Help me stock my 180...

[Erik]

I have my 180 gallon mixed reef up and running.

Current inhabitants are:
1x Yellow-belly hippo tang
4x Blue/Green Chromis
1x Randalls Goby

That's it

Here's what I'm thinking...
I want to do a school of anthias. They are gorgeous and look great in a school. Lyretails are my favorites


I would like to do another nice big tang. I was thinking a sohal or maybe a clown tang.... Chris said the Sohal can be a pretty nasty fish.


A pair of clowns... What type, not sure. Pet Advantage has a pair of Rubrocinctus that look cool. There is always the VERY cool and larger Akindynos that come from the Barrier Reef:


What do you guys/gals think?

[joel1234567]

Couldn't possibly go wrong with a school of anthias (my favorite marine fish). That's the first thing I'd buy. And maybe double or triple the chromis.

If I had a bigger tank, I've always wanted to keep a small group of maybe 3-5 chalk bass, they are really cool fish and remind me of cichlids.

I also love the dwarf angels. I've always wanted a flame angel.

But, enough of what I like That's a good list you've got. Do you expect any problems between the two different types of tangs that you'd keep in there?

[Erik]

Yeah, I'm going to put in an order for a school of anthias as my first fish purchase.
Chalk Bass huh? It's funny because my mother-in-law had one and it was nasty! Very aggressive and she hated it. I was going to take it for my 75 one day and she called to tell me that it had jumped and met its fate. It was a pretty cool fish, but not tropical enough for us I guess.

Are flame angels reef safe? I didn't think so, but that would be an awesome addition. They are pretty aggressive as well and would likely need to be one of the last fish, along with clowns.

As for the tangs? The hippo was a pushover. I had the hippo in with an acanthurus species (not sure on the exact species) and the acanthurus bossed the hippo around. I would be apprehensive about the tang I add. I don't think the hippo will show any aggression.

[joel1234567]

I haven't ever had a chalk bass, but I've seen them and I want some! It says they are supposed to be safe in groups, but are territorial. Maybe as you point out they are too territorial?

I don't have experience specifically with flame angels other than introducing one into my old tank which was subsequently harassed to death by a clownfish pair (a well spent $75). But I'm guessing they are similar in temperament to the other dwarfs. I've had a coral beauty and now have a bicolor angel. They do nip occassionally at my soft corals but haven't caused any damage (altho the tear I got in my bubble coral a while ago was a bit suspect...). They might do more damage with their nipping with SPS, but don't know.

I ask about the tangs cuz I once had a yellow and a hippo in my 75 and they did not get along well at all. The yellow chased him constantly. I guess, as with most fish, it's probably just hit or miss.

[The Saltwater Kid]

Definitely the school of Anthias. For a tang I would probably go with a Clown Tang...they're gorgeous. I would probably finish off with a pair of those Barrier Reef clownfish (if you MUST have clownfish...as you can tell I'm not a big fan) but if it were me I'd go for another wrasse...maybe a Yellow Tail Coris (not to be confused with a Yellow Coris...the YT is a MUCH more beautiful fish).

[Erik]

I miss my clown fish. Even if the did draw blood every once in a while.

I've always had a thing for the picasso clowns but they are too pricey. Maybe if I got a good deal on some.