Is it possible to have only 2 tangs?

[Odenac]

Hello, this is another can I add fish post haha.
I have a 100 gallon aquarium 5' x 2' x 18" and I'm currently stocking
2 clownfish
5 blue green chromis
1 blue sapphire damsel
1 splendid dotty back
1 six line Wrasse
1 aptasia eating filefish
1 lawnmower blenny
1 neon goby
1 yellow watchman goby
1 tiger pistol shrimp
1 cleaner shrimp
1 starfish
6 trochus snails
7 Nassarius snails

I want to add 4 more fish being a mandrin dragonet, a foxface rabbitfish, a tomin tang, and a yellow tang.

My problem being those last two fish, can I have only 2 tangs in my aquarium or should I get a third one? I don't want aggression but I also don't know what other tang or if I can keep a third tang in this tank, since I don't plan on upgrading anytime soon. I've been told I can't keep tangs of the same family as well, which has made it hard to find the third tang, all the ones I like are either from the zebrazoma family or the ctenochaetus family.

If I can't keep another tang would the tomini and the yellow tang be fine? Or should I just cut my losses and only keep one?

Any help will be appreciated, thanks.

 

[mattgsa]

Usually, you want a long tank for tangs. I have four in my 300-gallon tank, but it's an 8-foot tank. Fortunately, bristle-tooth tangs stay small. I would be worried about aggression in that size tank. I put them in the tank simultaneously and have a mirror ready. Make sure you have a lot of established rock. Also, make sure food is always available. Elliot at Marine Collectors wrote a good article about keeping Acanthreus tangs together; you can find it on their website, and he has some great suggestions. If I'm wrong, the Tang Police will surely let you know. Good luck.

 

[rossco]

I had just a yellow tang and Kole tang together and they were best buds. Moved around and grazed together. When I combined tanks now my 2 yellows, purple, Kole, and white tailed tangs all do fine together.

 

[Odenac]

I had just a yellow tang and Kole tang together and they were best buds. Moved around and grazed together. When I combined tanks now my 2 yellows, purple, Kole, and white tailed tangs all do fine together

How long did you keep them together?

 

[mattgsa]

I had just a yellow tang and Kole tang together and they were best buds. Moved around and grazed together. When I combined tanks now my 2 yellows, purple, Kole, and white tailed tangs all do fine together.

I never have that kind of luck.

 

[Odenac]

Usually, you want a long tank for tangs. I have four in my 300-gallon tank, but it's an 8-foot tank. Fortunately, bristle-tooth tangs stay small. I would be worried about aggression in that size tank. I put them in the tank simultaneously and have a mirror ready. Make sure you have a lot of established rock. Also, make sure food is always available. Elliot at Marine Collectors wrote a good article about keeping Acanthreus tangs together; you can find it on their website, and he has some great suggestions. If I'm wrong, the Tang Police will surely let you know.

I've got an auto feeder that feeds 3 times a day which is about 50% hikari algae pellets, 25% TDO chromaboost, and 25% PE mysis pellets, and 3 algae clips in preparation for tangs (I don't actively have the clips in the tank yet) I figured I could bring aggression down if I always have options for food. And I will be putting them in at the same time, that's why I want to make sure it's ok long term, hopefully 5 years before I upgrade tanks

 

[Doctorgori]

Just for survey sample I just have a blue and yellow in one tank

 

[ccole]

I had a yellow tang and a bristletooth together for 2.5 years and they did fine with each other! I still have them both together with more tangs after upgrading my tank.

 

[Reefering1]

I say they would be fine. Add a foxface, to existing crew, and that tank is pretty much full though...

 

[Odenac]

I say they would be fine. Add a foxface, to existing crew, and that tank is pretty much full though...

Thanks, I think so too that's why I only want to add those 4 fish and no more, capping at 18 fish so my protein skimmer will actually be useful haha

 

[Reefering1]

That is alot of fish in a 100g, and the tangs/ foxface will load the system(they eat alot and make alot of waste). How long has this tank been running? Any algea issues(post pic of tank)? No3/po4 under control already? Cuc stocked and doing well?

 

[Odenac]

That is alot of fish in a 100g, and the tangs/ foxface will load the system(they eat alot and make alot of waste). How long has this tank been running? Any algea issues(post pic of tank)? No3/po4 under control already? Cuc stocked and doing well?

I'll have to post a picture when I get home. Tank has been running for 4 months but half of the rocks came from my 55 gallon tank that ran for a year. I do have a lot of bubble algae and some hair algae I've been battling with. My nitrate readings have been between 4-7 ppm, but my phosphate as of yesterday was 0.15, it's been coming down from 0.34 as of a month ago. I just got my protein skimmer last week and macro algae for my refugium on Saturday. So I'm hoping that will help bring down my readings a little bit more. My CUC is doing well it's just those snails I started earlier and 2 green emerald crabs

 

[Troylee]

Tangs can’t count lol.. who comes up with this odd number nonsense? :zany-face: I’ve seen it a lot! With any species in general it’s crazy!

 

[Reefering1]

Don't want the increased bio load to spark that into a "raging algea" problem. I would wait until you have it cleared up(or at least under control) before adding to it.

 

[Reefering1]

Maybe add to the clean up crew now.. like 3/4x

 

[CHSUB]

Tangs can’t count lol.. who comes up with this odd number nonsense? :zany-face: I’ve seen it a lot! With any species in general it’s crazy!

Imo, it’s not the odd number, it’s more than 2 to spread out aggression.

 

[littlefoxx]

Two tangs would be fine. I have two at the moment (plans to add more) but they get along just fine

 

[Troylee]

Imo, it’s not the odd number, it’s more than 2 to spread out aggression.

Nah… it’s good to add 2 or more at a time to spread out aggression.. I have 7 and no issues at all.. dang it! guess I gotta get my Achilles to make 8! I can’t have an odd number :rolling-on-the-floor-laughing:

 

[Odenac]

Maybe add to the clean up crew now.. like 3/4x

Ok I'll pick up some more snails and crabs in the meantime to help control it. Don't want all of it gone or else the tangs and rabbitfish would be out of a job when I get them haha

 

[PharmrJohn]

Yeah, I wouldn't have more than 2 tangs of the smaller variety. I'm not sure how many I'm putting in my tank. It'll be 48x39x25 (203g). I'm thinking 2 smaller and 1 bigger (Yellow, WT Bristletooth and a Purple). There's only a 4' swim lane, but a 39" width that'll give them a swim pattern. If ANYONE disagrees with this, please let me know. I'm open for input.