Adding a tang?

Reefer_Marc

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Good sunday everyone

I wanted to check here what the experts are thinking. I would like to add another tang to my tank, but not sure if it will fit with my current inhabitants or if it would be too much.
It is a 425l /~110g tank, with quite some open space and lots of rock to hide, i will attach a fts.
Current stock list:
- 4 green chromis
- 2 clowns
- 1 tominis tang
- 2 yellow wrasse
- 1 flame dwarf angel
- 1 lawnmower blenny

I am mostly worried because i already have a tominis tang, which is in the tank for almost 2 years. I added the flame angel back in march, didnt see any sign of aggression or problems and they still all live peaceful. I also added the blenny a bit after the flame angel, again, no sign of aggressions.
My tominis is quite shy and mostly hides when i approach the tank, and i havent seen him pick on any other fish. So that gives me hope.
I also recently remodeled all of my rockwork.

I have some ideas for a new tang, which are the following:
- yellow tang (probably still too expensive currently)
- powder blue tang (ich magnet?)
- scopas tang
- powder black (acan. Japonicus)
- doubleband surgeonfish

I tried to find some that are not the same genus (ctenochaetus) in hopes aggression will be less because of different form/colours?

Im curios
to see what you guys think here!
Thanks in advance for all advice.

20251130_175405_0B417912-7D14-4BA9-A411-6D1089CA22B8.png
 

littlefoxx

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Given tank size and current fish I vote for a yellow! A powder blue would be a nightmare in that size tank, super territorial and do best in very large tanks! Scopas are good too. I just wouldnt do any of the others with this tank due to size and aggression ☺️
 

srose

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I vote yellow tang

when I introduce new tangs to an established tang tank I’ve put sheets of egg crate in areas of the tank to give them a little race way and have enough space to be in there comfortably for a few days.
 

Euphyllia97

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I think you can get away with another smaller tang. Tank length would be nice to know, For an additional yellow tang I would say 5ft preferred, but 4ft can work as a bare minimum. I wouldn’t go for a japonicus or pbt… they will most likely end up being agressive in this size tank against another tang. For the yellow tang, you should be fine for its entire lifetime if you consider it to be your last fish
 
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Reefer_Marc

Reefer_Marc

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Thanks everyone!
It is a 120cm long tank, so 4 feet.
I would love a yellow tang, if it wasnt for the price. Currently they cost between 400 to 600 dollars here, which is just too much for me.

So a scopas would work too? I dont really plan on adding anymore fish. I just have the feeling the tank looks a bit empty at the moment, considering the tominis and flame angel often hide when i approach.
 

Euphyllia97

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Thanks everyone!
It is a 120cm long tank, so 4 feet.
I would love a yellow tang, if it wasnt for the price. Currently they cost between 400 to 600 dollars here, which is just too much for me.

So a scopas would work too? I dont really plan on adding anymore fish. I just have the feeling the tank looks a bit empty at the moment, considering the tominis and flame angel often hide when i approach.
Scopas get a little bit bigger than yellow tangs, but also a bit less agressive. I would say you can get away for a long time (maybe permanent) if you buy a small scopas. If you don’t here from me after this post, chances are high the tang police found me
 
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Reefer_Marc

Reefer_Marc

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Thanks everyone!
It is a 120cm long tank, so 4 feet.
I would love a yellow tang, if it wasnt for the price. Currently they cost between 400 to 600 dollars here, which is just too much for me.

So a scopas would work too? I dont really plan on adding anymore fish. I just have the feeling the tank looks a bit empty at the moment, considering the tominis and flame angel often hide when i approach.
Scopas get a little bit bigger than yellow tangs, but also a bit less agressive. I would say you can get away for a long time (maybe permanent) if you buy a small scopas. If you don’t here from me after this post, chances are high the tang police found me
I just wanna make sure that the fishes will have a good life, thats most important.

If you have any other suggestions for some pretty fish i am open to that too :)
 

larrysaltisfun

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I agree with everyone here I’ve had a scopas in a 120 gallon 4 foot tank for 13 years. There’s lots of rock work for him to swim in and out of and they don’t like to do a lot of laps they like to graze on rocks and cruising and out of the rock work.


In another 210 gallon tank I just held my breath and added a powder brown tang and a purple tang . That tank had another scopas tang in it. I would recommend in addition to the other advice here , putting mirrors in your tank at each end for a couple of days My scopic tang tail struck the mirror for the entire first day and left the purple tang completely alone …..now they are buddies.
 

Euphyllia97

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I just wanna make sure that the fishes will have a good life, thats most important.

If you have any other suggestions for some pretty fish i am open to that too :)
Definitely will. They are not the same as the long distance swimming tangs, so should be happy and thriving in your tank
 

larrysaltisfun

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Lol there’s a good reason for Tang police to keep people from me from going wild. but I can attest that my Scopas of 13 years has been very happy in the 120 gallon tank. I would not ever consider putting a powder blue or powder brown in that or a hippo tang God forbid .
 
