Need help with tang selection for my tank!

VIC · 11-13-2001, 10:04 AM

Felow reefers,
I need some feedback on what type of tank or tangs to put into my 155 gallon reef tank. It is connected to a 100 gallon sump so I actually have a 255.
I have some green algae growth with some calerpa but the mainstay of algae is red and green turf algae. I also have a bit of bubble algae. With these specifics in mind what type of tangs should I introduce and should they all go in together to avoid fighting? The inhabitants in the tank are a swiss guard, percula clown,royal gramma,fat head anthias. Thanks for the help.
Vic

Bughead · 11-13-2001, 12:35 PM

I'm going to answer this in installments. Twice I had nice long paragraphs and my computer froze!

Tangs are my favorite! You can keep just about any together as long as they aren't the same species or have very similar body types. Similar body types means similar feeding niches, causing competition.

More later....

Bughead · 11-13-2001, 12:47 PM

I've nicely kept a powder blue, regal (hippo), yellow, and foxface rabbit together. Even though powder blue is my favorite, I'd steer you away from them. They can be touchy and rather difficult to keep.

Bughead · 11-13-2001, 12:48 PM

Naso gets very large and probably shouldn't be kept in a tank less than 200. But with your 150, I'd say you can keep several tangs of other varieties.

Bughead · 11-13-2001, 12:57 PM

As far as algae eaters, my foxface rabbit is a champion. The regal tang, although vegetarian, does not clean up much nuissance algae. Most Acanthurus do a good job, but be aware that each species prefers different algaes. My powder blue dearly loved the red algaes, while the yellow tang seemed to like the brown algae best. Variety is the key, with plenty of greens like caulerpa and nori.

Sailfin tangs are quite popular in the reef tank. They're gorgeous, too. I wouldn't try to keep one with a yellow tang (another zebramosa ), but you could keep an Acanthurus with one.

OK, the 'puter froze two more times, so I'm going to quit now while i'm ahead.

rededteck · 11-13-2001, 01:48 PM

Each case is different with tangs. I have (in order of addition) A yellow, purple, naso, juvenile atlantic blue, kole, and a sailfin. My naso is peaceful, the remainder are a little frisky. My best bet for you to try is a KOLE. They are cool looking and graze like cattle, hardy, inexpensive, etc.

**kevinpo** · 11-14-2001, 11:01 AM

I have a purple, naso, hippo, red sea sailfin, and a virgate rabbitfish (it's a algae eating machine) they get along fine. Your tank is too small for a naso (18" max size) and the rabbitfish (12" max). hippo/scopas is a good combination as is kole/hippo. Tangs can become very tame and will eat from your fingers and follow the glass cleaning magnets. The key to long term health of these great fish is to provide algae based foods (such as Formula2)

good luck,
Kevin

11-13-2001, 10:04 AM	#1
VIC Citizen Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Elmwood Park, N.J. U.S.A Posts: 134	Need help with tang selection for my tank! Felow reefers, I need some feedback on what type of tank or tangs to put into my 155 gallon reef tank. It is connected to a 100 gallon sump so I actually have a 255. I have some green algae growth with some calerpa but the mainstay of algae is red and green turf algae. I also have a bit of bubble algae. With these specifics in mind what type of tangs should I introduce and should they all go in together to avoid fighting? The inhabitants in the tank are a swiss guard, percula clown,royal gramma,fat head anthias. Thanks for the help. Vic

11-13-2001, 12:35 PM	#2
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	I'm going to answer this in installments. Twice I had nice long paragraphs and my computer froze! Tangs are my favorite! You can keep just about any together as long as they aren't the same species or have very similar body types. Similar body types means similar feeding niches, causing competition. More later.... __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts. Last edited by Bughead; 11-13-2001 at 12:45 PM.

11-13-2001, 12:47 PM	#3
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	I've nicely kept a powder blue, regal (hippo), yellow, and foxface rabbit together. Even though powder blue is my favorite, I'd steer you away from them. They can be touchy and rather difficult to keep. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts.

11-13-2001, 12:48 PM	#4
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	Naso gets very large and probably shouldn't be kept in a tank less than 200. But with your 150, I'd say you can keep several tangs of other varieties. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts.

11-13-2001, 12:57 PM	#5
Bughead Governor Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA Posts: 1,152	As far as algae eaters, my foxface rabbit is a champion. The regal tang, although vegetarian, does not clean up much nuissance algae. Most Acanthurus do a good job, but be aware that each species prefers different algaes. My powder blue dearly loved the red algaes, while the yellow tang seemed to like the brown algae best. Variety is the key, with plenty of greens like caulerpa and nori. Sailfin tangs are quite popular in the reef tank. They're gorgeous, too. I wouldn't try to keep one with a yellow tang (another zebramosa ), but you could keep an Acanthurus with one. OK, the 'puter froze two more times, so I'm going to quit now while i'm ahead. __________________ The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but it's the thought that counts. Last edited by Bughead; 11-13-2001 at 12:59 PM.

11-13-2001, 01:48 PM	#6
rededteck Sci Fi Reefer Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: central pa, usa Posts: 394	Each case is different with tangs. I have (in order of addition) A yellow, purple, naso, juvenile atlantic blue, kole, and a sailfin. My naso is peaceful, the remainder are a little frisky. My best bet for you to try is a KOLE. They are cool looking and graze like cattle, hardy, inexpensive, etc. __________________ "That is the sound of inevitability..."

11-14-2001, 11:01 AM	#7
kevinpo Moderator Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Spokane Valley WA Posts: 2,452	I have a purple, naso, hippo, red sea sailfin, and a virgate rabbitfish (it's a algae eating machine) they get along fine. Your tank is too small for a naso (18" max size) and the rabbitfish (12" max). hippo/scopas is a good combination as is kole/hippo. Tangs can become very tame and will eat from your fingers and follow the glass cleaning magnets. The key to long term health of these great fish is to provide algae based foods (such as Formula2) good luck, Kevin __________________ SPSguy On - On

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