New build. 180 need fish advice!!!

[alford35]

I'm getting ready to setup my 180 and am thinking about switching to aggressive but not sure just yet.

I have a few reef tanks and this was one before I moved so have great skimmer for some of the filtration (aqua c EV 240 and 60 gallon sump). I dont know if this will be enough for an aggressive setup or not as this is one of the needs for this post. This will obviously be my first setup like this so patience with me please lol.

The most important part of this will be the fish list. My wife doesnt quite understand how few fish of large size can be housed in such a large tank to the uneducated.

I just spent a while reading the Clown, Panther, and Mixing stickies. Very good threads!

So now to the fish list. I would like a minimum of 5 maybe 4 (if fish was worth tradeoff) pretty and personal fish. If can have some of the top fish in the tank I could possibly go with a minimum of 3 if they were all one of my favorites!

Fish I would like and I understand most if not nearly all will not be able to go into the same tank so just throwing the list out there. This list is from favorite to least favorite.

Panther Grouper
Dogface Puffer
Pollenie Grouper
Golden Heart Trigger
Clown Trigger
Harlequin Tusk
Hardwicke Wrasse
Bannana Wrasse
Pinkface Wrasse
Emperor Angel
Regal Angel
Misc. Trigger if fit the bill for a 5th fish as I like them in general
Clown Tang
Naso Tang
Convict Tang
Blonde Naso Tang
Sohal Tang
Miniatus Grouper
Angler/Frog Fish (a few different ones really)
Scorpion Fish
Blue Tang
Pinkface Wrasse


Any compatible good looking lists out of these that would make a great personable tank would be much appreciated. I'm thinking of gluing all my rock together way the fish can go all the way around the tank ensteadof just being able to swim in the front.

Oh and this is an inwall build. I've got the tank in place in the fish room and 95% clean. I have more than enough rock and sand to get started. I'm just waiting on the plumber to finish up as this is new construction. I'll add some pics of the construction although I need some updated pics since the finish work has been done.

[alford35]

Few pics!

Fish tank framing on the left wall. This is the bar room.

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/mediaroomframing.jpg

Tank framing is on the right by the guys working

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/_DSC3443.jpg

Tank framing on the left. There is also green glue accuastical compounds between 1/2" osb and the 1/2 drywall to keep the sound inside the fish room. The bar room has double layer of walls for the accoustical properties. Would have been best to have the fish room this way but really didnt have enough to do it as well since there is a theater in the addition too. The theater used most of the green glue.

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/_DSC3441.jpg

The fish room with 3 dedicated circuits and a return for the HVAC. It says very chilly even with thermostat set on 75. Its hard to see from this pic but the framing is made so the tank can slide in on the top and bottom where the plastic trim is located. There is a 1/4" space where is goes in for the top and bottom trims then comes back out to be flush with the glass. This was very tedious!

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/_DSC3444.jpg

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/039.jpg

[alford35]

Fish tank to the right of the bar

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/_DSC4718.jpg

Now to the left

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/001.jpg

I have a steel stand that the three other sides of the tank sits on for now but am thinking about putting a 1/4" sheet of wood around the perimeter since there is a very small gap where the steel meets with the wood. Will get some updated pics.

[alford35]

Is this a house or a nightclub???

LOVE those wall colors.

Its an addition by the pool. A full bar room with multiple tvs and fish tank viewing, full movie theater room, and a bathroom lol.

Thanks!

Heres the front wall behind the movie screen just since you said night club. Night clubs dont have this much sound lol. Them are 21inch drivers on the floor for reference of how large that space is.

http://http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab120/alford78/_DSC5121.jpg

[geaux xman]

WOW! Reminds me of the car stereo rooms where they test the subwoofers.

a few fish that i probably wouldnt try in a 180g:

sohal tang and clown tang (both very aggressive and gets too big and active for a 180g)

emperor (i had one and couldnt give it away fast enough after it got large and aggressive)

clown trigger can go postal too.


you didnt want to go bigger than 180g? my biggest regret was only doing a 180g.

[alford35]

WOW! Reminds me of the car stereo rooms where they test the subwoofers.

a few fish that i probably wouldnt try in a 180g:

sohal tang and clown tang (both very aggressive and gets too big and active for a 180g)

emperor (i had one and couldnt give it away fast enough after it got large and aggressive)

clown trigger can go postal too.


you didnt want to go bigger than 180g? my biggest regret was only doing a 180g.

