How many tangs, 125g?

[TampaReefer79]

Those tanks you see with several tangs are usually 300 gallons or more. A naso tang shouldn't be kept in anything less than 8' long.

I agree about the naso...8' or better! I'd just like to add that the OP 'may' have seen some smaller tanks with 15 tangs in it...something like a 90 or whatever...but that doesn't mean the tank was successful. A lot of people take a pic of the tank the day they add 47 fish and post it saying they are 'successful'. Fast forward 6 months and they post another FTS and you see completely different fish in the tank. There's a reason for this. The original lineup didn't work, fish died, fish killed each other, and they have to restock it ever couple weeks. This is not good husbandry. Long story short, the tanks the OP sees that are crammed with tangs are not successful LONG term. Isn't that what we are all striving for? Short term success is useless when dealing with living things.

 

[prodman]

You have too many fish in the tank already. There is no doubt that you will get someone to post that your stocking is "just fine". It isn't.

I agree. You should be thinking about which fish to remove not add.

 

[discocarp]

You already have more tangs in your 125g than I have in my 265g. I agree with everyone who says you are already overstocked on big fish. A 125g just isn't a very big tank when we're talking tangs imo.

 

[rholguin]

I agree with everybody to small of a tank with to many big fish.

 

[DrBegalke]

3 tangs.

 

[KashAlp]

ok guys, thx for your help. I will settle for what tangs i have but i am still goin to add more small fish. I have since added 3 sunburts anthias and 1 sleeper gold head goby. I am very happy with the additions and my tank really looks alive now. I would however like to add a couple small chromis as well. i think after that i will be satisfied.

The tank does not look crowded, there is no fighting or chasing going on and the tangs swim freely about randomly. not in specific pattern.

 

[am944]

stripestheel --> that video was sweet! Your tank setup looks SUPER clean! +1!

 

[WETFISH]

I have 4 tangs in my 180g...2 yellow,1 sailfin,1 clown tang.Also 2 maroon clowns and 1 damsel....7 fish total.When I got them 4-5 years ago, they were all small.Now that they have all grown....my tank is full ...even maybe on the small side.If you add fish that swim in the same water level as the tangs ,the other fish will not do well.My damsel,for instance stays toward the bottom and in /out of the rocks...consider fish that don't swim in the water column ...you'll have better luck and the fish will be a lot happier/healthier.

 

[nikon187]

Watch the sunburst anthias as they are a single anthias and not a group swimmer, like almost all other anthias. Most have trouble adding more than one to a tank

 

[Montireef]

How many tangs, 125g?

I have 3 flavescens and 1 scopas thriving in a 130 gal reef. They are happy well fed fish that seldom fight or swim with fixed patterns.

I think it depends on many factors, not just the system volume; for me width and rock array are important facts that should not ignore.

 

[TampaReefer79]

I have 3 flavescens and 1 scopas thriving in a 130 gal reef. They are happy well fed fish that seldom fight or swim with fixed patterns.

I think it depends on many factors, not just the system volume; for me width and rock array are important facts that should not ignore.

I'm willing to bet a dollar to a donut that the 3 yellows in a 130 won't last LONG term. What is the footprint and how long have they been in there?

 

[Montireef]

How many tangs, 125g?

Footprint is 130 cm x 70 cm. They are in since february, all four eating everthing and no signs of stress at all.

I swear they look happy, they even dont get intimidate when I dip my arm and come nip my fingers

 

[sedor]

IMO, tangs shouldn't even be kept in tanks smaller than a 75 or 90 gallon tank. A 125 is NOT much bigger than a 75 or 90. If you think about it that way, 3 tangs are already a lot for a standard 125.

I disagree, the jump from a 75 or a 90 to a 125 is much different, its a matter of an additional 2 feet, which in terms of keeping tangs makes a huge difference. That being said, ya unfortunately I think 3 is the max. If you got rid of the two foxfaces then maybe you could try for one more... Maybe you could trade your common yellow and blues out for something you like a little more?

 

[Montireef]

I certainly agree with Sedor, I would trade those two foxfaces. I think there is room for 4 or even 5 small tangs, scopas or flavescens por example. I wouldn't dare try to keep big ones as nasos o sailfins.

 

[mthomp]

5. My tangs are well fed, i love watching them eat, and have shown very signifigant growth in the time ive had them. Besides my one poor blond naso 3" that refused to eat and died after starving about 2 weeks after i got him. I tried.. i really did. even have a few forum posts on here asking for help. RIP.. he was one of my fav's, just didnt like being caught and put in a tank i guess.


Also id like to add that although i personally am pretty new to the hobby but i have done alot of homework and research. Alsoi have 2 very experianced friends that i can seek help from on a day to day basis that live literally next door.

your blonde naso died because it was stressed out from being put in a already crowded enviroment. im going to guess that over the next few weeks/months almost all your tangs will be dead.

 

[gweston]

I have a 29g tank now but working on a 6' 125gal.
Current stock.. which I suspect is maxed out:

2 Occelaris
1 Midas Blenny
1 6-line Wrasse

For the 125 long I may add (when tank is appropriately mature):

2 Tang (maybe a powder blue and a yellow)
1 Trigger (maybe a bluethroat or sargassum)

I suspect I may be capping it population wise. My alternative is to skip the tangs and trigger, and instead go for an Anthias and/or Wrasse tank.

 

[BrianD]

ok guys, thx for your help. I will settle for what tangs i have but i am still goin to add more small fish. I have since added 3 sunburts anthias and 1 sleeper gold head goby. I am very happy with the additions and my tank really looks alive now. I would however like to add a couple small chromis as well. i think after that i will be satisfied.

The tank does not look crowded, there is no fighting or chasing going on and the tangs swim freely about randomly. not in specific pattern.

I am curious. You were advised by multiple aquarists that you were already overstocked, yet you added more fish. I am at a loss to understand why you would do this.

 

[BrianD]

your blonde naso died because it was stressed out from being put in a already crowded enviroment. im going to guess that over the next few weeks/months almost all your tangs will be dead.

Unfortunately, that is the pattern I have seen repeated countless times.

 

[BrianD]

Footprint is 130 cm x 70 cm. They are in since february, all four eating everthing and no signs of stress at all.

I swear they look happy, they even dont get intimidate when I dip my arm and come nip my fingers

How does a fish look "happy"?

Your tank has been set up since February, and you already have 4 tangs in it?

Your tank isn't evenly remotely close to be "settled in", and the conditions you see now will probably change drastically over the next weeks/months.

 

[BrianD]

I certainly agree with Sedor, I would trade those two foxfaces. I think there is room for 4 or even 5 small tangs, scopas or flavescens por example. I wouldn't dare try to keep big ones as nasos o sailfins.

On what do you base your opinion that 5 tangs are "ok" in the 125?