Tank inhabitant check

[nathanemmerich]

I have a 6ft 180gallon tank. I have two clowns, royal gramma and watchman goby. I want to add some tangs and want to run it by you guys first. Would a yellow, powder blue, and tomini be a good choice? Could I also include a kole? I was going to add them all at the same time, is this the best way?

 

[billdogg]

The Yellow, Tomini, and Kole should be ok. Powder Blues get a bit larger and may present some aggression issues.

Only after QT, but yes, I'd add them all at once. I would also look for smaller specimens to allow them to grow into the tank together.

 

[nathanemmerich]

Thanks I will have to reconsider. I didn't realize the powder blue were aggressive.

 

[thegrun]

The Powder Blues are beautiful, but VERY prone to disease and are almost always aggressive, particularly to other tangs and especially aggressive in tanks under 300 gallons.

 

[nathanemmerich]

Could I add an Atlantic blue?

 

[Rover88]

Could I add an Atlantic blue?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1946079


Yes you could! Recommended 6 foot and 125 gallons.

 

[nathanemmerich]

Would a yellow tang, tomini, kole, and Atlantic blue be too much for a 180?

 

[Uncle99]

Impossible to say....sometimes it works...sometimes it does not.
Your tank size is the smallest I would try this load on....tangs love room!

 

[nathanemmerich]

I don't want to play dice with my fish. Do you think dropping the Atlantic blue would be a good idea?

 

[Uncle99]

Sorry, don't want to skew your decision, your tank is a good size.
I have never had long term success with any tang other than yellow and kole in a 6 ft although many others would likely disagree. Tangs are travelers, covering miles in a day, and do best in only the largest tank. While for the first 6 months, they would do great, after 12-18 months would start to lose them.....Never a problem with yellows and koles....powders being the worst. The problem I have with tangs is they seem more prone to Ick....and once this starts.....you lose great fish.



But keep in mind that's my experience...

 

[crawlerman]

I have a Naso, powder brown, yellow and blue hippo tang in my 6', 180g tank. There is no aggression at all. Only aggression in the tank is my clowns against my hands. They yellow and blue are over 2 years, the naso and brown are newer. So I may run into the same problem as uncle99, but they all eat well and seem fine. If they live for a few years and get too big the wife will have to let me get a 500g tank. All part of the master plan.

As a side note, this is the first time I've posted where my post wasn't after mcgyver.

 

[Uncle99]

And in some cases, maybe like yours, it works great and forever!
it may be the combination, the setup, who knows, just want people to always remember when we stick stuff in our tanks, ask ourselves does this make sense? Can I manage this on the long term.
Absolutely nothing wrong with experimentation...it what moves the hobby forward.

 

[Uncle99]

And as a side note, me wondering where mcgyvr is too!
Maybe doing a water change?..

 

[TokiHacker]

Would a yellow tang, tomini, kole, and Atlantic blue be too much for a 180?

The are the issues with the Tomini and the hole is they are from the same tang family. Other issue is if you ever want to have a starry blenny kole gotta go. For whatever reason they do not like each other and rarely get along in a system.

 

[nathanemmerich]

It's tough planning a fish tank. Too many variables. Hence why I have a 180 gallon tank with four small fish.