Tang Compatibility Questions

[Fishmaster13]

I currently have a 75 non reef with live rock and a 90 mixed reef tank, both with peaceful, relatively small fish. I would love a tang in one or both of them, especially the 75. I know I'd have to upgrade or give away the tangs when they grew large (I'm starting with a small one(s)) but I still want to have them. So. I have a few questions.

1. Are either tanks even big enough to have a tang?

2. If they are, what types? My preference would be blue hippo or yellow but I'm open to others.

3. Are they compatible with he fish I have? Due to lots of traveling over the summer I lost some of my fish since the people caring for them weren't extremely experienced, but I'm back and the tanks are stable again. In my 75 I have a black and white clown, a melenarus wrass, and a yasha goby paired with a shrimp left (along with a large assorted cuc). In my 90 mixed reef I have a snowflake clown, a fire fish, and a pipefish (I'm blanking out on which type buts it's a small hardy one from somewhere in Africa) remaining with a large cuc also.

Any suggestions help! Thanks!

 

[Cosmojo]

No hippos in either, you can throw in a Bristletooth, you can get away with a yellow for awhile, but it'll get aggressive in there fairly quick.

 

[Cpetroski15]

I had a yellow and a hippo in my 90 gal softie tank and they faired just fine, healthy with no aggression

 

[blazend]

Because of size i would stick with 1 tang per tank unless you dont have any other good size fish in them.

The yellow would be good for 75. The 90 i would say you can pick about anything just dont start it out huge start it small and let him grow into the tank.

 

[Cosmojo]

The 90 i would say you can pick about anything just dont start it out huge start it small and let him grow into the tank.

Wrong.

 

[Patchmty]

My brother had a hipo, yellow and purple in a 40B for a few years without any problems. Eventually he had to get rid of them because of size.

All 3 at the same time btw.

 

[jason2459]

The 75 I'd stick with a C. The 90 a C., small Z., or small A. Would be good. I'd stay away from any that get bigger then 8-9" and definitely not any of the P. or N. species.

 

[jason2459]

My brother had a hipo, yellow and purple in a 40B for a few years without any problems. Eventually he had to get rid of them because of size.

All 3 at the same time btw.

I always plan for what the potential full size will be when stocking.

 

[Fishmaster13]

The 75 I'd stick with a C. The 90 a C., small Z., or small A. Would be good. I'd stay away from any that get bigger then 8-9" and definitely not any of the P. or N. species.

I wasn't planning on a tang anywhere near 8-9" considering the size of my current fish. I was thinking starting small somewhere around 3-5" or a little smaller if I could find a healthy one. I've realized by now can't have a hippo but I can still have a yellow tang and a large variety of others :dance:. Thanks!

 

[Fishmaster13]

Oops read that wrong but I'm not planning to get a tang that grows larger than 8-9" either I don't have the space for that right now. When I upgrade I'm hoping to get a tank that's at least 200g so I'll be able to have more choices when selecting fish. Thanks again!

 

[snorvich]

Reef Central's recommendation for tank sizes for tangs can be found here. I am amazed at some of the opinions in this thread.

 

[snorvich]

I always plan for what the potential full size will be when stocking.

An excellent idea. Upgrades often do not happen.

 

[jason2459]

Oops read that wrong but I'm not planning to get a tang that grows larger than 8-9" either I don't have the space for that right now. When I upgrade I'm hoping to get a tank that's at least 200g so I'll be able to have more choices when selecting fish. Thanks again!

Have you thought about a dwarf angel? Flames are amazing looking and would do well in your tank as the last addition. Just would have to watch out for any aggression towards the firefish and pipefish. This would go with any tang as well.

 

[jason2459]

As an example my kole hates my sand sifting goby. My hippo tang hates everyone. My mimic chocolate tang loves everyone.

 

[Cosmojo]

Reef Central's recommendation for tank sizes for tangs can be found here. I am amazed at some of the opinions in this thread.

This

 

[Fishmaster13]

Have you thought about a dwarf angel? Flames are amazing looking and would do well in your tank as the last addition. Just would have to watch out for any aggression towards the firefish and pipefish. This would go with any tang as well.

I have dwarf Angels have always been favorites of mine I lost my coral beauty last month when I was on vacation and have been looking for a new one. My first dwarf angel was a flame angel and I loved him and when he died in a crash. I went out to buy another but I saw the coral beauty and bought him instead. I'm planning on getting a flame angel for my 75 which has live rock but no corals so no risk there and both the fire fish and pipefish are in the other tank.

 

[Fishmaster13]

Reef Central's recommendation for tank sizes for tangs can be found here. I am amazed at some of the opinions in this thread.

Thanks I've been getting tons of insanely different opinions on this

 

[jason2459]

Thanks I've been getting tons of insanely different opinions on this

That tends to happen especially with Tangs for some reason. You don't tend to see the same aggression and polarization with other large species like large angels.