Tangs in a 125 gallon

[abcxyz123]

As of now i have a 30 gal reef tank and will most likely upgrade to a 125 gallon. I know the tank size a tang needs is probably the most talked about subject in the hobby and i was wondering if a blue, yellow, and sailfin tang would be pushing the limit. I would buy them young for my tank. Sorry if this is a stupid question because i know that a lot of people are touchy on this issue, but i really dont know what is ok and not ok. Im open to anything you have to say and thanks

[mikem101]

VERY bad idea, the biggest mistake in this hobby is buying fish for a tank you plan on upgrading to! Buy fish for the tank you have not one you MIGHT have in the future wait till you get it to stock for that! Even just one the smallest tangs you can get will have a very hard time living in a 30 gallon for any period of time and most likely will die. Be patient and wait till you get a tank that can house such bug fish. And FYI a 125 is to small to have a 3 of them in there maybe a blue and a yellow would be ok but no the sailfin!

[ingtar_shinowa]

yellow and sailfin are both of the same genus anyway (agree a 125 is too small for a sailfin as well as a blue hippo) 125 is not too small for 3 tangs. Any Zebrasoma other than sailfin or black, small-medium Acanthurus, and most Ctenochaetus would be ok based on Rock, filtration, and other stock. I have had a black/scopas, lavender, and tomini together since 2011 and the get along great, eat very well, and have plenty of areas to be alone if they want to be.

That being said 30g is too small even for young tangs and untill you have the new tank up and running and are using that 30 as a QT, don't buy them if you want them to thrive.

[mikem101]

+1 ^

[abcxyz123]

Originally Posted by ingtar_shinowa

yellow and sailfin are both of the same genus anyway (agree a 125 is too small for a sailfin as well as a blue hippo) 125 is not too small for 3 tangs. Any Zebrasoma other than sailfin or black, small-medium Acanthurus, and most Ctenochaetus would be ok based on Rock, filtration, and other stock. I have had a black/scopas, lavender, and tomini together since 2011 and the get along great, eat very well, and have plenty of areas to be alone if they want to be.

That being said 30g is too small even for young tangs and untill you have the new tank up and running and are using that 30 as a QT, don't buy them if you want them to thrive.

Thank you for your help! I wasn't planning on getting the tangs in my 30 gallon I was going to wait for a bigger tank, sorry for not making it clear enough. Instead of a sailfin would a powder blue tang fit in my tank?

[ingtar_shinowa]

A sailfin just gets too big. A 16" fish in an 18" tank gets pretty cramped. I mean it would probably live for a few years, but I've seen a yellow that was kept for years in a 75g with a hippo and both those fish are scared up and mean as hell. Its awful to see. The extra 6 inches you get from a 180 make a HUGE difference I wish I had 180s instead of 125s.

[vitodog]

I think the 125's dimensions should be a consideration. My 125's dimensions are 48x30x20, I'm not sure if 48" is long enough for a tang. What do you think ingtar _ shinowa?

[mikecc67548]

[Post Removed]

[ingtar_shinowa]

Wow Mike, that is the least intelligent thing I've read in a long while.

Vitodog: In that tank I would stick with Ctenochaetus tangs. I once had a scopas tang in a 4ft tank years ago and all he did was rapidly pace back and forth and die after a couple months. The 'white tail bristletooth' comes in a red coloration that is too die for.

[saltyair]

Originally Posted by mikecc67548

[Post Removed]

i hope that's just u being sarcastic

if your up grading go with a 6ft tank like a 180 gal - it will give fish more space - yellow tang and sailfin don't mix imo

[mikem101]

I thought it was something I said lol, I can't see what the other mike posted!

[abcxyz123]

Originally Posted by ingtar_shinowa

A sailfin just gets too big. A 16" fish in an 18" tank gets pretty cramped. I mean it would probably live for a few years, but I've seen a yellow that was kept for years in a 75g with a hippo and both those fish are scared up and mean as hell. Its awful to see. The extra 6 inches you get from a 180 make a HUGE difference I wish I had 180s instead of 125s.

