Macropharyngodon wrasses! But most importantly: Go get yourself a lid before you spend big money on a wrasse that carpetsurfs.
- Damsels - Not a clue what this fish family is, I avoid these fish like the plague. I just know them as “Spawns of hell”
- Angelfish - These are beautiful! Get yourself a Genicanthus semifasciatus or Genicanthus melanospilos and you should be fine with coral safe. The Lamarcks is also more coral safe than the other guys.
- Firefish - Same family as gobies, same issues
- Cardinalfish - Should be just fine !!GET A BONDED PAIR!!
- Blennies - Anything except the Midas and bicolors, I have found those guys to be the most aggressive and least coral safe, best bets are Linear blenny, Tail spot blenny, twin spot blenny.
- Anthias - Must be fed several times, other than that should be fine however Id recommend only getting 2-3 at first due to them always whittling it down to 2-3 eventually.
- Tangs - Look at the above comment, also chevrons are almost impossible to get hold of UNLESS you get it from a tank break down, screw you hawaii.

Thank you for the detailed response, this is super helpful! I should have stated that I don't plan on adding all of those tangs, those were just the ones that seemed most suitable in the threads that I read on here. I've already got a good lid, as I've heard tales of it seems like almost every fish jumping out in one story or another. It's interesting that the two you say not to get seemed to be the ones most recommended to get. This is why I made my own post.

On a different note, any inverts you'd recommend with this list of potential fish?

 

[BigRedHair92]

I think in a 180 a Longnose Hawkfish will glide around nicely from rock to rock, and down to the sand bed. And Orange Shoulder tangs are cool as adults. Several Azures and Talbots together would be OK in a 180. Best wishes.

This is one that I really liked. I'll definitely look into it more!

 

[i cant think]

Thank you for the detailed response, this is super helpful! I should have stated that I don't plan on adding all of those tangs, those were just the ones that seemed most suitable in the threads that I read on here. I've already got a good lid, as I've heard tales of it seems like almost every fish jumping out in one story or another. It's interesting that the two you say not to get seemed to be the ones most recommended to get. This is why I made my own post.

On a different note, any inverts you'd recommend with this list of potential fish?

I’d go for anything that isn’t small or if it can defend itself. I quite like the Pom Pom crabs (Due to the anemones they can defend with). Most shrimp that stay above 1” should be fine, I’d recommend sticking with smaller Halichoeres if you want smaller shrimp, I.E. Halichoeres iridis (The one pictured below), Halichoeres chrysus, Halichoeres leucoxanthus ect… these are excellent at helping corals deal with their pests (I.E. flatties)
My personal favourite is Halichoeres iridis just because of the colours! They have a beautifully vibrant red out line and anal fin, their main body is a deep black and their head is bright yellow with Orange and green markings.

 

[BigRedHair92]

I’d go for anything that isn’t small or if it can defend itself. I quite like the Pom Pom crabs (Due to the anemones they can defend with). Most shrimp that stay above 1” should be fine, I’d recommend sticking with smaller Halichoeres if you want smaller shrimp, I.E. Halichoeres iridis (The one pictured below), Halichoeres chrysus, Halichoeres leucoxanthus ect… these are excellent at helping corals deal with their pests (I.E. flatties)
My personal favourite is Halichoeres iridis just because of the colours! They have a beautifully vibrant red out line and anal fin, their main body is a deep black and their head is bright yellow with Orange and green markings.

That's a really pretty fish!