Stocking New 180g Reef Tank

[JPK_Esquire]

So I’ve got a build thread going elsewhere, but wanted to set this one up for comments and discussion regarding fish stocking. 180g (72x24x25) SPS-dominant Acropora tank.

Here’s my list of fish I would like eventually:

• Yellow Tang (already have)
• Pair of Ocellaris Clowns (already have)
• Six Line Wrasse (already have)
• Bangai Cardinal (already have)
• Kole Tang
• Blue Hippo Tang
• Sailfin Blenny
• Emperor Angel
• Flame Angel
• Coral Beauty Angel
• Copperband Butterfly
• Sailfin Tang
• Pair of Picasso Clownfish

Potential Stocking Order (pretty set on this preliminary piece before lights come on to address potential algae issues):

• New Picasso Clowns
• Yellow Tang (1 week later)
• Kole Tang (1 week after the Yellow Tang)
• Sailfin Blenny (1 week after the Kole Tang, or potentially at the same time)

Questions:
1. Any foreseeable issues with number of fish?
2. Any foreseeable issues with these specific fish in an SPS-dominant tank?
3. Suggestions on stocking order after the four above?

 

[Sailfin11]

That looks like a good stocklist. I would maybe change your stocking order so that tangs come a little bit later unless you are purposefully adding herbivores first. This way you could add them together and reduce aggression issues. I think the emperor should be fine as long as you stick with your plan of having it SPS dominant.

 

[JPK_Esquire]

That looks like a good stocklist. I would maybe change your stocking order so that tangs come a little bit later unless you are purposefully adding herbivores first. This way you could add them together and reduce aggression issues. I think the emperor should be fine as long as you stick with your plan of having it SPS dominant.

Purposefully adding the Yellow Tang and Kole Tang for herbivores first. Should I add the Hippo Tang and Sailfin at the same time as the Kole? I can do without the Sailfin if that is too many tangs.

 

[Sailfin11]

You can definitely keep the sailfin, but I think it would probably be best to add the Zebrasoma tangs together. Maybe do the kole tang (a great algae eater by the way!), then the sailfin and yellow, and finally the hippo.

 

[JPK_Esquire]

You can definitely keep the sailfin, but I think it would probably be best to add the Zebrasoma tangs together. Maybe do the kole tang (a great algae eater by the way!), then the sailfin and yellow, and finally the hippo.

Many thanks. I think that’s the route I’ll go. What about the 1 week period between introducing each?

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Copperband may have trouble in there if its added after some of those fish, especially the emperor and yellow tang.

 

[JPK_Esquire]

Copperband may have trouble in there if its added after some of those fish, especially the emperor and yellow tang.

If I added before the others, still an issue? The Copperband was one I wasn’t sure about myself.

 

[nereefpat]

I wouldn't recommend either of the "sailfin" tangs for a 180. I've seen adults well over a foot long, and probably nearly that tall.

I don't have a lot of experience with full-size angels. Is an emperor okay in a 180 long term?

 

[JPK_Esquire]

Update: after some comments here and some further reading, I’m going to drop the emperor angel. 180g just too small. Instead I’d like to go with a Regal Angel; however, I’ve read they are difficult eaters. I’ve seen there are some places to buy them where they get the fish eating before they ship them to you. Anyone have any luck with any shops like that, or experiences with Regal Angels.

Also, I think I’m going to bypass the sailfin tang and go with a purple tang. I know this is two zebrasomas, but I’ve seen purple tangs and yellow tangs together in lots of tanks. Is a 180g big enough to house both, and if I put them in together and are about the same size, any foreseeable issues?

 

[Pbh-reef]

Ny aquatic often has regals that are eating I think TSM corals does too. You can also try humblefish aquatics, marine collectors or a similar full quarantine service.

 

[JPK_Esquire]

Anybody used Quarantined Fish LLC out of Tulsa? R2R member Dr. Reef. I'm looking to order these guys in the next couple of weeks so that they can be quarantined for about a month. I'm in Dallas, so I could make the day trip to Tulsa to get these guys. He appears to be highly regarded by HumbleFish, whose name seems to continue to come up on a source for quarantined fish.

 

[Pbh-reef]

Anybody used Quarantined Fish LLC out of Tulsa? R2R member Dr. Reef. I'm looking to order these guys in the next couple of weeks so that they can be quarantined for about a month. I'm in Dallas, so I could make the day trip to Tulsa to get these guys. He appears to be highly regarded by HumbleFish, whose name seems to continue to come up on a source for quarantined fish.

I never have but I know people here have and that humblefish stands by dr. Reef’s service, in fact the two collaborate in developing qt protocols. You can find humbles forum where dr reef is an active member. If you live in Tulsa it sounds like a great option!