Suggest a Tang (or other)!

[niter]

I apologize ahead of time for a semi-duplicate thread--I could not edit my original post in the Powder Blue Tang thread.

In a nut shell...I'm tasked with picking out fish for our 150 gal. (has a 120 gal. foot print and a taller water column). My plan was to add a Tang last but my husband wants one now and also said that it would be good to get an herbivore in the tank. In the tank we have two clowns, anthias, and a starry blenny. When I consider the "plan" I don't really see us adding anything else beside the tang and maybe a wrasse.

What I am looking for is a tang that is NOT a yellow tang. I am mostly against a Kole Tang but not 100% against it. I'd prefer something that would contrast to our anthias and clowns because that is a whole lot of yellow, red, and orange in the tank right now. Also, I'd prefer a tang that would not be totally wretched to other fish IF we added something later on but again, this most likely will be our last planned addition.

Thanks!

 

[jcw]

Following along.

I'm looking at getting some color in the tank and was thinking of a yellow tang. But I've heard they can be rather fiesty, too. I thought the powder blue could be as well.

The Hippo tang is quite peaceful and is an electric shade of blue. Along with the yellow tangs, they seem to stand out the most in most reef tanks to the casual observers.

I've seen some powder browns that were almost yellow in color that were very nice looking as well.

I see the orange shoulder tang every once in a while as well as the clown tang. I love the look of the clown tang but can see it's a rather aggressive fish and need a lot of swimming space.

 

[jusn317]

Well I may suggest an "other." have you thought about maybe adding perhaps any type of angel, preferably one from the genicanthus family? Depending on the type you could get a female that has a nice shade of blue. Not as vibrant as a powder blue but still very good looking. I have a swallow tail that is great fish. You can also pair them up.

 

[jcw]

I'm a big fan of dwarf angels. Lots of color variety seems to swim a lot.

 

[Amazon4]

A tomini is a nice tang, and doesn't get too big. A good grazer, too.

 

[twon8]

A. japonicus is a great fish that doesn't get too big and is a much healthier Acanthurus than a powder blue.

 

[niter]

Would a purple tang work?

 

[selje]

I am a big fan of the Ctenochaetus Strigosus. Perfect algea grazer and beautiful with the yellow constrast on the eyes.

 

[rssjsb]

I apologize ahead of time for a semi-duplicate thread--I could not edit my original post in the Powder Blue Tang thread.

In a nut shell...I'm tasked with picking out fish for our 150 gal. (has a 120 gal. foot print and a taller water column). My plan was to add a Tang last but my husband wants one now and also said that it would be good to get an herbivore in the tank. In the tank we have two clowns, anthias, and a starry blenny. When I consider the "plan" I don't really see us adding anything else beside the tang and maybe a wrasse.

What I am looking for is a tang that is NOT a yellow tang. I am mostly against a Kole Tang but not 100% against it. I'd prefer something that would contrast to our anthias and clowns because that is a whole lot of yellow, red, and orange in the tank right now. Also, I'd prefer a tang that would not be totally wretched to other fish IF we added something later on but again, this most likely will be our last planned addition.

Thanks!

With a 4-foot tank, you're going to be limited to the smaller tangs - kole, tomini, maybe a mimic. Anything else would be far too aggressive in that space.

Also, Kole's are nice, but mine mercilessly harassed my starry blenny. Don't know if one of the tomini or the mimic would be different, or if it would matter that your starry was there first.

 

[Eric the half-bee]

The bristle tooths tangs are great with working the rockwork. They seem to be reasonably behaved IME and slow growing vs. other species of tangs.

 

[kmac]

How much open swimming space do you have. Your aquascaping will play a role. If your rock work has tunnels for the tang to swim through so its not just pacing back and forth in the front of the tank. I would think you could a powder blue or powder brown if your looking for some different color. If you go with either of those qt is key.

 

[small alien]

Following along.

I'm looking at getting some color in the tank and was thinking of a yellow tang. But I've heard they can be rather fiesty, too. I thought the powder blue could be as well.

