Stocking suggestions for a standard 180 marineland

[mattgumaer]

Hello all,

I'm in the process of upgrading from a 90 gallon tank to a Marineland 180 (6ft x 2ft x 2ft). I currently have the following fish:

2 percula clowns
1 foxface
1 solorensis wrasse
1 firefish
1 barnacle blenny
1 yellow clown goby

I'm looking for stocking suggestions. I think I would like some tangs, kole/yellow/purple maybe. Can I do all three, if so, what order or try to get them in the tank or should they all go in at the same time (might be a problem with QT with this option unless I can keep three in a 29 for a time)?

Any other suggestions? It's a mixed reef so it would have to be reasonably reef safe. Any butterflyfish (copperband?) or dwarf angels that would fit the bill?

Matt

 

[AuburnTiger1]

If you do all 3 of those tangs try to add them together, and a 29 would be a bad idea for three tangs so a good idea would be to upgrade your QT. A coral beauty or flame are probably your best bet for dwarfs. I personally love copperbands if you can get healthy eating one. I would add a goby shrimp pair they are probably one of my favorite things to see in a tank.

 

[mattgumaer]

I will probably get a shrimp goby pair or jawfish as I like having a home builder in the tank but, part of my would also like to try some sand dwelling corals which may not work so well with something that spends a lot of time digging in the sand.

In terms of a large enough QT, how big would be big enough to keep the three fish in for several weeks? I could possibly run the 90 for a while longer when I transfer things over to the 180 but I'd be worried about stirring up the sand a bunch during the transfer (I'm using new sand in the new tank), removing the sand and releasing a bunch of nasty stuff in it into the water column or leaving the sand in and medicating in a tank with sand if necessary. I'll also probably sell the 90 for a few bucks when done so I don't want to put copper in it if that will adversely effect its potential use as a reef tank by someone else down the road.

Matt

 

[Dmorty217]

I believe you will have issues with the yellow tang and foxface down the road... When they get bigger they will be a lot more aggressive toward one another

 

[mattgumaer]

Yellow and foxface will be trouble because of the similar color/shape? Who do you think will likely be the aggressor?

 

[Dmorty217]

Yellow and foxface will be trouble because of the similar color/shape? Who do you think will likely be the aggressor?

Yes color and shape... As for the aggressor that is up in the air. I had to separate my Desjardini and Foxface when they hit about 5" in my 220g. They would bite one another tails and the tang would bite down the dorsal fin of the foxface when he would flare. I had a couple of other tangs in the tank with him too, but the only zebrasoma was the problem. I assume its because of similar shapes? I'm sure when I setup the 625g I have they can be put back together but a 220g wasn't cutting it for them together. That's my experience but I figured I would share

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Blue throat trigger

 

[ca1ore]

I think I would like some tangs, kole/yellow/purple maybe. Can I do all three, if so, what order or try to get them in the tank or should they all go in at the same time (might be a problem with QT with this option unless I can keep three in a 29 for a time)?

I think this notion of simultaneous introduction is waaaaay overrated. It has all sorts of complexities, and frankly just isn't necessary. I have 6 tangs in my 265, and other than a hippo and a yellow, all the others were added subsequently, and one at a time. Make sure the new fish is fully QT'd - including eating properly - use a socialization box, and be prepared with a mirror and expect some initial disagreements.

OK, there are certain fish you probably ought not to mix, particularly those from the Acanthurus genus, but otherwise I don't think there is reason for worry.

As far as other fish are concerned, I am a big fan of pyramid butterflyfish and anthias of just about any species.

 

[DavidinGA]

I think this notion of simultaneous introduction is waaaaay overrated. It has all sorts of complexities, and frankly just isn't necessary. I have 6 tangs in my 265, and other than a hippo and a yellow, all the others were added subsequently, and one at a time. Make sure the new fish is fully QT'd - including eating properly - use a socialization box, and be prepared with a mirror and expect some initial disagreements.

OK, there are certain fish you probably ought not to mix, particularly those from the Acanthurus genus, but otherwise I don't think there is reason for worry.

As far as other fish are concerned, I am a big fan of pyramid butterflyfish and anthias of just about any species.

+1 Using a mirror is a life saver.