What could be some tangs that are fit for a 125 gal reef tank? Im also interested in powder blue tangs but im not sure if that would fit either

[ingtar_shinowa]

PBT Would be ok, they can be mean. I was going to add a PBT with a a bristletooth and a scopas when I originally set up my 125g. I have them in QT with a 100g rubbermaid with a couple hundred pounds of rock and the PBT killed the other tangs, a goby, and almost my damsel. I don't want one anymore lol.

[ACBlinky]

I think I'd stick to two tangs, probably a yellow and a bristletooth, for a 125g. I have three tangs in my 150g (48"L x 24"W x 30"H) BUT, did not plan to. I had planned on a yellow and kole (one of my favourite fish), but a well-meaning family member bought us 'Dory' (1" baby blue tang) and we chose to keep her, at least while she's small.

I would advise against the PBT, I've heard too many stories about their aggressive tendencies. If you do choose a more aggressive/territorial tang, make sure you have lots of hiding spaces in the tank and try to have the grouch be the smallest fish in the tank (or at least the smallest tang).

[abcxyz123]

But a blue tang is too big for it?

[ingtar_shinowa]

Alot of people keep them n tanks that are not ideal. Almost every hippo i've seen i a 180-220 and below begins to develop alot of scarring from HLLE. Many people who keep these fish recommend an 8ft tank so they can swim.

[DopeCantWin]

Originally Posted by ingtar_shinowa

Alot of people keep them n tanks that are not ideal. Almost every hippo i've seen i a 180-220 and below begins to develop alot of scarring from HLLE. Many people who keep these fish recommend an 8ft tank so they can swim.

What's weird is I was watching a 3"ish Blue Tang in a 2000+ gallon tank and he acted like basically a larger clown.

[syrinx]

I have cared for a tank for years that is a 125 with a yellow, a purple, and a blue in it. I likely would not have put the blue hep in, but it is 17 years old now- and the purple and yellow are 14, so I am not going to judge the owners decision. I def would not do a sailfin in a 125. They grow fast,and can be aggressive-they are one I like a 8ft tank for.

[aileen]

I have a sailfin, a purple and a blue hippo in my 195g and honestly they seem to be doing fine so far. Tank is 72x24x26. The purple is starting to get aggressive with my two false percs oddly, but no aggression between the tangs with each other or any other fish. I'm not sure i would put two of the same shaped tangs in a 120g though. Two different shaped ones would be cool, like a hippo and yellow for instance.

[_Mackus_]

Consider a Kole tang. I've got one in my 5 foot 125 gallon and he is great, lots of personality and doesn't bother anybody.

[Speedoking]

Never buy a fish for a tank you don't have. One it isn't fair for the fish and two it will keep the tank police off your case!

[mikedoyle]

I have a yellow and a blonde naso in a 150 gal long for about a year and a half and both are doing very well

[skeeter_usaf]

I have a 12 inch Deja Tang in my 220 and its close to being to small for her. She is a sweetheart though. Dang thing lets you pet her like a dog, lol

[DopeCantWin]

Originally Posted by skeeter_usaf

I have a 12 inch Deja Tang in my 220 and its close to being to small for her. She is a sweetheart though. Dang thing lets you pet her like a dog, lol

I'm guaranteeing a sailfin desjardini right now for my 210. The little guy isn't bigger than an inch. You think I should pass it to someone with a bigger tank?

[abcxyz123]

Originally Posted by ingtar_shinowa

Alot of people keep them n tanks that are not ideal. Almost every hippo i've seen i a 180-220 and below begins to develop alot of scarring from HLLE. Many people who keep these fish recommend an 8ft tank so they can swim.

Is there any way to prevent HLLE for a blue tang?