180G Bow front stocking list

[Royalreef22]

Fish list for my 180G. Dimensions are 6' long, 24" in the center and 18" on the end and 25" deep. 100LB of live rock but will likely get more. All fish listed meet the minimum tank requirements on live aquaria and marine fishes book.

Small fish to purchase:
3 or 4 Lyretail Anthia
4 ish ORA Banggai
1 Bicolor blenny
1 Midas Blenny
1 or 2 Sleeper goby
1 ORA Orchid Dottyback
1 Yellow Coris wrasse- $25
1 Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse
1 Male Carpenters flasher Wrasse
1 Female Exquisite Fairy Wrasse

Larger fish to purchase:
1 Blue tang- $50
1 Naso tang- $60
Tomini, kole, or lavender -$50

Already have:
Sailfin 4ish inches
2 Onyx Clownfish 3"
Melanurus wrasse 4"
Royal Gramma 2"
Coral Beauty 2 1/2"

Not sure if I can do one or two of these:
Regal Angel (really want one)
Singapore angel (just pretty)
Flame angel (very pretty)
Copperband butterfly (pretty and has a use in possibly eating pest)
Raccoon butterfly (just pretty
Longlose butterfly (nemo and pretty)
Marine Betta (cool fish!)
Moorish idol (very pretty)
Niger trigger (triggers r cool)

I am doing LPS, Zoas and RBTA

What do people think? My skimmer can definitely handle this many fish but not sure if territory will be an issue.

Thanks everyone and look forward to responses!

 

[BackToTheReef]

There's going to be a lot of big fish in a relatively tight space. Might want to back down on a couple of the bigger guys.

 

[Royalreef22]

There's going to be a lot of big fish in a relatively tight space. Might want to back down on a couple of the bigger guys.

Like? Just to clarify I am not doing ALL the ones in the last list

 

[BackToTheReef]

Like? Just to clarify I am not doing ALL the ones in the last list

Roger that, just looking at a couple on the top portions of the list. Some of those get considerable in length and body size.

 

[Royalreef22]

Roger that, just looking at a couple on the top portions of the list. Some of those get considerable in length and body size.

I dont want to but I COULD cut the naso :/

 

[BackToTheReef]

I dont want to but I COULD cut the naso :/

I love Naso's (and LOTS of fish in a tank) but with a sailfin already, the Naso, and the Hippo that is a bunch of good sized fish in a relatively small space with the others tossed in as well. Maybe "trade" the Naso for a couple of the mid sized fish on your maybe list.

 

[nereefpat]

I dont want to but I COULD cut the naso :/

I would cut the Naso, whichever one it is.

The racoon butterfly will eat your corals.

 

[Royalreef22]

I love Naso's (and LOTS of fish in a tank) but with a sailfin already, the Naso, and the Hippo that is a bunch of good sized fish in a relatively small space with the others tossed in as well. Maybe "trade" the Naso for a couple of the mid sized fish on your maybe list.

By medium fish do u mean some under the small fish category?

 

[Royalreef22]

Could I replace the naso with another tang?

 

[BackToTheReef]

Not sure if I can do one or two of these:
Regal Angel (really want one)
Singapore angel (just pretty)
Flame angel (very pretty)
Copperband butterfly (pretty and has a use in possibly eating pest)
Raccoon butterfly (just pretty
Longlose butterfly (nemo and pretty)
Marine Betta (cool fish!)
Moorish idol (very pretty)
Niger trigger (triggers r cool)

By medium fish do u mean some under the small fish category?

I was thinking the Flame (as long as no issues with the existing coral beauty), Copperband, trigger, etc. Medium sized being "medium" in relation to the size of a Naso

 

[Royalreef22]

I was thinking the Flame (as long as no issues with the existing coral beauty), Copperband, trigger, etc. Medium sized being "medium" in relation to the size of a Naso

So don't do ANY in the last list?

 

[Royalreef22]

Idk if anyone will respond to this but could I squeeze a yellow tang in there?

 

[Brooke24]

Idk if anyone will respond to this but could I squeeze a yellow tang in there?

No

 

[Zionas]

Too many big fish for a 180.

Sailfin- Will have to be rehomed.

Naso- Too big for your tank.

Kole, Tomini, Lavender- Great.

Blue Tang- Could be ok for a 180 though some say an 8’ 240 is better. Ask for more opinions.

Regal Angel- Get a Red Sea one. Not sure how safe it is with corals but people have had success. Not the easiest to keep.

Copperband Butterfly- Make sure it’s healthy and eating. If you see any signs of a damaged beak pass, it’s a goner. Not the easiest to keep.

Singapore Angel- Not sure if reef safe. Get a CB one from Poma Labs if you really want one.

Flame Angel- Great.

Raccoon Butterfly- Don’t think they’re reef safe.

Yellow Longnose Butterfly- Reportedly easier to keep than the Copperband though I still wouldn’t say easy. Could be reef safe.


Marine Betta- Would be awesome if you can get one. If it’s eating at least frozen at the LFS, even better. Needs caves.

Moorish Idol- Not sure if reef safe, and very poor track record in captivity.

Niger Trigger- Can get to 12”, maybe a bit more. Don’t think they’re reef safe either.


IMO you’re capped at 5 large fish in a 6’ 180.

If I were you I’d do:

1 Zebrasoma Tang (Purple, Scopas, Captive Bred Yellow- Hawaii ban, Gem, Black Long Nose)

1 Kole / Tomini / Lavender Tang

1 Marine Betta

And a pair of Bellus, Spotbreast, or Watanabei Angels.


Or maybe replace 1 Swallowtail Angel with a Yellow Pyramid / Zoster Butterfly or the Copperband / Yellow Longnose, or even the Regal Angel. Just my thoughts.


If you want a Trigger I’d only consider a Blue Throat for a 180 reef, Crosshatch no longer available since Hawaii ban.