How many fish is to many in a 180gal

[Smokinfour]

Well, after i broke my 125gal tank that i was setting up (screwed up drilling for the CLS). I got a 180gal.

this is what i have right now in my 55 that will be going in the 180gal plus what i will be adding. let me know if this is to many or i can add more over time.

55gal fish

Yellow Tang
Flame Hawk
Fox Face
3 stripe Damsel
Blue Damsel

adding into tank when i get setup with the other fish at the same time. (trying to get the Tangs to get along)

Naso Tang
Blue Hippo Tang

Raccoon Butterfly (a few months down the road)

I also have 20 peperment shrimp
one Banded Coral shrimp
one Reef Lobster

I will have 200 to 250lbs live / base rock

[Loverotties]

any sump?

[motorslave]

What kind of skimmer and flow set up?

[Smokinfour]

I have a 40 gal sump right now. (might need bigger)
I am running a 4000gph Top CLS
Red Sea's Berlin Skimmer (good for 200 gal)
1000gph pump for the sump / refg.

[crvz]

I don't know if you'll have agression issues, those tangs are all different genera, but you're staring down a huge bioload. That skimmer is well over-rated by the manufacturer, and if you back the tank with that much rock you're going to be trapping a lot of wastes in the tank. While I imagine you'll be able to keep nitrates down low enough to keep the fish, you're probably going to have algae issues and corals may be out of the question. Consider ugprading the skimmer (think EuroReef or ATI) and ensuring that the aquascape in the display is open and free flowing in order to get most of the wastes down to the skimmer.

[Smokinfour]

Thanks for the Info, Looks like i am going to have to get a better Skimmer. No reason for me to even go thru plumming this one up. but for the $30 i payed for it i am sure i can find something to do with it.

I am going to try to make most of the rock free flowing. I dont like the look of rock packed up on the back wall.

Thanks,

[crvz]

What do you have for flow in the tank?

[jfurg75]

my flame hawk ate my peppermeints!! fair warning!!

[wharyat]

Yep, a new high efficiency skimmer will handle that load just fine -- as long as you have lots of flow to keep that detritus from settling.

[Smokinfour]

I am going to push 4800 GPH from my Top CLS.

[plack]

I have 8 fish in my 18o for what it's worth.

I would not get the damsels because of they are so mean. Also I don't know of ANYONE EVER saying they were glad they got and kept a damsel !!!

More than one Tang is a gamble , You may end up with ich due to stress if you try 3.

The better the skimmer sump refegium the more bio-load it can handle.

Have you thought about the cost of electricity for the closed loop?
Look at this :
http://www.riopump.net/new_products_...ario_desc.html

:-)

Paul

[OneDummHikk]

Originally Posted by plack

Have you thought about the cost of electricity for the closed loop?
Look at this :
http://www.riopump.net/new_products_...ario_desc.html

Are they available yet? March 2008 it was "in the next 90 days"
http://blog.marinedepot.com/2008/03/...-pet-expo.html

But, a search of marinedepot doesn't list the Polario as being available.

Your request polario- items 0 found.

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by Smokinfour

Thanks for the Info, Looks like i am going to have to get a better Skimmer. No reason for me to even go thru plumming this one up. but for the $30 i payed for it i am sure i can find something to do with it.

I am going to try to make most of the rock free flowing. I dont like the look of rock packed up on the back wall.

Thanks,

If you want an open scape 200-250 lbs is going to be too much in your display. I would be ready to dump some of it in your sump.

I also second going with a better skimmer. On the budget side, an Octo Pro 250 or MSX/Octo Extreme 250 would be good. Or if you want to go all out, a Reeflo 200, or ATB Medium would be awesome. With those skimmers you can easily pack 4-5 good sized fish and 20-30 fish overall, into a 180.

[Jflip2002]

I have my octo 250 pro, its awesome. I think Mikes right, with a nice skimmer, a few large, and a bunch of small fish isnt out of the question.

[Doug1]

I'm pretty sure that all 3 of those tangs are going to be problematic in time, The Naso and Hippo can both concievably exceed 12"
I know 180 seems huge but with large fish like that it can get cramped soon