Best peaceful small(ish) tang?

[MellowReefer]

I’m thinking of getting a tang in my 125 gallon reef tank (standard 6’ size). There are so many to choose from I was hoping to get some input from all you tang owners out there.

Do they really grow as large as the maximum size listed on LiveAquaria? For some reason I can’t picture a 10” fish in my tank. I’m hoping they usually don’t get that big.

I would like a relatively peaceful one. I’m open to any color except yellow as I already have two yellow fish. Here is my current livestock list, and I’m thinking after the tang I am pretty much done adding except maybe an exquisite wrasse before or after the tang.

2 clownfish (black/white)
1 royal gramma
1 blue/green chromis
1 bengaii cardinal
1 purple firefish
1 midas blenny
1 one-spot foxface

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

[bmullikin1]

kole tang, good grazers, nice temperment.

[mdbannister]

Most any tangs will get along with that list. I like sailfin tangs and yellow tangs for personality.

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[MellowReefer]

Originally Posted by bmullikin1

kole tang, good grazers, nice temperment.

I was thinking about the kole because they are supposed to only get to 7", but I've heard some people who got ones that are pretty aggressive. Others say their kole is really nice, so I guess it's hit or miss.

[MellowReefer]

Originally Posted by mdbannister

Most any tangs will get along with that list. I like sailfin tangs and yellow tangs for personality.

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I think the sailfin is gorgeous, but I'm not sure I want a fish that is supposed to get 1'3". Will it really get that big?

[hobbzz]

Try a a chocolate mimic. Starts out yellow, which I realize you dont want, but the adult coloration it really cool.

[Reefahholic]

Yellow Tang or Blue Hippo Tangs are awesome fish and have great personality.

My Powder Blue Tang is a mean fish and has a great memory. He is beautiful, but I wanted to choke him for a while. I took him out of my DT because he was being really territorial towards my Blue Hippo when I added him, and he remember that fish even after a week away from him. They are best friends now though. lol...

[EllieSuz]

The Tomini gets to be about 5" max and I really like their soft brown color with the white tail and yellow/orange fins. Mine is quite docile, but he doesn't take any lip from my more aggressive Flame Angel. And yes, those maximum lengths are accurate. That's why the bristletooth tangs like the Tomini and Kole are so popular.

[MellowReefer]

Originally Posted by hobbzz

Try a a chocolate mimic. Starts out yellow, which I realize you dont want, but the adult coloration it really cool.

I like the mimic half-black tang and it says peaceful on LA - anyone ever had that one?

[joejoe1055]

tomini, kole, convict come to mind

[sponger0]

Sailfins do get very large. 180 gallons

Hippos get extremely large. 240 gallons

Yellow tangs can be really aggressive.

[needmore-reef]

some many tangs, and we all have our favorites. Most will do fine with your list in a 125 and as long as you dont have multiple tangs aggression is rarley a concern.

Kole tangs are very fun to watch clean the glass.

[jaa1456]

A purple tang, Black tang, Chevron( but check adult coloration), any bristle tooth tang really. Powder Brown, Powder Blue, Gold rim( these three can be extremely aggressive). Those are just a few that will fit in your tank as adults.

[nanoreefer1000]

IMO stay to small bristletooth, yellow, scopas, or purple tangs. Maybe convict tangs.

[ACBlinky]

Another vote for the kole here. I want a kole in my tank, I think they're stunning -- purple with powder blue pinstripes, yellow eyes. I had a 2" one in the QT, but she died (not sure why). Peaceful, pretty algae grazer that can hold its own with others (aggressive clowns, the foxface) but won't bully anything.

[Fretfreak13]

I'm a big fan of powder brown tangs. I've never had a tank big enough for any tangs, but I work at a LFS and see a lot of different tangs come in and out the door. Obviously being crammed in a tiny tank at a LFS from a wholesaler is a traumatic experience, but I've never seen one bounce back "emotionally" faster than a powder brown. They are the friendliest things!

[Mussin]

I have a Yellow and kohle.. The kohle is awesome, the yellow is bit of a bully for the first few days then he is fine.

[skidoctor]

Just got my first tang on Tuesday. Sketched out for a day, now he swims around with no worries. And all of my algae is gone already.

[EllieSuz]

Since this is a tang thread, I want to take this opportunity to say how important quarantine is when you acquire a tang. It's essential for all new fish, of course, but none more so than tangs.

[Fretfreak13]

Also, if you do happen to look at sailfins, check out the Desjardini Sailfin tangs. A GAZILLION times prettier than a regular one!

[MellowReefer]

Thanks so much for all the replies.

So it seems most people have reported their tangs being peaceful with their other fish (that are not tangs). So when I'm reading the classifications on LiveAquaria.com, for example it labels the purple tang as "aggressive" so I ruled it out. And I love the powder brown but also didn't want "semi-aggressive". Do these ratings only apply to getting along with other tangs?

[Chriscro]

Atlantic Blue Tang. they have great juvie and adult colourations and are very peaceful

[kakalakasha]

If I was to get any tang it would be a mimic tang, a kole tang, or one of those "blue eye kole tang" bristletooth tangs! The smallest tangs, and all very attractive, and supposedly peaceful!