Powder Blue Tang Addition

[Magic031707]

Hello,
Getting ready to purchase a red stripe filefish and a flame hawkfish here in the coming days as they are replacements as the other escaped out the tank somehow. Anyway, I was wondering what everyone thoughts/opinions were about adding a PB tang to the mix. Really like the fish, but nervous about the aggression. The wife and the kids has been begging me to get one. The tank is a 7ft 255 gallon display with 75 gallon sump. Current livestock is as follows:
Lieutenant Tang 6-7in (boss of the tank now)
Mimic Tang 4.5in
Sailfin Tang 5.5in
Yellow Tang 4 5in
Tomini Tang 3.5in
Juvenile Emperor Angel 4in
Foxface 6in
Flameback dwarf angel
4 different reef safe wrassess
Black Cap basslet
Clownfish
Bluethroat Trigger

It will be no more additions to the tank after this purchase.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Magic031707]

Sorry, tilefish, not filefish.

 

[W31Olds]

I always wanted a powder blue in my early years but now after seeing how aggressive my current Tang are I'm reluctant to get one that has an even worse reputation and is prone to ich. A Hippo might be a better choice. Mine is not as aggressive as my other Tangs, but they grow like weeds.

 

[Largeangels]

I would fully QT, then add in a specimen container, be ready for mirror trick and make sure you have a backup plan to remove him. I always leave room in my tanks to put a few dividers I can use when I do a large water change to catch them easier.

 

[BryanM]

Powder blues are highly susceptible to ich.

 

[Magic031707]

Thanks for the suggestions! Outside of the PB and Hippos, both ich magnets, what would be another Tang option with the current list.

 

[kboogie]

If you are going to do a Power Blue, it should be the last tang you add, and you should add a small one. I love Powder Blue Tangs, and I've had one on all my stocking lists. Because I love them and I frequently mix tangs and mix angels, managing aggression is normal for me. Powder Blue, Sohal, and Clown Tangs are three specific species of tangs that I recommend people only add them if they are willing to do the work and live with the consequences. I see you have a Tenneti, mixing Acanthurus is very tricky because they tend to be the most territorial and aggressive genus of tangs. While not all Acanthurus are very aggressive, you have a higher likelihood of an Acanthurus being aggressive than just about any other genus. Also, tangs will be more aggressive towards their own genus versus other genus.

In order to maximize success, I highly recommend people keep only one tang of each genus. I also highly discourage mixing tangs, especially mixing multiple Acanthurus tangs when you are practicing "ich management" instead of "ich eradication." This is important because there is always a modest level of stress on the tangs in a tang gang, where if you don't practice "ich eradication," you could find yourself in a constant state of outbreak because of normal tang hierarchy behavior.

90% of Powder Blue Tangs become very aggressive jerks but, if the absolute beauty of the fish has you wanting to put in the work. The things to do to increase success are as follows:

1. Keep your tangs well fed; they should eat multiple times a day, fat fish are happy fish, happy fish are less aggressive.

2. Always have tightly wadded nori in a clip in the tank, not a folded shet but tightly wadded so it last much longer.

3. Have a mirror ready to distract overly aggressive fish.

4. Be OK with the occasional chasing and fin nipping. That is normal, non-stop chasing of the same fish, or attacks to the points near death are not normal/acceptable.

 

[kboogie]

Powder blues are highly susceptible to ich.

While this statement has an element of truth to it, I feel that without the proper context, it is unintentionally misleading. All tangs have thinner mucus layers than other fish; this makes it easier for parasites like ich to attach. Additionally, very aggressive tangs live in a constant state of elevated stress as they focus on defending their territory. This elevated level of stress further thins their mucus layer, making it easier for parasites to attach. If the aquarist is practicing "ich eradication" and not "ich management," these are all moot points because you don't have to worry about ich. Have you ever wondered why large public aquariums don't have ich problems? It is not because they medicate the displays; they don't. It is not because they run massive UV sterilizers; because those are to control bacteria and algae blooms. It is because they practice "ich eradication" through medicated quarantine and don't have ich present. I do realize it requires more space and extends the time between acquiring a new fish and enjoying it in your display, but it solves so many problems and saves you a ton of money.

 

[Magic031707]

If you are going to do a Power Blue, it should be the last tang you add, and you should add a small one. I love Powder Blue Tangs, and I've had one on all my stocking lists. Because I love them and I frequently mix tangs and mix angels, managing aggression is normal for me. Powder Blue, Sohal, and Clown Tangs are three specific species of tangs that I recommend people only add them if they are willing to do the work and live with the consequences. I see you have a Tenneti, mixing Acanthurus is very tricky because they tend to be the most territorial and aggressive genus of tangs. While not all Acanthurus are very aggressive, you have a higher likelihood of an Acanthurus being aggressive than just about any other genus. Also, tangs will be more aggressive towards their own genus versus other genus.

In order to maximize success, I highly recommend people keep only one tang of each genus. I also highly discourage mixing tangs, especially mixing multiple Acanthurus tangs when you are practicing "ich management" instead of "ich eradication." This is important because there is always a modest level of stress on the tangs in a tang gang, where if you don't practice "ich eradication," you could find yourself in a constant state of outbreak because of normal tang hierarchy behavior.

90% of Powder Blue Tangs become very aggressive jerks but, if the absolute beauty of the fish has you wanting to put in the work. The things to do to increase success are as follows:

1. Keep your tangs well fed; they should eat multiple times a day, fat fish are happy fish, happy fish are less aggressive.

2. Always have tightly wadded nori in a clip in the tank, not a folded shet but tightly wadded so it last much longer.

3. Have a mirror ready to distract overly aggressive fish.

4. Be OK with the occasional chasing and fin nipping. That is normal, non-stop chasing of the same fish, or attacks to the points near death are not normal/acceptable.

Thank you for the info and tips!