Stocking My 180 Gallon Tank

[Tidalwave]

Hello all!

My DT is currently still undergoing a fallow period after an unknown outbreak that occurred a few months ago, but in the meantime I am re-evaluating my stock list. Over the past year or so I have gone back and forth on multiple "wants", putting the more difficult/disease prone fish aside. But now that I have decided to start over and QT every new fish with the TTM/Prazipro followed by a month minimum period of observation to ensure no disease is present, I am feeling a little more assured that I can prevent diseases like ICH from ever being introduced into my DT.
With this in mind, I have modified my stock list. This is my currently list that I would like to maintain (some of which are already being QT'd while my tank remains fallow):

Clownfish x 2
Copperband Butterfly x 1
Magnificent Foxface x 1
Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) x 1
Whitetail Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus flavicauda) x 1
Powder Brown Tang (Acanthurus japonicus) x 1
Blue Hippo Tang (Paracanthurus hepatus) x 1
Naso Tang (Naso lituratus) x 1

What do you think of this stock list? Is this too heavy for the 180 gallon? Do you see any compatibility issues?
I do intend on upgrading to a larger aquarium in the distant future, but for the next few years I plan on sticking with the 180.
Thank you all!

 

[Maritimer]

That's a bunch'a tangs ... and I suspect that the naso, as a mature adult, may have trouble turning around. That's a fish that can grow a foot and a half long.

It also seems (to my way of thinking, but this is your tank!) to be a lot of fish in the same "guild", which is to say, a lot of tall fish that eat algae. You might think about filling some other niches in the tank as well - substrate dwellers, pod hunters, planktivores, etc...

~Bruce, offering two cents

 

[Tidalwave]

That I was afraid of. I think I over did it on my tang list haha. So many beautiful fish to choose from! I think I'll skip the Naso for sure until the possible future upgrade.

Thank you for your advice Bruce! What types of fish would you recommend to fill the missing roles?

 

[Maritimer]

For substrate dwellers and rock-hoppers, look at shrimp-gobies and blennies. (There may be friction between algae-eating blennies such as lawnmowers or starrys and bristletooth tangs.) Pair the shrimp-gobies with appropriate pistol shrimp for a charming display of symbiosis. Will you be keeping shrimp? If not, perhaps a hawkfish - and flame hawks sometimes even get along with larger shrimp! Some folks keep a sand-sifting goby. They will clean your sandbed, but they'll also cover corals sometimes.

For stationary planktivores, firefish in a pair or dartfish in a group will offer a quiet charm. Planktivores with a bit more movement would include midas blennies, a group of anthias, flasher and fairy wrasses, and angelfish of the genus Genicanthus, which are pretty darned coral-safe, for angelfish.

Pod hunters would include wrasses in the Halichoeres or Wetmorella genus, as well as the leopard wrasses (more delicate), pink-streaked wrasse, and mandarinfish and other dragonets.

Another goby you might consider are the neon / sharknose / yellowline group, which are cleanerfish - like the wrasses, but less fragile.

A group of royal grammas or assessors (yes, they can be kept in harem groups!) can add a dash of color to a dark cave.

For a dash of color just above the coral, consider some of the less aggressive damsels of the Chrysiptera genus - I have a trio of azure damsels and a pair of Talbott's, and they get along just fine.

~Bruce

 

[Tidalwave]

Wow, this is fantastic! Thank you so much Bruce!
This gives me a definite starting point! I will look into each of your suggestions!
I really appreciate your time and thought in guiding my tank into a better place!

 

[Maritimer]

Go slow, do your research into each fish's needs and personality, add them in the order of least -> most aggression, and have fun!

Oh, and go slow.

~Bruce, who doesn't often go slow enough

 

[Tidalwave]

Hahaha, I love it! I completely agree with the going slow! Easier said than done for me, but I have already experienced the consequences of rushing a saltwater tank, losing my favorite fish in the process. I do not ever want to repeat that if I can help it, so going slow, listening to you experts, and doing thorough research are my new methodologies for saltwater fish keeping. Patience is one of the many lessons I've learned in my short experience in the saltwater hobby.
Thanks again Bruce! I truly appreciate all your advice!

 

[Joshua Telles]

I suggest you let the copperbanded butterfly get established before adding tangs... tangs go in all together last. I have a powder brown, purple, blue and yellow tang in my 180. 5 anthias, a wrasse, couple fires, a blenny etc... I can't keep Cbb alive though

 

[Tidalwave]

Great suggestion!! I think that's a great idea. That's the fish I'm most concerned about . She/he is going great right now, demolishing mysis shrimp as soon as I put it in the tank, but I'm worried about the tang's being overly-intimidating. I'm going to add the CBB first and then wait for him/her to be eating comfortably before adding my other peaceful fish, and definitely the tangs last! Hopefully by adding them all at the same time they won't single just one of each other out. Thank you for your advice!