Help me design my 180 gallon Tank

[gregg21]

I have a new 180 gallon tank. I want to start it up and have fish that I can keep for a long time without upgrading the size of the tank. I would like lots of color and perhaps some sort of shark. Any ideas would be helpful. Right now I don't have anything so filtration ideas would help too. I was also looking at a clown trigger.
Thanks,
Greg

 

[grouperhead]

If you want a shark, forget the trigger. I usually reccomend a minimum of 240g tank for sharks, but many people here have kept certain species in a 180. Triggerfish will pick at the cartilage of sharks, and eventually kill them. Sharks also need a fine dsb so they will not scrath their bellies. If you want a clown trigger, suitable tankmates include groupers, certain eels species, other triggers, and some wrasses. Bo

 

[jim27]

Some good sharks for a 180 are bamboo sharks and coral cat sharks. Like Grouperhead said, no triggers with shark. Some good tank mates are eels, groupers, and lionfish. You'll need great filtration. A good protien skimmer and wet/dry are a must. Canister filters are good for polishing up the water and fluidized bed filter would be helpful as well.

 

[splash1914]

If you have a grouper or a lion, it will be tough to feed your sharks... Those types of fish are very quick! Plus during the feeding frenzy (my leopard sharks go into a frenzy when the shrimp hits the water) I'd be worried if the lion and the shark would come in contact with each other... filtration: get a huge sump, powerful pump, and a good skimmer...... good luck

 

[jim27]

Originally posted by splash1914:
<strong>If you have a grouper or a lion, it will be tough to feed your sharks... Those types of fish are very quick! </strong><hr></blockquote>
You'll need a feeding stick to solve that problem
My bamboo shark came in contact with a lion a few times with no ill effects.

 

[jdl/dayton]

Incidental contact with the lion should not be a problem. Shark Skin is very tough and only an intentional head down direct strike by the lion has a chance of penetrating.