180 stock list help

[lilyost4290]

I'm setting up a 180g in a few weeks and I need some stocking suggestions. Total water volume will be around 230-250g.

I already have a yellow tang for the tank and want either a pair or trio of volitans.

Other than that I'm open to any suggestions anyone would like to offer. Ideally I'd have a total of three or four tangs (including the yellow) and maybe a large angel, puffer, or trigger, though i don't know how they'd mix with the lions.

Thanks for your help.

 

[sandwi54]

What you listed should all be compatible, except for triggers. Keep in mind that once you keep lionfish/puffer/trigger, that excludes the possibility of keeping any small fish.

If you plan to keep more than one tang, make sure they are from different families and have totally different colors. Put the most peaceful one in first and then progress to the most aggressive one.

Tangs: you already have a yellow, so that excludes anything else from the zebra family, e.g., salfin, purple, etc. powder blue or powder brown look nice. i have a pair of naso tangs and i really love them, but they will outgrow your tank in a couple of years. the regular blue tang is nice too.

Angels: stick with the smaller large angels, as regular large angels get to at least 15" and will outgrow your tank. i'd suggest majestic, blue-ring (annularis), or other ones that get to 12" or less. although, if you plan on keeping triggers i wouldn't suggest a majestic angel as it is a shy fish.

Puffers: no special suggestions here except that their teeth can really scratch acrylic tanks (if you have one).

Triggers: triggers cannot be kept with lions as they love to nip lion's fins and will stress the lions out.

 

[pmrossetti]

no puffers or triggers with lions

how about a harlequin tusk , a smaller eel?

 

[namxas]

I don't know what lionfish species you're considering, but you could keep a planktonic-feeding trigger with them.

One thing I can offer IME is that most lionfish will tend to become "perchers" in the presence of fast-swimming/pacing tankmates such as tangs. I think a foxface or other rabbitfish would be a much better mix.

 

[lilyost4290]

Ok thanks for the suggestions everyone! Im not thinking on getting these:
-yellow tang
-kole tang
-gold rim tang
-majestic angel
-2 volitans

Does this sound like a good list?

 

[Gagstr]

About keeping lions triggers and puffer, many people warn against this but it is possible, I have a Volitan lion, dogface puffer, Picasso, and Niger. I would agree that it is a roll of the dice because some fish just wont have it, but if you are lucky you may get a combo that works, like mine. Just check out my video, hope it helps you,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1C94SNyJnw

 

[namxas]

If you want to give it a shot, add the tangs and the angel last. Unfortunately, you've probably already added the nastiest fish of the bunch (yellow tang).

QT is going to be your best friend.

 

[bigfish520]

My puffer is fine with my lions, also as long you have enough rockwork IMO you would be fine to add other fish from the Zebrasoma genus. I had a yellow and a sailfin in a 125g with no issues for a while before I went through a series of upgrades. I would get one of the smaller species of grouper, couple large wrasses, puffer, and 2 other tangs. Large wrasses are great, they are very colorful and add a ton of movement to the tank. Make sure you have good skimmer and keep up with water changes and you shoud be fine.