fish for my 180 cube???

[sabodish]

All..due to the tornadoes in north caraolina 1.5 weeks ago, i lost all 8 of my fish in my cube (2 percs, regal tang, foxface, 2 anthias, tomini tang and CBB). power was out for 54 hours, fish kicked out in first 24 with no water moving.

so..now im in the process of putting together a list of new fish. i also lost about 75% of my corals, but plan on going back sps heavy again with some LPS (acans, favias). what do you all recommend for a fish stock list? i would like an angel or some type, but i feel im limited to a dwarf angel due to swimming room, tank is 36x36x30.

thanks
mike

 

[dzfish17]

The first thing you need to do is get a good generator so this doesnt happen again. Im sorry but this could have been prevented. A small generator can keep your tank and household appliances running in an emergency.

 

[sabodish]

i agree 1000%...had that battle with the wife five years ago when i wanted to put a whole house generator in when it was built. she was wishing we had it 1.5 weeks ago!

 

[MrTuskfish]

I feel for you, I lost everything in Katrina. You've just experience the biggest problem with cube (and other non-rectangular tanks); the inadequate surface to volume ratio, making gas exchange difficult. I've always had a generator, but a couple years ago we lost power in the winter. I started my generator, it only takes care of fish & fridge, but forgot about my QT. The temp was WAY down, but fish dis fine. If you can't get a generator now; just a couple of battery powered air pumps should provide enough surface agitation to keep stuff alive. 54 hours isn't long. there is an invisible problem with many tanks when power goes off; there is no flow and aerobic bacteria can die off without water flow. These normally useless battery pumps can take care of that too; just place the airstones at the bottom, near the base of your LR. Keep the pumps above water level. they make great siphons and don't work as hard that way.
On your main question: I think you're right, stick to a dwarf angel. I'd avoid tangs; 36'' isn't nearly enough swimming room. They are hardy and may live, but never really thrive.

 

[snorvich]

I feel for you, I lost everything in Katrina. You've just experience the biggest problem with cube (and other non-rectangular tanks); the inadequate surface to volume ratio, making gas exchange difficult. I've always had a generator, but a couple years ago we lost power in the winter. I started my generator, it only takes care of fish & fridge, but forgot about my QT. The temp was WAY down, but fish dis fine. If you can't get a generator now; just a couple of battery powered air pumps should provide enough surface agitation to keep stuff alive. 54 hours isn't long. there is an invisible problem with many tanks when power goes off; there is no flow and aerobic bacteria can die off without water flow. These normally useless battery pumps can take care of that too; just place the airstones at the bottom, near the base of your LR. Keep the pumps above water level. they make great siphons and don't work as hard that way.
On your main question: I think you're right, stick to a dwarf angel. I'd avoid tangs; 36'' isn't nearly enough swimming room. They are hardy and may live, but never really thrive.

What he said. I have a whole house generator for pond, multiple fish tanks, refrigerators, freezers, and well (so we can use the bathrooms). I don't run the lights in the tanks off it but could if desired.

 

[sabodish]

yeah..i understand the surface area problem...i even agitated the water for 15 minutes every hour i was awake to help with the gas exchange, but the 6 hours i was actually asleep was just enough to knock them all out. i will be investing in a battery powered pump for sure, and possibly a generator...now, to explain to the wife that the generator is for the tank and NOT the fridge!..haha

 

[MrTuskfish]

yeah..i understand the surface area problem...i even agitated the water for 15 minutes every hour i was awake to help with the gas exchange, but the 6 hours i was actually asleep was just enough to knock them all out. i will be investing in a battery powered pump for sure, and possibly a generator...now, to explain to the wife that the generator is for the tank and NOT the fridge!..haha

I think it was Clint Eastwood who said in a move "A man's gotta know his priorities".

 

[snorvich]

I think it was Clint Eastwood who said in a move "A man's gotta know his priorities".

And you are still single????

 

[NatureNerd]

Generator is the best solution but, for those of us who can't convince our spouses, a UPS and a Koralia Nano goes a long way. 3.5W power consumption gives me good circulation, 260 gph, for 6 hours off my UPS. In that time, I can bring in a car battery from the garage to power one of my Tunze's which will last a day.

Total cost under $200, piece of mind... priceless. Small footprint and low maitenance too. I think even a smaller powerhead would keep things alive for a long time. Heaters then become the issue.

Works great for the short, 1 hour, power failures I have had so far.

 

[Bax]

I'm really sorry to hear of your losses!

Back to your original question, in a cube I'd stick with another tomini tang and another compatible tang that is known as a good grazer not a flashy swimmer, or stick with the fox face. A tenetti comes to mind as I just post about one elsewhere and mine was a great grazer but too similar in color to the tomini IMO. I think my fox out eats tangs three to one and he eats bubble algae! So for grazers I think you aready had two of your best choices. I think the regal is too big for cube.

On angels, out side of a regal, majestic, or a blue line and maybe a few others, I think you are right dwarfs are best. A trio of flames is always a great choice. Potters like it a bit cool so I've stayed away as tempted as I am. I'm just now attempting to pair two coral beauties. A pair a CBs and a pair of flames is not out of the questin in a 180 cube if theres a spread out rock structure.

Another CBB, a long nose or a heniocus maybe.

More anthias for sure and some smaller fish that hug the rocks like dottybacks, azure dansels, chalk bass, blenssies and such would fill out the tank nicely.

... Oh! And get a generator!!!