How many tangs can I have? HELP Please

[Erwan E]

How many tangs can I have in my Red Sea 750 (160gl)? I introduced 3 yellow and a clown tang at the same time. They are all doing well. I would rather not get another Zebrasoma type due to the 3 yellow and no more Acanthurus because they are generally very aggressive. I was thinking about powder blue. Should I get 2 so that the current tangs do gang on a single one or is it a bad idea? Suggestions please

 

[Crabs McJones]

How many tangs can I have in my Red Sea 750 (160gl)? I introduced 3 yellow and a clown tang at the same time. They are all doing well. I would rather not get another Zebrasoma type due to the 3 yellow and no more Acanthurus because they are generally very aggressive. I was thinking about powder blue. Should I get 2 so that the current tangs do gang on a single one or is it a bad idea? Suggestions please

Keep in mind, that a single yellow tang needs at least 100 gallons, given that you have three and a clown tang as the clown tangs need over 200 gallons when fully grown. Maybe someone else from #reefsquad may know your stocking availability

 

[DSC reef]

Tang wise I think your good with what you have. Once the clown tang matures it can get pretty aggressive. Not saying it cant be done but the risks are high of aggressive behavior, bullying and stress.

 

[Brew12]

How many tangs can I have in my Red Sea 750 (160gl)? I introduced 3 yellow and a clown tang at the same time. They are all doing well. I would rather not get another Zebrasoma type due to the 3 yellow and no more Acanthurus because they are generally very aggressive. I was thinking about powder blue. Should I get 2 so that the current tangs do gang on a single one or is it a bad idea? Suggestions please

I think the 3 yellow could be ok in your system. The clown may have problems and are normally recommended for much larger tanks as they get well over 1' long.

As for the powder blue, I recommend against it. Here is what Live Aquaria says about them. "A 125 gallon or larger aquarium is necessary to provide plenty of swimming room. It is extremely aggressive towards other Tangs or Surgeonfish, especially those similar in form and color, and should be the only one in the tank except in very large systems: introduce all at once if more than one is to be maintained in the same aquarium. "

You could probably add just about anything from the Bristletooth family.

 

[Erwan E]

Thank you all for your responses. It just seems that I see all these beautiful tank packed with tangs and this why I upgraded to 160 gl red sea.

 

[Brew12]

Thank you all for your responses. It just seems that I see all these beautiful tank packed with tangs and this why I upgraded to 160 gl red sea.

I won't lie, I'm going to have a packed tang tank for a 187g. I'm not 100% confident it will work out but I'm giving it a go. I have 1 Hippo for my Para choice, a Convict for my Acan choice, and a Yellow Eye Kole for my Bristletooth. I will have 3 yellow's (currently in QT) for my Zebra representation.I tried to take the least aggressive/smallest from each family. Then, I have a Magnificent Foxface that rounds out my large fish selection.

I think I can make it work. My tank has a nice rock wall section for plenty of sleeping/hiding spots. Then I have a ledge and branch section for open swimming. The problem? The fish don't know my plans and haven't given their approval. We can generalize with fish all we want but specific ones may act completely out of character for their kind.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I agree with everyone else. What you have is plenty, but once again, not to sound like a broken record, the clown will become a problem at some point. Them and sohal's can become mean as heck when they mature and get BIG.

When it comes to tangs, it's best to add all of them to a system at the same time. I've had pretty good luck in the past doing that with them. They do become territorial and will defend to the death.

If you decide to try to add another, use a socialization box and see how it goes.

 

[TangingOut]

Powder blue is an Acanthurus type and will most likely fight with the clown tang.

 

[Erwan E]

Thank you for responding. I really appreciate. So far my Clown has been the nicest tang ever. The yellows don’t pay attention to him and he could care less about them. He seems very calm and swims around. The yellows don’t fight but I do some friction between them.

 

[Erwan E]

Here is a photo of my tank with plenty of room to swim. Obviously it is taken a while back when cycling

 

[4FordFamily]

The answer is that it depends— smaller tangs will be able to live there longer together. Adding together is imperative. Clown tangs grow quickly and are pretty aggressive, social acclimation boxes or temporary removal is necessary. IMO the smallest tank for a powder blue tang should be 180.

I pack my tank full of tangs but it’s a risky business and requires expertise.

Here’s an article on tang aggression, if it’s helpful:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.76/

 

[JaimeAdams]

The problem that I see with your tank is the rock work. Is That concrete based? Aggression is going to come over sleeping areas as Brew12 pointed out above. It seems like you don't really have much in the way of hiding holes.

 

[Erwan E]

The problem that I see with your tank is the rock work. Is That concrete based? Aggression is going to come over sleeping areas as Brew12 pointed out above. It seems like you don't really have much in the way of hiding holes.

The decor is made of styrofoam, epoxy and sand you are correct about hiding places as I designed it for open swimming although there are places in the back since the main foundation is about 3 inches from the back wall so that the green star polyps doesn’t “jump” onto other corals

 

[Erwan E]

The answer is that it depends— smaller tangs will be able to live there longer together. Adding together is imperative. Clown tangs grow quickly and are pretty aggressive, social acclimation boxes or temporary removal is necessary. IMO the smallest tank for a powder blue tang should be 180.

I pack my tank full of tangs but it’s a risky business and requires expertise.

Here’s an article on tang aggression, if it’s helpful:

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.76/

Very interesting article. Thank you for sharing. Based on your experience, what tang if any could I add. Would it be wiser to add two for diversion?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Here's a video on what could happen with established tangs and adding a new one:

 

[Erwan E]

The decor is made of styrofoam, epoxy and sand you are correct about hiding places as I designed it for open swimming although there are places in the back since the main foundation is about 3 inches from the back wall so that the green star polyps doesn’t “jump” onto other corals

Here is a current photo

Here's a video on what could happen with established tangs and adding a new one:

wow!!! I can’t believe that they all ganged up on the black tang. I m certainly glad that I introduced the 3 yellow and clown tang at the same time. Now I wish I had added a couple more at the time. It seems that I am now stuck.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Here is a current photo

wow!!! I can’t believe that they all ganged up on the black tang. I m certainly glad that I introduced the 3 yellow and clown tang at the same time. Now I wish I had added a couple more at the time. It seems that I am now stuck.

He was very lucky to have gotten it out alive!

 

[4FordFamily]

Very interesting article. Thank you for sharing. Based on your experience, what tang if any could I add. Would it be wiser to add two for diversion?

Two would be better, you may have to sump the clown either way, be aware.

A bristlooth tang of some sort would be a good addition, or you could add two more zebrasoma perhaps - a purple and a scopas perhaps. Sailfin get too large long-term.

 

[TangingOut]

I know you would rather not have another Zebrasoma, but a purple tang would look nice swimming with the yellows. Just put a mirror up prior to introduction so the established tangs can fight their reflection while the new guy settles in.

 

[Erwan E]

I know you would rather not have another Zebrasoma, but a purple tang would look nice swimming with the yellows. Just put a mirror up prior to introduction so the established tangs can fight their reflection while the new guy settles in.

I would love a purple. It is not that I don’t want another zebrazoma, I just thought that to many of them might be a recipe for disaster since I am aware that I am really pushing my luck by having 3 yellows.