180g Reef Tang List?

[yagesz]

I have a 6ft tank and am debating my list of tangs I will house in this tank. I will upgrade flow as well before these go in. The plan is a same day introduction of all them. Everyone says add together.

MUST: Purple or Black Tang (I Love the Black Tang. One of my Dream Fish)
MUST: Blue Hippo or Yellowbelly (Just depends what becomes available)
High Want: Blonde Naso
High Want: Achilles (Is a dream fish but I do realize the MASS care and effort associated with this one.)
Debate: Sailfin.
Debate: Powder Blue or Brown
Debate: Kole, Chevron, Tomini

I want 4 at a minimum. I don't thing this is being overzealous with them. As you can see i broke them down. Each row is a choice. How compatible are they going to be with my main 2? I know to stay away from same genus. So no yellow or scopas with the purple or black. My tank is bright blue on the background so the darker purple and black and achilles will POP:celeb3: right on the tank itself.

I have had great luck keeping tangs before but they were in a 90 for a few years so i was PICKY.

I am mainly asking in terms of compatability with each other. I am not going to discuss upgrades of my current tank even though it is planned. I realize people are going to hate because thats all people do sometimes. I do have a QT Tanks ready for this. but 4 is the plan.

 

[pfan151]

IMO the blue, naso, and Achilles aren't suited for a 180g at least not long term. Maybe you could do one of those three, a purple or black, and a kole and chevron.

 

[scooter31707]

The Hippo, Naso, Achilles, and Sailfin all need 8ft tanks, IMO. You may be able to get away with 3 tangs with a Powder Blue being one of them in a 180. It can be hit or miss with the Powder Blue. They can be real jerks especially if they feel they don't have enough space.

 

[yagesz]

i would actually prefer a brown over powder blue. are they the same or comepletely different

 

[jda]

I have never found any of those too terribly hard or aggressive if fed well. However, nearly that whole list will get way too big for your tank if you feed them well enough... and if you don't they will be jerks.

Unfortunately, tank size does speak towards compatibility. Also, large tangs can eat coral out of nowhere. I used to take on all kinds of wayward fish and I had donated hippo, sailfin and purple tangs (several of them) who all at LPS and softies as they got too big for their tank. The guy who gave me one of the purples had a black that ate his acans but he just lived with it.

Shoot for a purple, black (both) and maybe a tomini, chocolate, BPT, atlantic blue or other bristletooth - all of these could live their whole life in your tank.

 

[kmbyrnes]

IMO:
Purple or black would be fine.
A Naso or Hippo might be OK, but why cramp him in such a short tank?
I have no experience with an Achilles, but he would have to have that 180 all to himself.
Sailfins are out - they need a lot of length.
Powder Blue over Powder Brown. Both beautiful so it would would be a tough choice.
The 3 bristletooths are good choices. .

My list:
Black, Powder Blue and Chevron. This gives a good mix of color, feeding habits and personality.

 

[snorvich]

IMO the blue, naso, and Achilles aren't suited for a 180g

This.