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Reefer_Marc

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I just wanna make sure that the fishes will have a good life, thats most important.

If you have any other suggestions for some pretty fish i am open to that too :)
Definitely will. They are not the same as the long distance swimming tangs, so should be happy and thriving in your tank
Thats great!
What size would you recommend? Getting them small, about 2 inch, or a bit bigger, 3 inch? On the website i use i can choose between those two sizes
 
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Reefer_Marc

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Lol there’s a good reason for Tang police to keep people from me from going wild. but I can attest that my Scopas of 13 years has been very happy in the 120 gallon tank. I would not ever consider putting a powder blue or powder brown in that or a hippo tang God forbid .
Thanks for your experience!
I was getting conflicting results when googling for the powder brown, but yeah, hippo tang definitely not.
I guess scopas it will be :)
 

larrysaltisfun

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My opinion is either size would be fine. It’s kind of cool to watch them grow up
if it all possible get one pre-quarantined and I would recommend quarantining it yourself following Vette guys and Jay Hemdal’s protocols on this site.

I’m lucky enough that I can drive 75 miles to a fish store and pick out my fish but I always make sure that they eat before I buy them. I don’t know if there’s anyway to do that online.
 

Euphyllia97

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Thanks for your experience!
I was getting conflicting results when googling for the powder brown, but yeah, hippo tang definitely not.
I guess scopas it will be :)
Yeah imo, every tank below 6ft length should stick to bristletooths or zebrasoma’s. Hippi would definitely be a no go if you are aiming for the long term. I would personally take a 2 inch but 3 inch is fine too. Really a personal choice, it will grow anyway :)
 

larrysaltisfun

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Lol there’s a good reason for Tang police to keep people from me from going wild. but I can attest that my Scopas of 13 years has been very happy in the 120 gallon tank. I would not ever consider putting a powder blue or powder brown in that or a hippo tang God forbid .
Thanks for your experience!
I was getting conflicting results when googling for the powder brown, but yeah, hippo tang definitely not.
I guess scopas it will be :)
IMO the powder brown is too big for that tank size all of my experience is from my own fish. I waited years to get a powder brown and I waited till I had a 6 foot tank so I agree with everyone here who has more experience than me about a scopas being a good choice for 120
 

larrysaltisfun

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And the last thing I’ll say because I do have too much time on my hands today. Scopas tangs are kind of underrated because they may not be as dynamic looking like a yellow or purple but they do have unique coloring, and they do get lighter and darker, depending on their lighting and their mood you can also expect them to live 15 to 20 years in a tank that’s taken care of so they will be your pet forever (mic drop) off the stage
 

Euphyllia97

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And the last thing I’ll say because I do have too much time on my hands today. Scopas tangs are kind of underrated because they may not be as dynamic looking like a yellow or purple but they do have unique coloring, and they do get lighter and darker, depending on their lighting and their mood you can also expect them to live 15 to 20 years in a tank that’s taken care of so they will be your pet forever (mic drop) off the stage
I vote + on this. I even like their coloration more than the yellows. The yellows can look really great but I have noticed under most reef lights and maybe due to being tank-bred or unbalanced feeding they tend to look less bright yellow and more whitish. Scopas always look amazing
 

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Good sunday everyone

I wanted to check here what the experts are thinking. I would like to add another tang to my tank, but not sure if it will fit with my current inhabitants or if it would be too much.
It is a 425l /~110g tank, with quite some open space and lots of rock to hide, i will attach a fts.
Current stock list:
- 4 green chromis
- 2 clowns
- 1 tominis tang
- 2 yellow wrasse
- 1 flame dwarf angel
- 1 lawnmower blenny

I am mostly worried because i already have a tominis tang, which is in the tank for almost 2 years. I added the flame angel back in march, didnt see any sign of aggression or problems and they still all live peaceful. I also added the blenny a bit after the flame angel, again, no sign of aggressions.
My tominis is quite shy and mostly hides when i approach the tank, and i havent seen him pick on any other fish. So that gives me hope.
I also recently remodeled all of my rockwork.

I have some ideas for a new tang, which are the following:
- yellow tang (probably still too expensive currently)
- powder blue tang (ich magnet?)
- scopas tang
- powder black (acan. Japonicus)
- doubleband surgeonfish

I tried to find some that are not the same genus (ctenochaetus) in hopes aggression will be less because of different form/colours?

Im curios
to see what you guys think here!
Thanks in advance for all advice.

20251130_175405_0B417912-7D14-4BA9-A411-6D1089CA22B8.png
Not an expert short form answer no. You cannot guarantee the personality of them. Mine is a terror. My Yellow was shy. You to me have lots already
 

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