Too many fish?

[shoelaceike]

This is what I currently have in my 180. Does anyone have a similar amount of fish? Is it too much?

Large Naso tang
Large sargassum trigger
Large hippo Tang
2 x yellow tangs
Dejardini sailfin tang
Flame fin Tang
Purple Tang
Scopus Tang
3 x clowns
3 x anthias
2 x soldier fish
Melenours wrasse
Mandarin goby
Magnificent foxface

 

[Florida Sunshine]

Sounds pretty heavy to me. The general rule I was always given was one inch of adult fish per 5 gallons of water. Not a hard rule but it gives you a starting place. Obviously the better you are at nutrient control the more you can have to a point but that seems like a lot of tangs who need a lot of room to swim.
I'm not saying it can't be done, but it just seems like a lot to me.

 

[roberthu526]

That's probably enough fish for a 300G. I would probably take a few tangs out. The first three fishes on your list are all huge. If you take two out I think it will be much more manageable.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Fish load usually centers around space and bio-capacity. If your fish aren't getting into territorial squabbles constantly and your able to handle the bio load without nutrient swings, then I would say everything is alright. You also need to ensure they have plenty of space to eat, sleep, and hide from one another without competition. I still wouldn't add anymore fish, though, and you may run into issues as some of those tangs continue to grow and mature.

 

[shoelaceike]

Thanks guys. I took out the scopus and one of the soldier fish. I am also trying the other soldier out.

 

[Slayvoff]

Sounds pretty heavy to me. The general rule I was always given was one inch of adult fish per 5 gallons of water. Not a hard rule but it gives you a starting place. Obviously the better you are at nutrient control the more you can have to a point but that seems like a lot of tangs who need a lot of room to swim.
I'm not saying it can't be done, but it just seems like a lot to me.

Wow I heard 1 inch of fish per 1 gallon in the tank. Looks like I've been working off bad advice

 

[this is me]

It's large dependent on your rockscapes and how much rocks you have in the tank.
But your list does seem to be high fish count in a 180. Especially with the Naso and the Sailfin. They can get very large and very fast.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Definitely heavy. I have 22 fish and counting in my 180, but only 4 are "large", with one tang, one butterfly, and two angels. The rest are all small fish like chromis, dartfish, Anthias, gobies, etc.

 

[Empress]

Definitely heavy. I have 22 fish and counting in my 180, but only 4 are "large", with one tang, one butterfly, and two angels. The rest are all small fish like chromis, dartfish, Anthias, gobies, etc.

Very much like mine only I have a 240 with 1 large tang and 1 large foxface. The rest are all small/medium peaceful. I might add one large Wrasse and call it good. Corals take up a lot of space too.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

I have always been told the one inch per gallon was for freshwater.

 

[Empress]

Or 2" per 5 gallon marine. Makes sense to me.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

The "inch per gallon" rules are kinda worthless IMO because they do not take into account several important factors. The bottom line for me is nutrient control and territory. If everyone is getting along and your parameters stay in check, things should be fine.

 

[BluewaterLa]

I agree that it all depends on your filtration and tanks ability to handle the given bio load.
NO rule of thumb is relevant for inches of fish per gallon that is severely outdated and not helpful.
Only through testing and willingness to manage nutrient build up can one determine if the bio load is too high or too light in a system.
Having said this I would not think you are going to sustain much more fish in that tank so I would be done adding fish for sure.
The Tangs are super poopers and add a ton of organic waste to the tank when fed properly. Some of them will get large and in charge and will start to display aggression toward other tank mates as they mature due to lack of space and food competition.

 

[PatW]

You have 10 large fish in a 180. I guess it can be done if you have piles of filtration and good husbandry. I don't think that I would put that many large fish in anything short of 500 gallons. But everyone has their own ways of doing things. I figure a lighter load gives a bigger margin of error.