Another Tang Question...

yachtdr22

New member
Greetings all...

I have been reading and reading about tang compatibility and i think i am more confused now than ever, so I submit the question....
I look at the pics of tanks and see so many "Tang" violations that I dont know what to think?

I am moving up to a 375 (96x30x30) Mixed reef.
I am trying to stock said tank with nice fishies! easy? so I thought...
Since we know that happy, unstressed fish usually stay healthy.
I would like a happy tank.... is that possible?

Current guys moving into the 375...
Powder Blue Tang (Acanthurus leucosternon)
Kole Yellow Eye Tang (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) X 2
Flame Hawkfish (Neocirrhitus armatus)
Longnose Hawkfish (Oxycirrhites typus)
Court Jester Goby (Amblygobius rainfordi)
Spotted Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera)
Kaudern's Cardinal (Pterapogon kauderni)
Firefish, Purple (Nemateleotris decora)
Sailfin/Algae Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
Carberryi Anthias (Nemanthias carberryi) X 2
Resplendent Anthias (Pseudanthias pulcherrimus)
Marine Beta (Calloplesiops altivelis)
Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse (Paracheilinus carpenteri)
Clams & Shrimp


I have a 75gal FOLR these guys will move into the 125;
Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum)
Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)
Flame Angelfish (Centropyge loricula)
Coral Beauty Angelfish (Centropyge bispinosa)

After some research I should move the Sailfin into the 375?

What other Tang options are available? (or any other cool fish?)

Feedback? thoughts? comments?
 
Yes you should move the sailfin into the 375, a 125 is not big enough for him. The yellow is fine in the 125.

Have you considered an achilles tang, IMO the nicest tang.
 
If it were me; I'd move the Sailfin, and probably the Flame and/or CB into the 375. If you're sure they aren't coral nippers. Shift the cardinals, blenny, firefish, goby into the 125 to offset the bioload if you want. Those fish will look super tiny in a 375 anyway.

The thing with tang aggression is it's going to happen to one degree or another anytime you mix more than one in any sized tank. The occasional fighting you can live with. It's when one goes into a homicidal rage... then you've got a problem.
 
Yes you should move the sailfin into the 375, a 125 is not big enough for him. The yellow is fine in the 125.

Have you considered an achilles tang, IMO the nicest tang.

I have looked at all of the tangs and have become more confused....

Yes, I think an Achilles would be a beautiful addition...
If he fits the profile! :)

I will move the Sailfin into the 375 if that is the best thing for him.
I would like to add to either tank, A hippo and a Purple...

thanks for your input....
 
The hippo would be too big for the 125 and would fit nicely into the 375. A purple would be fine in either tank, or one in each. I have a purple in a 150 along with a kole.

I have seen in a few tanks an achilles with a purple with out any problems. If you were going to add these two, I would suggest adding them at the same time. The hippo I would add before the other two as they are normally very peaceful
 
You would be fine with both the hippo and purple IMO in the 375 and keep the yellow in the 125. Since you have the 125 already try to add all tangs at the same time to the 375. The purple and sailfin might tussle a little but in a tank that big I highly doubt you would have a problem. I have no problem with my purple and sailfin in a 180.
 
The hippo would be too big for the 125 and would fit nicely into the 375. A purple would be fine in either tank, or one in each. I have a purple in a 150 along with a kole.

I have seen in a few tanks an achilles with a purple with out any problems. If you were going to add these two, I would suggest adding them at the same time. The hippo I would add before the other two as they are normally very peaceful

Beat me to it :)
 
Adding an Achilles with the Powder Blue you already have could be an issue. If you want to go that route an acclimation box might be a good choice to determine how much grief the Powder Blue intends to cause.

In my 400g (96x33x29) I have 9 Yellows, 2 Blue, 1 Purple, 2 Chevron and an Achilles. They were all added at different times. The only minor squabbling was when I added new smaller yellow tangs to the med/lrg yellow tangs that I had already had for several years.

In the bigger tanks mixing in the tangs doesn't seem to cause as many issues as in the smaller system. There is more room so they are not on top of each other.

Dave B
 
Thank you all for your input....
So, I understand the importance of the sequence of the fish additions...
BUT...How do you properly quarantine them and then add them to the big tank together? cant Q them together? or can I and add them in the same order?

(Once I have all of the particulars on the new system I will post a build thread..)

My plan is going to start with a sterile tank.. Dry rock and Tropic Eden Reeflakes and let it cycle... while it is cycling I was going to start the quarantine process..
How can I safely do that?

