Recommend a tang?

[Lenny_S]

I have a Kole Tang and a Tenneti (Lieutenant) tang. Tenneti is not all that much to look at as a juvenile, but they are pretty nice as adults. Pretty peaceful, Kole and Tenneti get along great (even added weeks apart), doesn't get all that big, and the Tenneti is a real algae muncher.
Tenneti is my vote.

 

[Danny Folk]

A white tail bristletooth! Beautiful red fish.

 

[Justin D]

I have 15 tangs together now the best at cleaning algae by far is my clown tang there are hard to keep but if you know what your doing then it can work out every body told me I can't have a clown tang with a sohal tang it work for me with no problems at all

 

[4FordFamily]

Chevron is a great choice as well as any bristletooth tang by and large. Acanthurus tangs won't be happy in a 4 foot tank it's just not enough room and the quarantine requirements are also prohibitive for many hobbyists.

IMO zebrasoma tangs except for sailfins will be fine in a 4 foot tank (yellow, purple, scopas, black, gem, etc). I've kept sailfins temporarily but you would be surprised how quickly they'll outgrow 4 feet!

If we are factoring in aggression here then you're probably better off with the bristletooth genus. Purple and yellow get nasty, especially as standalone tangs. In groups of tangs they're largely harmless but with fewer tangs things get very dicey.

 

[4FordFamily]

I have 15 tangs together now the best at cleaning algae by far is my clown tang there are hard to keep but if you know what your doing then it can work out every body told me I can't have a clown tang with a sohal tang it work for me with no problems at all

Clown and Sohal is asking for trouble. At some point one of them is going to turn on the other and hard, I suspect. The only reason you may have a semblance of a chance is that you have so many other tangs to spread aggression.

My money is still on them having a very heated, sudden, and deadly "break up" down the road.

 

[Ubans13]

Lavander tang, or tomini.

 

[redwingrob40]

Just curious as to why you do not want to get another yellow eye kole? Not that I think you should or anything, but I'd like

Yeah the yellow eye I had got pretty agressive with my wrasses, so he had to go. Plus I want to a fish that looks a bit different.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I like the idea of the white tail, chevron or tomini, they are all nice looking colorful fish. Lavender is a possibility too, but they don't really seem to be available.

 

[redwingrob40]

Chevron is a great choice as well as any bristletooth tang by and large. Acanthurus tangs won't be happy in a 4 foot tank it's just not enough room and the quarantine requirements are also prohibitive for many hobbyists.

IMO zebrasoma tangs except for sailfins will be fine in a 4 foot tank (yellow, purple, scopas, black, gem, etc). I've kept sailfins temporarily but you would be surprised how quickly they'll outgrow 4 feet!

If we are factoring in aggression here then you're probably better off with the bristletooth genus. Purple and yellow get nasty, especially as standalone tangs. In groups of tangs they're largely harmless but with fewer tangs things get very dicey.

Thanks 4ford! Good info here. I definitely want to keep aggression towards my wrasse to an absolute minimum.

 

[NeuroticAquatics]

I agree with 4FordFamily on the Sailfin being too big for a 4' tank. I had a 13" Desjardini that looked huge in my 240g. 8' long was barely enough.

 

[patsheridan]

I just added a spotted bristletooth about a month ago and it took him awhile to get over his shyness but now all he does is cruise around and pick at algae. Pretty cool, pretty fish, here's a pic

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks 4ford! Good info here. I definitely want to keep aggression towards my wrasse to an absolute minimum.

I doubt any of them will bully a wrasse --- but it's not outside the realm of possibility especially with so few fish. Zebrasoma more likely than the bristletooths as I said.

 

[Bbaz123456]

Yellow is nice because of the outstanding colour.
Acanthurus japonicus (powder brown tang) is also docile and not big. I have one and from the moment she entered the tank, she started cleaning rock and windows and has not stopped since. They say they are white spot magnets, but I have not encountered any problem with proper quarantine period.
Any bristletooth tang is also an option.
All good algae cleaners.

Powder brown docile??!! Haha that's funny! There is always an exception to every rule, but by no means can the powder brown be considered docile. Or as mentioned by somebody else, I wouldn't consider any acanthurus for a 4' tank.
Purple or chevron would be my picks

 

[redwingrob40]

Thanks everyone, I think I have narrowed it down to either a chevron, whitetail bristletooth, tomini, or maybe a lavender. Love the juvi chevron but they can be a bit pricey, white tail are kinda pricey too and a little harder to find. Some of the tomini pics in the tang lovers thread are just stunning. Decisions, decisions decisons

 

[redwingrob40]

I doubt any of them will bully a wrasse --- but it's not outside the realm of possibility especially with so few fish. Zebrasoma more likely than the bristletooths as I said.

Yeah I def want more wrasse but I'm taking it slowly, cause some of the fish I want are hard to come by, but I really do need more fishplus I only have a 20g qt so 2 at a time is really the most I can handle.

 

[4FordFamily]

Thanks everyone, I think I have narrowed it down to either a chevron, whitetail bristletooth, tomini, or maybe a lavender. Love the juvi chevron but they can be a bit pricey, white tail are kinda pricey too and a little harder to find. Some of the tomini pics in the tang lovers thread are just stunning. Decisions, decisions decisons

Lavender are acanthurus tangs and will quickly outgrow it and carry the same aforementioned disease risks.

 

[redwingrob40]

Lavender are acanthurus tangs and will quickly outgrow it and carry the same aforementioned disease risks.

Thanks! It'll be between the three others then.... Guess I'll check out local this weekend see what's available...

 

[jenjen]

I had a tomini in my 180. By far one of my favorite fish. Great docile personality, excellent work ethic (I don't think I ever saw him not picking at something) and stayed a nice size that didn't look too large for my system. I wasn't a huge fan of the look before I got one (seemed kind of bland) and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it's subtle beauty once I had one. I'd highly recommend the tomini.

I've also had kole, yellow, chocolate, powder brown, striated over the years, and currently have yellow & striated. Lost the tomini in a full tank wipe out (velvet) otherwise I'd definitely still have him.

 

[SeaDweller]

Other option, generally more expensive is the ctenochaetus hawaiiensis (chevron tang).
Not aggressive and wonderful colours.

As a juvenile. The red color attracts most people.

However, as it matures it's quite bland and monotone. I prefer the adult colors; the electric blue stripes that appear when the blue LEDs come on are just stunning on the fish.

When full spectrum lighting is on... It's blah.

Anyway, bristle tooth tangs clean everything: slime algae, algae, poop...

 

[redwingrob40]

Jenjen thank you for sharing your experience with the tomini, they are def in the short list of fish, sorry to hear that you lost yours.

Titan, thanks for sharing about the chevron tang, also on the short list of possibilities. I've never seen an adult chevron in person but the pics I have seen look absolutely stunning.

 

[redwingrob40]

Anyone have experience with the two spot bristletooth? Like the look and thinking one might be appropriate...