What tang trio for sps reef tank or others

M

maxwell

Member
Hi
I'm looking for fish for my mainly sps tank and thinking of adding a trio of tangs or consider any other fish. I did have a extra large Achilles and Yellow tang for 4 years but both have recently passed they were the first fish in my tang and constantly swam together peacefully. I have considered potters etc so any suggestions would be welcome as I'm not a fish expert.

thanks Bill
 
People are going to need to know what size tank you have and your capacity to feed. Tangs can be pretty easy if you feed then a whole bunch, which makes them reef safe but not always reef friendly.
 
Hi
I have 1000L tank rammed with sps its 54 x 30 x 30 ,the tangs I had were approx. 6'' , I feed a wide mix of frozen and nori and have the following

copperband
coral beauty
twistii wrasse
lapisul wrasse
xmas wrasse
2 x snowflakes
mandarin
wreck fish
2 helfrichi
2 red fire fish
foxface
starry blenny
 
I had a yellow tang and a foxface that were good friends. They always swam together, and I would recommend those. I also have a naso tang that is a sweetheart. My hippo tangs seem to be a little more aggressive than the others I own.
I would stay away from powder blue, and purple tangs if you are worried about harmony in the tank. They get pretty aggressive.
 
I have a Whitetail bristletooth, a purple tang and an Achilles Goldrim hybrid. Make sure you only have 1 of a certain genus to reduce chances of aggression.
 
That's a lot of fish. Tangs do better if they aren't the same shape. For example, Yellow and purple are same shape and will fight. Powder blue and clown tang are same shape, too.
For your size tank, Naso Blondes get big, big. Maybe, purple and yellow kole tang.
 
I have kept many, many tangs in tanks together with no aggression. If you feed them enough that they grow 1-2" a year and have hiding places where they can completely get away, I have never found them to be all that difficult. I mean a lot of food - probably enough that they could make your N and P rise. When I say hiding, I don't mean the shelves and caves that reefers like, but stacked rock with actual security.

When I had the big tank set up, I would get aggressive tangs all the time from people who did not want them anymore, but they just ended up being part of the group when I got them - most of them were skinny and starved although their previous owners swear that they fed "all the time." I am talking about enough food that the foxface that you have would be too large for your tank in 3-4 years at 8-9" long and an inch thick.

About 50% of diet from NLS pellets, 30% from mysis and 20 from other stuff like nori and other frozen treats.

I have found that "introduce them at the same time" or "stocking order" or "same shape" to be completely random although I am sure that some of these have worked for some people like all random things do. Food, security and room to swim are the keys, IMO... and people fail at most of those.
 
Hi
I want to put the fish in together this is my tank ,all the corals are mounted on large plates like mushrooms and the fish can swim underneath around the back and in and out of the structure i know it looks full but the large YT and achilles ( for over 4 years) i had swam around all day popping up out of rocks and corals with ease.On reading your views i am liking the sailfin,YT and possibly naso ,my wife wants something blue thats reef safe any suggestions as i tend to follow what the lfs says which is not the best way to stock so asking you guys.
many thanks Bill



 
In a tank that size, I'd probably do a bristletooth (kole or tomini), a yellow, and a powder blue.

In an a larger tank I'd have to go for a clown or sohal, a powder blue, and a purple
 
Hi
If I go down the powder blue ( WS magnet fish)route should I run ozone or a UV and what will be the effect on my sps if any.

Bill
 
I love the Chevron Tang. The coloring of the juvenile is exquisite and although some don't like the adult coloring, I dig it. They are also great community fish versus clown or sohal tangs.

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
 
Copperband and a few other butterflies are generally reef safe. Most small and large angels are hit/miss but mostly OK with SPS. Genicanthus angelfish are the exception which are great reef fish for any larger tank.
 
I completely agree with JDA that the key with Tangs is to feed heavily. I have a 4 1/2" Black Tang and a 6" Sailfin Tang in my 180 gal. mixed reef tank along with the following:
Lamark Angelfish
Labouti Wrasse
Lineatus Wrasse
Splendid Pintail Wrasse
2) Zebra Angelfish (male and female)
Longnose Hawkfish
 
I just saw your post about a blue reef-safe fish. Check out a Watanabei Angelfish pair. Fantastic fish and totally reef safe... plus not everybody has them, so that is cool.
 
Powder Blue is no more ich prone than the Achilles. I'd not do a Naso or Sailfin, tanks too small. Pyramid butterflyfish are Xenia unfriendly, but reef safe otherwise. I'm partial to the chevron; wouldn't keep a reef tank without one (I'm apparently in the minority in liking their adult clothes). Hippo's an SPS fragger/snapper.
 
Hi
Whats the views on a clown tang my lfs says he has one with a YT and Purple which I think would cause problems
Bill
 
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