One single tang for a 150 DD - what kind?

[sneeyatch]

I'm thinking of my fish list and know that the last fish will be the boss - a tang of some sort. I've owned Zebrasoma and Ctenochaetus type tangs in the past but never an Acanthurus, so that's the type I want to keep this time.

I'm leaning toward the Lieutenant Tang or the Powder Blue / Brown, but am open to suggestions based on experiences with these fish.

My system is a 150 DD (3' x 3' x 2.13' tall) and the aquascaping is set up similar to a "bommie" style (maybe 90lbs) with lots of open swimming room.

Currently, there is only a King Starry Blenny in there now and I'm getting ready to add my next fish to my QT system. The other fish on my list will be a Royal Gramma, Candy Hogfish, Centropyge Angel (Undecided) and possibly a few Azure Damselfish.

I'm leaning toward the Lieutenant tang, but love the colors of the Powder Blues / Browns. Given my set-up, can you guys give me some advice? Would the tank be considered too small for a Powder Blue / Brown?

Thanks!

 

[snorvich]

According to RC recommendations your tank is too small for a Powder Blue or Powder Brown tang. Since all of us don't know Deltec Model numbers, it would be also useful to provide gallonage. In your case, the binding constraint is tank length which is 3 feet rather than the suggested 6 feet.

 

[nsmith_mma]

I had a powder brown in my 80 gallon at one point and it did really well. That was a 4 foot tank though. I would go with the powder brown though because they seem to be less aggressive than the powder blues in my experience.

One that you might want to consider though would be the Chocolate Tang, also known as the Mimic Lemonpeel Tang. They are a vibrant yellow when they are juveniles, mimicing the appearance of Lemonpeel Angelfish but they change colors with maturity and their coloration is stunning when you see it in person.

 

[CMcNeil]

i think a mimic tang would be the best option.there are several that are really nice looking,im thinking maybe a chocolate would work.

 

[sneeyatch]

Ahh yes, I love the look of the mimic tangs. I see them in our vendor's displays and frag tanks more than I do for sale.

 

[CMcNeil]

One of our local reefers had a chocolate tang for a while.she got it as a baby and had it for years,in that time it changed to it's adult colors(which are stunning)and grew to about 4"-5".I don't remember the max size they get but I do know they don't get nearly as large as most tangs do.