Mixing Tangs in a tank

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Phastroh

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I have seen these fish all in the same tank time and time again but now I am worried for some reason.

Blue Hippo
Powder Blue
Yellow
Leuitenant
Blonde Naso
Naso

I was also going to put in an Angel fish one day but wanted to do that last.

I figure I may hear both sides of the story so let me have it.
 
Well the rule of thumb is if you're going to mix tangs to pick ones that are different shapes and sizes, which you have done. What other fish are you wanting to keep? 6 tangs in a 220 is a lot in my opinion.
 
The Naso's and hippo get quite large. I know you're probably thinking a 220 is huge compared to other hobbyists, but that isn't even a fraction of the ocean. Powder blues also tend to get real mean, especially in crowded tanks, which yours will be with all that fish mass.

But again, you will do what you please regardless of what you're told. That cute 3 inch tang won't stay that way for long. Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide. It's hard to not want to stuff all those pretty fish in a tank, isn't it?
 
lilalove said:
The Naso's and hippo get quite large. I know you're probably thinking a 220 is huge compared to other hobbyists, but that isn't even a fraction of the ocean. Powder blues also tend to get real mean, especially in crowded tanks, which yours will be with all that fish mass.

But again, you will do what you please regardless of what you're told. That cute 3 inch tang won't stay that way for long. Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide. It's hard to not want to stuff all those pretty fish in a tank, isn't it?
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How do you know I will do what I want? A little presumptuous on your part don't you think?

I don't want to have no room for other fish. I also planned to one day have no choice but to remove themto due to their size.

I figure five years.

The tank is 6x2x31"

I already have a four year old paired clowns a six line a royal gramma flame and coral beauty fox face and corals.
 
nikon187 is right. It's better to cut that number down to 3. also, unless you plan on a bigger tank or have someone with a large tank (over 8' long and 350 gallons), i would skip the naso.

powder blue tang gets extremely aggressive in an overcrowded tank. when i had mine it would attack every single new addition relentlessly, but that's when i first started out in the hobby and overstocked my tank. now i know better...

yellow tangs sometimes get very aggressive as well.

you need to decide what angel you plan on keeping, since the stocking order will be different for angels with different temperants. for example, a majestic angel or regal angel should always go in first, unless all of the tangs you plan on keeping are peaceful. From your list, naso and lieutenant are the only peaceful ones.
 
i would skip the nasos and the Leuitenant as both get 15 inches or longer. I think there will be issues long before 5 years
 
nikon187 said:
i would skip the nasos and the Leuitenant as both get 15 inches or longer. I think there will be issues long before 5 years
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The Lieutenant Tang max size is 10", where did you get the 15"+ from? naso's do get to 18" so you might skip that one for a 6' tank IMO.
 
While the Naso tang is a beautiful fish, they do get large, even in an aquarium. I had a pair of them in my 400g tank (7'L x 2.5'D x 3'T). There was room to swim but they would have probably liked a bigger tank. my male was 12+ no including his streamers. My female was pushing 11". That's all within about 8 years. They were close to that size in about 4 years. Just giving you MY experience with them.


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Crusty Old Shellback said:
While the Naso tang is a beautiful fish, they do get large, even in an aquarium. I had a pair of them in my 400g tank (7'L x 2.5'D x 3'T). There was room to swim but they would have probably liked a bigger tank. my male was 12+ no including his streamers. My female was pushing 11". That's all within about 8 years. They were close to that size in about 4 years. Just giving you MY experience with them.
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Did you ever get mating behavior? Nice tank by the way.
 
Ok so maybe I should not even buy any Tangs?

I actually only got the 220 so I could own Tangs but it seems like all the ones I want are ones I can't even have.

Kind of sucks for me I guess but I do not want to make the tank bad.

Some get too big and the others are D-Bags.

I guess I have seen so many tanks with all those Tangs in them or Blues and yellows I though it was not a big deal.

I see Blonde Nasos all the time in tanks so I was pretty happy that I could own one.

So it seems the bottom line is forget having Tangs. I only say that because the posts seem to be against most of them.

Is it true that there is a 50/50 chance the Powder and the Yellows will actually get along with each other and other Tangs. I did plan to put them all in the tank at the same time.

If I had to pick 3 they would be the Powder, the Lieutenant and the Blonde.

How about this. Why don't you just list me what I can have or what would be the best ideas. This way I can see something because so far I have no options but one Tang or none since they grow so big.
 
Phastroh said:
How about this. Why don't you just list me what I can have or what would be the best ideas. This way I can see something because so far I have no options but one Tang or none since they grow so big.
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You have plenty of options with tangs and your tank. There are countless combinations of about 3 tangs that would probably work well; but I doubt that you want to hear anything you don't like. Some tangs , and combinations of tangs, simply get too big for your tank. Why not just accept that and get on with enjoying the hobby?
 
MrTuskfish said:
You have plenty of options with tangs and your tank. There are countless combinations of about 3 tangs that would probably work well; but I doubt that you want to hear anything you don't like. Some tangs , and combinations of tangs, simply get too big for your tank. Why not just accept that and get on with enjoying the hobby?
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Seriously that is your thoughts?

I am asking so I know what my options are not so I can just do what I want.

Please someone who is seriously interested in helping me with a combination that will work in my tank please reply.

I don't need anymore post about what I won't want to hear or that I will do what I want, just what the frig are my options.

I do not have time to listen to these sarcastic and annoying assumptions. I came here for help so either help me or don't post.

I would like as many options that you know are ok.
 
guys, I really think the OP wants to learn, so why not help him ? who cares if he/she follows our advice in future or not ! lets still offer it .. maybe someone else lurking the site will see it and benefit from it !

I personally am no expert with tang tank sizes, so Id let Steve or someone else take this :)

what tang combination will work, in a 220G tank ?

meanwhile, OP, you can check this thread for some recommendations http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079&highlight=tang
 
I agree that three reasonably sized tangs would work as long as you don't have too many other fish in the tank. Just my opinion, but I think I would select one Acanthurus. Some of my favorite, not too large ones, are the powder brown, lieutenant or convict. Then maybe add one or two more, perhaps a Hippo, Yellow or a bristle-tooth tang such as a Kole or Flame fin. I have a 180 gallon with a Powder Brown and Flame Fin and I think they are great fish. There are many other suitable options, of course, just keep an eye on your potential tang's terminal size and species temperament.
 
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