When should I add a tang?

[danenelsen]

Hello everyone! Right now, I have a 55 gallon tank with only 2 clowns in it. I eventually want to get a yellow tang. (Even if I eventually need to resell it) I had a little trouble getting my tank started, but now I believe it's fine, as the last fish I added survived. When could I add a Tang? Next, I'm planning to add a Diamond Goby, or another sand sifter/cleaner, but after that I don't have any plans. I set up the tank in late October.

 

[Mr Fishface]

Whenever you have algae in your tank. Just have a plan when it gets too big. I would recommend biota for the yellow tang.

 

[Uncle99]

Yellow is not overly aggressive, have one 5 years now, didn’t get much beyond 4”.
I add tangs last and at the same time if more than one.

 

[Dbichler]

I personally wouldn’t in a 55 gallon. I have 3 tangs in my 6 ft 210 and think they want more space.

 

[danenelsen]

Yellow is not overly aggressive, have one 5 years now, didn’t get much beyond 4”.
I add tangs last and at the same time if more than one.

Ok, is there a reason you add them last?

 

[danenelsen]

Whenever you have algae in your tank. Just have a plan when it gets too big. I would recommend biota for the yellow tang.

Ok, thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Uncle99]

Ok, is there a reason you add them last?

Yup, if you add them first, they (some more than others) will take over as much territory as possible, and will defend that territory from new additions, once secured.

If you add them last, then everyone has their spot already and while this does not eliminate aggression, but certainly goes along way to reduce it, or at least IME.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Ok, is there a reason you add them last?

Tangs are notoriously nasty to new additions, and considering they're all equipped with 2 surgically sharp scalpels, that can end pretty nasty. They tend to ignore things that were in the tank before them

 

[danenelsen]

Ok, thank you everyone!