Its way overkill for a home movie theater but I used to be into car audio so had to make overkill a mild statement. There are over 40,000 watts in my media closet for the theater.

Yeah the size of some of them is ok as I know a few places that will take large fish when they outgrow the 180 but if they fit with the other fish on my wishlist then I'd have to get them. I know that the clown trigger will most likely be a no go no matter what but had to put it on my list since its obviously a favorite fish.

I have this room for the 180 and will have a much larger tank in the main house that will be a reef so that is the only reason for it being 180. Its not in the main house and if I were to have used a larger tank I would have had to of made the addition quite a bit larger as this fish room is perfect for a 180, sump, fuge, water stations, and QT tanks.

[geaux xman]

I say just pick out 4-5 fish that really excites you and go for it. I'm very open minded and will overstock myself.

The emp if its the only angelfish, then you would be okay. It could be a PITA with other angels. I couldnt give away mines fast enough to my buddy.

I think everything fish on your list is free game, I would just stay away from the Sohal.

[alford35]

I say just pick out 4-5 fish that really excites you and go for it. I'm very open minded and will overstock myself.

The emp if its the only angelfish, then you would be okay. It could be a PITA with other angels. I couldnt give away mines fast enough to my buddy.

I think everything fish on your list is free game, I would just stay away from the Sohal.

So you think Panther Grouper, Dogface Puffer, Golden Heart Trigger, Harlequin Tusk, and either a wrasse or Regal/Emp will not be to much and get along together?

If so what order would you go? And what about the 240ev skimmer. What else if any kind of filtration will be needed?

[clowntriggerfis]

If you want to keep a regal with agressive fish your best chance is to introduce it first but even then the regal could get picked on a lot as some dont get as tough as others. Also I think three made 4(but you would be serously pushing) it would be max for fish that get over 8inches and arent sedentary for a standard 180, this is just a general statement there are exeptions. IMO the following fish on your list get to big for your tank: panther grouper, pollenie Grouper, clown trigger(might be ok if it had the tank to its self and a proper scape), emperor angel, naso tang, blonde naso tang, sohal tang, clown tang. Then angler in general need a species tank and scorps will get picked on with tank mates like what you want.

[alford35]

If you want to keep a regal with agressive fish your best chance is to introduce it first but even then the regal could get picked on a lot as some dont get as tough as others. Also I think three made 4(but you would be serously pushing) it would be max for fish that get over 8inches and arent sedentary for a standard 180, this is just a general statement there are exeptions. IMO the following fish on your list get to big for your tank: panther grouper, pollenie Grouper, clown trigger(might be ok if it had the tank to its self and a proper scape), emperor angel, naso tang, blonde naso tang, sohal tang, clown tang. Then angler in general need a species tank and scorps will get picked on with tank mates like what you want.

Well, I deff dont have to have the regal. Its just one of the many that I like. If its not going to have a chance then I might as well take it from the list now, along with the clown trigger since I will want more than one big fish and only time will tell until the clown trigger goes nuts.

And for the groupers, I only want one in the tank so what might be the best to get along with the rest of the tankmates>

So, an angler or scorp just wouldnt be able to make it in a tank with larger aggressive fish? I have thought about a reef with just an angler many times like 20-30 gallon just for it. Thats not a big deal if that is the case.

[NiTr0x911]

Out of all the fish on your list,the only one I have is an Australian Harlequin Tusk.I highly reccomend them.Colorful with a ton of personality.Their only downside is they will attack your cleanup crew.I have the same size tank as your doing.My fish include:

8" Blue Face Angel (Boss of the Tank)
6" Aussie Tusk
6" Purple Tang
6" Foxface
3" Flame Angel
3" Mystery Wrasse

They all get along great(Blue Face gets an attitude now and then)I love the color combo of these fish.

[deepblue68]

how about dog face puffer, tusk, niger trigger and regal tang. ik niger wasn't on list but they look great with streamers.

[alford35]

how about dog face puffer, tusk, niger trigger and regal tang. ik niger wasn't on list but they look great with streamers.


Yeah I like nigers but not for this tank as I've kept them and blue throats in reefs without too much issue. I've had two and they both seemed quite alike. Gave one away when moved and one went carpet surfing for some reason possibly stray current that I later felt once it was stronger. It almost felt like an electric fence like pulse againt my lip of all things on the edge of the acrylic sump.

What about the maniatis grouper, dog face, H tusk, golden heart trigger, and a bannana wrasse? Will the H tusk and any of the wrasses I have listed get along?

