Would you ruin the harmony with a powder blue tang ?

[Tanglover]

Hi guys.

Looking for your opinion regarding adding a final fish to the bunch.

I have a 300 gallon reef, open structure with plenty of swimming space and I have quite a few tangs - 1 naso, 1 desjardinii, 2 yellow, 1 hippo and also a foxface.

The thing is. Everything has been going very well with this stock for quite some time - there is no aggression and the reef is pretty much in harmony.

I've been wanting to add a Powder Blue as the final fish, but had a bad experience a couple of years ago, with a large Powder Blue acting like a serial killer and killing all other fish in a 180 gallon tank. I guess this was just a mad fish, compared with other's experience, however it got me concerned and I've not tried a PBT since.

What is your take on adding one as the final fish to the tank ? Would you change a winning team ?

I'm thinking about getting a smaller version. I would think that the yellows would be after him, when first introduced - but otherwise there should be no problem.

However, once acclimated - and once it has grown in size, do you think the powder blue would show aggression and possible kill the hippo tang or would it co-exist with the rest - as it has been added last ?

 

[BrianD]

I have the same fear, which I why I don't try it. My hepatus has been in my tank for over 10 years, and I would hate to risk his health.

Of course, he is a big boy and could probably handle himself. (The tank is 8' long, the video doesn't really capture how big he is)

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[BrianD]

The only way I would do it is if I find a really small PBT and let it grow up with the hepatus in the tank. Believe it or not, the sailfin used to be the size of a half-dollar, and there is next to no flashing between the sailfin and hepatus.

 

[Monstrigity]

I have had a PBT and a clown tang together for almost 5 years and they get along great but about every 6 months one of them gets a massive gash from a late night fight. These are both aggressive and well equipped species. I would suspect that one of these late night fights would kill a Zebrasoma species of tang quite easily. Every fish is different but I would bet that eventually the PBT would become the "King" tang and any other tang that doesn't accept this will eventually be killed

 

[niles1967]

I have an Atlantic Blue, Yellow and Powder Blue in a 350 with no problems. In fact, yhey swim around together like 3 peas in a pod. The PB was introduced last. The yellow was first.

 

[sedor]

If a powder blue is what you have always had your eye on, then since you have an appropriate sized tank I say you most definitely should go for it. Not to be selfish, but overall isn't this hobby supposed to be something we do for ourselves?

 

[BrianD]

If a powder blue is what you have always had your eye on, then since you have an appropriate sized tank I say you most definitely should go for it. Not to be selfish, but overall isn't this hobby supposed to be something we do for ourselves?

That isn't the point. He isn't asking if he "can" do it, he is asking if he "should" do it, due to worries on potential conflicts with existing fish in the tank.

 

[UnknownFish]

Me personally I wouldn't add it, I had one and it was very aggressive, more aggressive then my Achilles.

 

[thor32766]

Much of the problems with PBT's and tangs in home aquariums are they arent feed enough. Tangs in the wild are grazers and eat all day long. People with tanks hold back food in fear of water quailty taking a hit and corals suffering. Also with a fish like a PBT they love more water movement.
The fact that you are adding him as the last fish and a smaller one helps your odds, but what would increase your odds would be to make sure you have plenty of nori or romaine and water movement. Also keeping the lights off a couple days will help. HTH

 

[BrianD]

Me personally I wouldn't add it, I had one and it was very aggressive, more aggressive then my Achilles.

My two favorite tangs in the same post

 

[rekn]

ill never add a powder blue to a tank unless hes the only fish in it. theyre that terrible.

 

[Amoore311]

Mines been in my care for 2+ years now, he is full size at this point in time.

He started in a 90 for 1 year, then I moved him to a 180. Didn't have any problems in the 90 at all.

In the 180 he owns about 4' of the 6' long tank. The yellow tang is allowed to live in the other 2' section lol. If he leaves that section he will be chased back.

Other than that I have no problems with any other fish in the tank. Those fish include

-Blue Jaw trigger
-Yellow Tang
-Mated Clowns
-Sixline Wrasse
-Lyretail Anthias
-Green Mandarin
-Yellow Watchman Goby
-Neon Goby



I do feed a ton, which may or may not help with the aggression. I do believe if I had some more broken up sight lines, that my Yellow Tang would be allowed to have some more space. I wanted a straight run in front and back of the tank for the tangs to be able to swim though.

 

[Tanglover]

Thank you so much for all your input.

Definantly gave me something to think about.

I'm leaning towards skipping the powder blue...but would like to hear from more long-term Powder Blue owners.

 

[BrianD]

Check the "Powder blue tang" primer linked in the sticky at the top of the page.

 

[Monstrigity]

Honestly, in a 300 gallon tank you should be fine. There will most likely be some squabbles to determine pecking order, but after a day or two this will end. Get a small one, leave the lights off for a few days, and qt for at least 6 weeks. In your tank he will eventually be the boss. Letting them grow up with tank mates goes a long way. If I were to introduce an adult clown tang and adult PBT together one would surely be killed. Having grown up together they put up with each other.

 

[BrianD]

I don't think you can make a statement like that. I have seen countless threads where people have added a powder blue tang to an established tank and had war break out. Maybe not in the first month or two, but eventually.

 

[BrianD]

Oh, and I have an 8' tank, and it takes my hepatus a couple of flicks of his tailfin to be from one side to another. 300 may seem big, but to these fish it is only marginally bigger than a 125, etc.

 

[SDguy]

I've had a PBT and tomini for several years now. I tried adding a purple tang. All went well, except that the PT grew huge, fast, and got mean. I had to remove the PT. I'm glad I did, and got the chance to do so before serious problems arose.

Point being, there is no telling what will happen, even if they"grow up" with the same tankmates. Why chance it, and ruin what sounds like a lovely combo of fish. JMO.

 

[sufunk]

I felt the same as you and bit the bullet and added a PBT. I had it in qt for only 11 days but he looked perfectly healthy just a little stressed being in my 20g qt so i added him to the display.


No war broke out but velvet did! My 6 year old hippo, about 3 year old Tennenti and about 3 year old Blonde Naso with AMAZING streamers all died along with the PBT

 

[smootie]

Would you ruin the harmony with a powder blue tang ?

Don't do it. I recently made the mistake of adding another animal to my tank (in my case, a pistol shrimp) and the short version is everything went to hell.

Harmony is hard to achieve. Unless it's somehing you just HAVE to have, don't change your tank.