i want to risk adding bunch of tangs!

zheka757

Member
First of all, yes i know im most likely will be doing big, expensive mistake.
But there are some tangs that i really want to see in my tank. Im going based on 1 theory only, it is when there is more of them the less aggression it is (it worked on yellow tangs for me)

I have 8ft long 30'' deep tank, about 500gallon total system. Started tank 9 month ago. Right now i have only 1 3'' yellow tang in it.

I have 4 more tangs in my 75 gallon quarantine tank. they are:
about 4.5'' powder blue tang
about 7'' blonde naso tang
5'' purple tang
6'' hippo tang

Prior to 3 month ago all those tangs where happy in my main display tank, had to pull them out to treat them all from ich and my display tank also.
Now my tank is ich free and ready for fish to go back in with new ones that i want to buy. they are:
Achilles tang
powder brown tang
whitecheek tang
clown tang
scopas tang
sailfin tang
most of those new ones will be in sizes 2.5-4''
So in total there will be possibly 11 tangs, any ideas how i can possible have it accomplish?
 
A 500 is atypical and many of the smaller tank rules are less applicable due to the space available. I'd suggest spending some time in the large tank forum and seeing what others have had success with.
 
A powder blue,brown, whitecheek, Achilles and Clown will not work together even in a 500g tank. The powder blue, Achilles and Clown are extremely aggressive tangs
 
Sounds like a whole lot of money burning a hole in ones pocket and a lot of lack of experience and ignorance. Recipe for disaster. On a serious note I would listen to what @Dmorty217 posted. He has a very large tank with a lot of total water volume not to mention a metric ton of experience. While the tank you describe may look and seem large tangs need room by their very DNA.

Sort of gets back to just because you can doesn't mean you should. Especially since you are already saying you had a breakout of ick. In any case good luck.
 
lets see some pics of this tank! I've got a tang sanctuary near short pump mall if you want to come take a look/get some ideas shoot me a message
 
I'm not sure why you think disaster is likely. I had 7 ish tangs in my 250g with no issues. Of course, you have selected a few tangs that tend to be aggressive.
 
This is my main tank and quarantine with other 4 tangs
 

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So you're willing to risk killing fish to see if they can be housed together?

Im willing to take the risk of challenge and expense, and if something goes wrong, then there is other tanks in the house for me to put them in!

...Dear members, i knew what i was getting into prior to starting this post. Im just going based on one theory and one theory only, and based on my little personal experience with yellow tangs. when i had just 2 of them, they almost killed each other, that aggression stopped as soon as i added 4 more yellow tangs. why the same theory cant be applied to other families of tangs!?
this is why i want to rick!
 
That many tangs can work in a tank your size, just not that many of the types you chose. Seems like your mind is made up though so I’m not really sure what the point of this post is but I hope it works out for you.
 
That many tangs can work in a tank your size, just not that many of the types you chose. Seems like your mind is made up though so I’m not really sure what the point of this post is but I hope it works out for you.

to hear people out, and maybe to see other peoples experience with trying something like that! ...youtube shows it is possible
 
Im willing to take the risk of challenge and expense, and if something goes wrong, then there is other tanks in the house for me to put them in!

...Dear members, i knew what i was getting into prior to starting this post. Im just going based on one theory and one theory only, and based on my little personal experience with yellow tangs. when i had just 2 of them, they almost killed each other, that aggression stopped as soon as i added 4 more yellow tangs. why the same theory cant be applied to other families of tangs!?
this is why i want to rick!

I think your new tank is gorgeous and it sounds on paper that you have enough gallons to make your goal possibly achievable. I understand about your experience with yellow tangs in terms of the #'s impacting the aggression. One word of caution (and it probably already occurred to you) and it is more because I'd love for you to be SUCCESSFUL and this is the only thought that occurred, in the wild yellow tangs will 'school' with other yellow tangs and I presume that many or all of the other tangs school with their own 'kind'.

You successfully achieved this in your tank and they all got along. I do not have a ton of experience with all the tang species, just a lot of enthusiasm and desire for everyone to have good outcomes...my concern would be when you start mixing certain species of tangs (or even within a species), maybe some can advise you on the ones on your list to obtain, if some slight changes might help ensure your success??

We actually lucked out over 20 years ago when we had 3 tangs in an UNDERSIZED tank that normally do NOT get along (but they were still some of the more peaceful types of tangs that being said..). I definitely would not do this again as I understand now more about what just ONE tang needs in terms of swimming area, etc. and you are not talking about putting them into an UNDERSIZED tan.

I'm so glad you have a back up tank in case something goes wrong.

I wish you happy outcomes for you and your fish!

PS: LOL, I didn't realize I was posting at same time you were. The post above was typed before I saw your last reply. Here is the link to the Large Tank forum if you need it: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=252
 
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KarenLR Thank you for the kind words and sharing your experience! it was pleasure to read your comment!

..thank you members for all for your reply's!
 
selected a few tangs that tend to be aggressive.

That is more or less why along with an opening statement of: doing big, expensive mistake.

Don't get me wrong, it could work if the tank was established and enough rock work to provide cover. It would also be achievable provided the right tangs are selected. I'm not sure success will be possible based on the aggressive selection or relative open swim lanes. Compare that to say 02many's tank of 400 gallons (I think) that has more fish including tangs with no issues.

@KarenLR75 - I wouldn't say you can't do what you desire. Nor would I say just because you see it on youtube means it is possible either. What I do know though is this. Based on the image you posted above (nice tank btw and frame) you have the room and gallons. What is missing is the maturity of the tank and cover. Meaning tangs graze, they swim, and some have territories. Unless that is an earlier image you don't have that yet. Do some searches in the large tank subforum - O2's tank comes to mind of a lot of fish in a mature tank. Good example. Others members such as @Dmorty217 provided good information.

Don't throw caution into the wind and you should be fine.
 
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