[alford35]

I've been looking at the mp40 and 60. Will I need two of either of these and if so how easy are they to setup wirelessly with one another. I've seen the videos of how easy one will make a great wave but havent seen too much on two of them.

Then as far as filtration. Just use my skimmer (EV 240) and filter socks. Oh and I have been using mag pumps for bother skimmer and return. I've noticed some have said they are very efficient? Other options for return as I already have both and the mag on the skimmer is dialed in great so dont really want to upset that?

[deepblue68]

i wouldnt do gold heart gets way to big and i woundnt do two wrasses. it could work but in long run i think there will be aggression. the grouper is also a huge fish but really beautiful! how about picasso (humu humu) trigger,clown tang,foxface and one wrasse. that should be more then enough for a 180 and throw in some talbot damsels for color.

[alford35]

i wouldnt do gold heart gets way to big and i woundnt do two wrasses. it could work but in long run i think there will be aggression. the grouper is also a huge fish but really beautiful! how about picasso (humu humu) trigger,clown tang,foxface and one wrasse. that should be more then enough for a 180 and throw in some talbot damsels for color.

I do love the colors of the clown tang but others have said it too is too large. What is the reason for it being listed as expert on LA?

[nanoreefer1000]

I'm getting ready to setup my 180 and am thinking about switching to aggressive but not sure just yet.

I have a few reef tanks and this was one before I moved so have great skimmer for some of the filtration (aqua c EV 240 and 60 gallon sump). I dont know if this will be enough for an aggressive setup or not as this is one of the needs for this post. This will obviously be my first setup like this so patience with me please lol.

The most important part of this will be the fish list. My wife doesnt quite understand how few fish of large size can be housed in such a large tank to the uneducated.

I just spent a while reading the Clown, Panther, and Mixing stickies. Very good threads!

So now to the fish list. I would like a minimum of 5 maybe 4 (if fish was worth tradeoff) pretty and personal fish. If can have some of the top fish in the tank I could possibly go with a minimum of 3 if they were all one of my favorites!

Fish I would like and I understand most if not nearly all will not be able to go into the same tank so just throwing the list out there. This list is from favorite to least favorite.

Panther Grouper
Dogface Puffer
Pollenie Grouper
Golden Heart Trigger
Clown Trigger
Harlequin Tusk
Hardwicke Wrasse
Bannana Wrasse
Pinkface Wrasse
Emperor Angel
Regal Angel
Misc. Trigger if fit the bill for a 5th fish as I like them in general
Clown Tang
Naso Tang
Convict Tang
Blonde Naso Tang
Sohal Tang
Miniatus Grouper
Angler/Frog Fish (a few different ones really)
Scorpion Fish
Blue Tang
Pinkface Wrasse


Any compatible good looking lists out of these that would make a great personable tank would be much appreciated. I'm thinking of gluing all my rock together way the fish can go all the way around the tank ensteadof just being able to swim in the front.

Oh and this is an inwall build. I've got the tank in place in the fish room and 95% clean. I have more than enough rock and sand to get started. I'm just waiting on the plumber to finish up as this is new construction. I'll add some pics of the construction although I need some updated pics since the finish work has been done.

Panther Grouper- To Big
Dogface Puffer- Good, not compatible with some fish
Pollenie Grouper- To Big
Golden Heart Trigger- I don't know
Clown Trigger- Aggressive, not compatible with some fish
Harlequin Tusk- Good, might get bullied
Hardwicke Wrasse- Good
Bannana Wrasse- Good
Pinkface Wrasse- Good
Emperor Angel- To Big
Regal Angel- Hard to get eating, might get bullied
Misc. Trigger if fit the bill for a 5th fish as I like them in general- Depends
Clown Tang- To Big
Naso Tang- To Big
Convict Tang- I don't know how aggressive, good on size
Blonde Naso Tang- To big
Sohal Tang- To big
Miniatus Grouper- Good
Angler/Frog Fish (a few different ones really)- Won't do well with large, fast, and aggressive fish
Scorpion Fish- Same as Angler/Frogfish
Blue Tang- Borderline in terms of size, might get bullied
Pinkface Wrasse- Good

[deepblue68]

I do love the colors of the clown tang but others have said it too is too large. What is the reason for it being listed as expert on LA?

they need good water quality and flow. they also need plenty of swimming room. might not be a great choice for 180. how about coral beauty,a nice show size one or a purple tang or kole tang instead?