Fish For New Tank???

[boibaker85]

I am starting up a new 180 gallon SW aquarium. It will be a Semi-Aggressive FOWLR tank. I am curious if fish that I have selected will co-habitate together will little to no 'blood shed' or loss of life. There will be roughly 150# of Live Rock and 150# of Live Sand.

The fish that I have selected are as follows:
2- Blue Tangs
2- Yellow Tangs
2- Humu Triggers
2- Porcupine Puffers
1- Snowflake Eel
1- Queen Angel
1- Banded Cat Shark
11 Total Swimmers

With a CUC as follows:
2- Emerald Crabs
2- Brittle Sea Stars
2- Serpent Sea Stars
4- Banded Coral Shrimp
1- Sally Lightfoot Crab
1- Pin Cushion Urchin
12 Total Cleaners

I'm not completely certain on the Queen or Cat yet, but I really like them both and would like to see them in my home. Do I have too much or too little for a 180 gallon?

I know there is no guarantee if any species will truly get along, but everything I have researched tells me I 'should' be okay. Except for maybe the Picasso Triggers and the Crabs.

The total time i believe I would use to introduce all the above to my aquarium would be over 3-6 months time.

Any suggestions or input would be would be greatly appreciated.

 

[lmforbis]

You definitely don't have too little some of these fish will get really big. I would stick with I of each tang. Blue hippos might need a bigger tank powder blue will be fine in 6' tank.
I'd only get one each of trigger and puffer. Although I have heard triggers might harass porcupine puffers by messing with their eyes.
Many saltwater fish will be very aggressive to others of the same species they will fight to the death.
Shark needs more space.
Don't know about the angel
Triggers, puffers, and snowflakes will eat shrimp and crabs. I'd go with an assortment of snails instead.
Eels are escape artists tank needs to be tightly sealed which causes problems with air exchange and low oxygen in tank.

What ever you choose quarantine them in a bare bottom tank with pvc pipes to hide in for a good month maybe not before putting them in your tank

 

[jay0705]

Agreed triggers will eat most inverts

 

[jay0705]

Iam doing a semi aggressive tank myself but smaller. My stock is as follows. 1 maroon clown, 1 dwarf lion, damsel, Valentine puffer, and harleiquin tusk

 

[mandy111]

That tank will be terribly overstocked with that list. It's far to small for 2 x each hippo and yellow. Hippos will stress very easily and " bam " problems. All the fish you mention are also high waste producers so I can see you also running into nutrient issues very quickly in such a small tank ! I suggest strongly you do a little more research and re think that list.

 

[boibaker85]

These fish selections are by no means set in stone. These are simply the fish that my family and I are very into. I am more than open to changing up a few of these fish for something else.

 

[Kristin1234]

Like it has been said, I would only keep one of each of the tangs, and the triggers and the puffers.

You have the room to add some other fish, just gotta find that perfect fit.

 

[jay0705]

Easy rule of thumb for sw is one type of fish per tank. Most don't mix well w eachother. There are exceptions such as a pair of clowns or shoal of anthias, but more times than not same species don't mix well. Different looking tangs usually wrks, but even that depends on the temperament of each fish.

 

[boibaker85]

Thanks Guys!!! I want to reiterate that this list is not a definite go out and get now list. These are simply the specimens that my 3 sons and I really like. My wife however really loves Clowns. Do you think with adequate small caves and hiding spots a pair would survive in this aquarium with a Trigger and Eel?

So from the information I've received so far the list of fish has changed to following:

2- Ocellaris Clowns????(Possibly, but probably not)
1- Yellow Tang
1- Blue Tang
1- Humu Trigger
1- Porcupine Puffer
1- Queen or Emperor Angel
1- Snowflake Eel
6-8 Swimmers

Introduced in that order, most likely 2 at a time. Will probably be both Tangs 1st, Trigger and Puffer a week later, Angel and Eel 2 weeks later)

Are there any other species that co-habitate well in a Semi-Aggressive aquarium with this list?

I'm unsure of a CUC. Can anyone with Triggers point me toward the right kind of CUC? I don't care for Snails, but it seems that may be one of the few options I have.

 

[jay0705]

Supplemental ideas lol blue spotted puffer instead of porcupine , blue throat trigger instead of humu. The eel honestly is iffy w clowns. There mainly a crustacean eater, however an easy meal is an easy meal. There also escape artists.
Your cuc issue , the eel as mentioned above lol. The blue throat is considered reef/ cuc safe

 

[Kristin1234]

No. The trigger and puffer and eel will eat the clowns and any small swimmers.

Blue jaw trigger would work.
Different puffers would work.
I've never had a eel and they freak me out soon don't know much about them.

 

[Kristin1234]

Supplemental ideas lol blue spotted puffer instead of porcupine , blue throat trigger instead of humu. The eel honestly is iffy w clowns. There mainly a crustacean eater, however an easy meal is an easy meal. There also escape artists.
Your cuc issue , the eel as mentioned above lol. The blue throat is considered reef/ cuc safe

What he said. I somehow missed this reply.

 

[jay0705]

Ha ha

 

[Kristin1234]

You could get a Fox face.
Maybe some damsels if you find some large enough ones and smaller predators ( eel ,puffer and trigger ).

Maybe a larger butterfly.
Twin spot wrasse.

Anything would have to be large enough to not fit into someone's mouth.

 

[jay0705]

Correct missy. Issue w certain triggers tho like a huma size doesn't matter if it wants to kill it, it will.

 

[boibaker85]

How about a Hardwicke Wrasse or a Pinkface Wrasse? They are both labeled as 'aggressive' and only get to 7-8" so big enough for fend off the biters, but not to big too crowd the tank.

Thoughts!?!?

 

[Kristin1234]

I'm honestly not familiar with the humu or their behavior.

But I know my lfs has several with some wrasses, damsels, puffers, and a ton of tangs in a huge 400 gallon tank. Among a bunch of other fish.

Something that works for you may not work for another tank. They are all different.

Like Jay said though, that humu can and will tear through whatever he wants.

Key will be to keep everyone well fed.

 

[jay0705]

Common misnomer, aggressive. You do NOT want aggressive fish. You want large fish. Look up undulated triggers thats an aggressive fish! Aggression only leads to trouble in the end. Lions are considered aggressive but are pussy cats if they can't eat u.

 

[JaysonCooper]

I hope I'm not to late on adding to this. You always want to add your smaller fish before your larger more aggressive fish. The small fish have enough time to acclimate to the tank and know where to hide. When you have larger fish that will eat fish and add smaller fish. Well it ends up being dinner time. know the size of how big each fish will be full grown and add it all together and make sure it doesn't add up to more than half the size of your tank.