Yellow tang question....

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

Hey guys,

What do you think about me putting a yellow tang in my tank at the same time as the clean up crew. The tank is cycled. My reasoning behind this is that the tang would hopefully help take care of the uglies in conjunction with the clean up crew. Am I right in thinking this, or would I be doing more hard than good? Thanks for any input!!

nereefpat · Apr 3, 2019

In general, folks will suggest to ad aggressive tangs last.

What is the rest of your stock list?
Tank size?

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

It’s a 75, so I’m thinking a small yellow tang, 2 clowns, hopefully a flame angel and a goby or 2

puffy127 · Apr 3, 2019

I think it will make it difficult to add any fish after that due to it's aggressiveness. Why don't you try a lawnmower blenny instead? It absolutely decimated my green hair algae.

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

puffy127 said:
I think it will make it difficult to add any fish after that due to it's aggressiveness. Why don't you try a lawnmower blenny instead? It absolutely decimated my green hair algae.

Didn’t even think of that, will that be okay to put in with the clean up crew?

Mastiffsrule · Apr 3, 2019

I gonna get boo’d but I say yes. It is 50/50, but get them young enough and don’t go too long without adding anything else I think ok. Don’t Boo me, just my opinion.

If the guy is in there 2 or 3 months then there may be an issue since it establish its territory, still you could always rescape the tank to change his environment.

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

Mastiffsrule said:
I gonna get boo’d but I say yes. It is 50/50, but get them young enough and don’t go too long without adding anything else I think ok. Don’t Boo me, just my opinion.

If the guy is in there 2 or 3 months then there may be an issue since it establish its territory, still you could always rescape the tank to change his environment.

Are you talking about the tang or the blenny?

nereefpat · Apr 3, 2019

Afrashz said:
It’s a 75, so I’m thinking a small yellow tang, 2 clowns, hopefully a flame angel and a goby or 2

Don't worry so much about the early uglies. A clean up crew or algae eating fish won't help as much as you might think.

Definitely add the yellow tang last. I don't love it for a 75, but it will be okay as long as it's the only tang, and you give it as much swimming room as possible, and you add it last.

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

nereefpat said:
Don't worry so much about the early uglies. A clean up crew or algae eating fish won't help as much as you might think.

Definitely add the yellow tang last. I don't love it for a 75, but it will be okay as long as it's the only tang, and you give it as much swimming room as possible, and you add it last.

Alright I appreciate the help, my rock scape allows a lot of room for the tang, I will definatly add him last since the aggressiveness

5altkreep · Apr 3, 2019

A kole tang is a much better fit in a 75.
My yellow tang is about 5" and sometimes i almost feel like my 6' 125 isnt really big enough for him. Just my opinion, of course.

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

5altkreep said:
A kole tang is a much better fit in a 75.
My yellow tang is about 5" and sometimes i almost feel like my 6' 125 isnt really big enough for him. Just my opinion, of course.

I appreciate your opinion and Ive been conscious about that from the beginning, still got some thinking to do about it I just love the way they look!!

Raege · Apr 3, 2019

I had a yellow tang when I started my 75. He was fine with fish added at same time but by the time I wanted to add others no dice to settled in and territorial. If your adding other aggressive leaning fish maybe it would work out.
Our guy grew huge and was a beauty to watch but he’s been rehomed to a bigger aggressive tank.

nereefpat · Apr 3, 2019

5altkreep said:
A kole tang is a much better fit in a 75.
My yellow tang is about 5" and sometimes i almost feel like my 6' 125 isnt really big enough for him. Just my opinion, of course.

I agree that a Kole, or one of it's cousins (tomini, truncated, two spot, etc) would be a better fit.

I also agree that, if you were planning a tank for a yellow tang, a standard 125 would be better than a standard 75.

Jesterrace · Apr 3, 2019

Afrashz said:
Hey guys,

What do you think about me putting a yellow tang in my tank at the same time as the clean up crew. The tank is cycled. My reasoning behind this is that the tang would hopefully help take care of the uglies in conjunction with the clean up crew. Am I right in thinking this, or would I be doing more hard than good? Thanks for any input!!

Bad idea. Tangs don't usually do much for the brown uglies and you are putting a fish that is more aggressive in first and letting it get used to having the tank to itself. Tangs should go in last IMHO, unless you are doing a tank with nothing but Tangs. *EDIT* I agree a 75 gallon is too small for one. I had one that was around 4 inches in my 90 gallon and it tried to claim the entire tank as it's own after 1 month. Very aggressive fish. It's pushing it but a one spot foxface would be a much better solution. I put one in and my tank is much happier.

Jesterrace · Apr 3, 2019

Afrashz said:
I appreciate your opinion and Ive been conscious about that from the beginning, still got some thinking to do about it I just love the way they look!!

Incidentally here is what a One Spot Foxface looks like:

Afrashz · Apr 3, 2019

I love the fox face also, I always thought they also grew too big for a 75

ca1ore · Apr 3, 2019

Agree that a bristle is a much better choice to eat slime and film alga. Yellow is better for thread and hair algae - though not always a reliable consumer.