Thanks again for all of the input everyone! :-)
 
How many tanks do you have that you can use for QT and how big are they? Depending on the tank size, you can QT multiple fish at the same time in the same tank, it will just depend on if the fish will get along. Give a few more details on what you have and I am sure someone will guide you in the right direction
 
If you cant QT all the tangs at the same time, you will probably have to use an acclimation box when adding them to the DT to allow them to get comfortable
 
Put all of the tangs in the 375, you will be fine. I have 5 tangs in my 220g and I know another fellow reefer (Ridem32) who has 6 tangs in a 280 without issue and he has 2 PBT and 3 AT along with a black hybrid. I have a Desjaradini sailfin,orange shoulder,maculiceps, Achilles,and a Tomini.
 
If it were me; I'd move the Sailfin, and probably the Flame and/or CB into the 375. If you're sure they aren't coral nippers. Shift the cardinals, blenny, firefish, goby into the 125 to offset the bioload if you want. Those fish will look super tiny in a 375 anyway.

The thing with tang aggression is it's going to happen to one degree or another anytime you mix more than one in any sized tank. The occasional fighting you can live with. It's when one goes into a homicidal rage... then you've got a problem.

Thanks Humble,
for some strange reason, I never considered not moving all of the fish out of the 125... the flame & CB are curently in the 75 FOLR, I dont know if they will be nippers or not? was not sure i wanted to find out (the hard way)

In reading some of the forms of people who have had tangs together for a year or 2 and then one day they went spazo? but there are so many contributing factors....
 
Adding an Achilles with the Powder Blue you already have could be an issue. If you want to go that route an acclimation box might be a good choice to determine how much grief the Powder Blue intends to cause.

In my 400g (96x33x29) I have 9 Yellows, 2 Blue, 1 Purple, 2 Chevron and an Achilles. They were all added at different times. The only minor squabbling was when I added new smaller yellow tangs to the med/lrg yellow tangs that I had already had for several years.

In the bigger tanks mixing in the tangs doesn't seem to cause as many issues as in the smaller system. There is more room so they are not on top of each other.

Dave B

Thanks Dave,

I never really looked a a blue... pretty...

Once I figure out who will go where... we will work on the sequencing...
 
How many tanks do you have that you can use for QT and how big are they? Depending on the tank size, you can QT multiple fish at the same time in the same tank, it will just depend on if the fish will get along. Give a few more details on what you have and I am sure someone will guide you in the right direction

QT tank(s)
Researching my top off container options has lead me to think about 2) regular 55 gal glass tanks and build a rack so they are on top of each other.
I can use those for QT and then top off after...

I am going to spend some time with my sweetheart and look at some of the suggestions..
It looks like my options are in addition to current swimmers....

achilles
Hippo
Purple
Blue
Naso


Any others I should scope out before the draft process??

what other fish in general go well with the tangs?
I was thinking about a bunch? (school) of Anthas?

Mucho thanks again guys... this is a big help... I did not think that selecting the new family would be this nerve racking....

SMILE!
Drew :beer:
 
When you say blue, are you talking about the Atlantic blue tang?
Another beautiful tang when small is the chevron, but they get dull when older.

Anthias are beautiful but you have to feed them very often, minimum 2x a day but should be 3-5x a day

You should be fine for QT, probably have 2 tangs in each at the same time. Just make sure you pick the right 2, if it were me I would do the Achilles with the hippo, and the purple with the Naso
 
When you say blue, are you talking about the Atlantic blue tang?
Another beautiful tang when small is the chevron, but they get dull when older.

Anthias are beautiful but you have to feed them very often, minimum 2x a day but should be 3-5x a day

You should be fine for QT, probably have 2 tangs in each at the same time. Just make sure you pick the right 2, if it were me I would do the Achilles with the hippo, and the purple with the Naso

Silly me again... nothing says i have to move anyone out of the 125.. everyone is already chummy.... that leaves the 375 fairly open...

Yes, Blue Atlantic Tang... says peaceful... but yellows not so much?

i have 2 Carberryi Anthias & 1 Resplendent and they are very plump!
I actually only found out reciently that most people dont feed daily... i feed 2x a day! no wonder my food bill is so high! and the fish so chubby!
 
They are both beautiful fish but are very aggressive especially with other tangs, I would say that you should skip those two for the sake of the other 5 tangs that you want
 
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