The Hippo tang is quite peaceful and is an electric shade of blue. Along with the yellow tangs, they seem to stand out the most in most reef tanks to the casual observers.

I've seen some powder browns that were almost yellow in color that were very nice looking as well.

I see the orange shoulder tang every once in a while as well as the clown tang. I love the look of the clown tang but can see it's a rather aggressive fish and need a lot of swimming space.

OP's tank footprint is too small for most of these tangs, especially the hippo, orange shoulder and clown. You might be a bit careful because it almost sounds like you're recommending them (except the clown) even though you're probably just "waxing tang".:spin3:

 

[small alien]

To the OP, you don't have a ton of choices. I think you're best off focusing on the bristle tooth group.

 

[niter]

Suggested dwarf angels

Would these fish be compatible with corals?

Suggested Kole tang, other bristletooths

It'll probably be a Kole tang. We really liked the one we had last year but I was hoping to try a different tang. Still, I want to pick one responsibly so if I do not want yellow and the Kole fits, it fits.

Question about aquascaping

We have a lot of rock work arranged into many caverns for swimming and flow. Roughly...the entire front face of the tank is open for swimming, the upper water column (which I know tangs are more side to side than up and down), and then the rocks are in two main formations with large pockets and a connecting bridge in the middle (so again many large pockets and a GIANT pocket in the middle). Immense weaving space and hiding pockets.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I agree completely with small alien. 48' of swimming room is just not enough for most tangs. This is probably the most debated 'what fish" topic there is. I've seen a lot of tangs in 48" tanks, they just don't look right. One little flip of their pelvic fins and they've crossed the tank. On the reef, tangs live in the outer area and cover a lot of ground. IMO & IME; tangs are hardy fish and most will live in a 48'' tank, but not thrive. They just don't seem to spread their gorgeous fins and show the colors as they do in a larger tank. I'm also convinced they get more aggressive. Lack of swimming room=stress=aggression.

EDIT: Weird, niter's last post hit while I was typing. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TAKE A 3-FINGER TYPIST (like me) TO SPEW SO MUCH DRIVEL!!!:hmm6:

 

[niter]

To the OP, you don't have a ton of choices. I think you're best off focusing on the bristle tooth group.

Or another type of "reef cow" as I kept thinking the past tangs were. Totally open to suggestions It's his tank so if he says tang, I'll get one :love1: that fits and will thrive, but I want to consider options too.

 

[niter]

I agree completely with small alien. 48' of swimming room is just not enough for most tangs. This is probably the most debated 'what fish" topic there is. I've seen a lot of tangs in 48" tanks, they just don't look right. One little flip of their pelvic fins and they've crossed the tank. On the reef, tangs live in the outer area and cover a lot of ground. IMO & IME; tangs are hardy fish and most will live in a 48'' tank, but not thrive. They just don't seem to spread their gorgeous fins and show the colors as they do in a larger tank. I'm also convinced they get more aggressive. Lack of swimming room=stress=aggression.

EDIT: Weird, niter's last post hit while I was typing. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TAKE A 3-FINGER TYPIST (like me) TO SPEW SO MUCH DRIVEL!!!:hmm6:

I agree, which is why I was asking. The spouse is more keen on the Tang than I am. I figure get a fish that fits AND I like.

Spewing drivel? Simply using the muti-quote feature on the posts. The way I see it is that posters here took time to give me input, the least I could do is be polite and respond back. There were some specific insights (tank size, rock work, etc.) which could have warranted additional posts but I'm not about post count.

 

[small alien]

I think Mr. Tuskfish meant himself, not you.

 

[niter]

I think Mr. Tuskfish meant himself, not you.

No worries. The information and the time spent by fellow forumites is hardly worthless to me and very appreciated. Heheh, the variation in acquired skills (from typing to reef keeping) is vast and I'm gracious to those helping me along with this new venture.

 

[alton]

Here is what I do since I love Chevron Tangs. I buy a baby and in a year I sell it/trade it to a club member usually at a lost to give him a better home when he gets to big for my tank. I have an adult in my 300 but I don't want to chance putting in another just to see if the newbie will survive?