Tang for an 80 gallon

[tlips]

Hey everyone

I wanted to get opinions on a possible tang for my 80 gal. It’s 48x24x16. I appreciate everyone’s opinions. I plan on upgrading to at least a 150 in a year or two. Thanks!

potential stocking list:
1 or 2 tangs
1 foxface
2 wrasses
Diamond goby

 

[Letterkenny]

Oh boy, we got a new one here...

 

[pcon]

If you are going to be upgrading in a year or two why not just wait till then?

if you are dead set on getting one one of the small ones like a tomini or white tail could be okay but better to just wait till you have a larger tank. do a dwarf angel now.

 

[t5Nitro]

I wouldnt recommend it for an 80. I took in 2 because they were given to me when a friend took his 75 down. I moved them into my 75. They're cramped in this size tank. If they start to fight ive decided im going to put them in a large, up to 300 gallon, Rubbermaid tank as a temporary tank until I move and set up their new home.

If any I would limit to 1 bristletooth tang.

 

[Zionas]

If you really want a Tang in an 80 gallon (and yours is a 4’ tank) I can only suggest a Yellow Eye Kole, Tomini, Squaretail Bristletooth, or White Tail Bristletooth. Tangs in the 6-7” range. Make that your only Tang.

Smaller Zebrasoma or smaller Acanthurus will require at least a 6’ tank, Blue Hippo at least a 7’, 8’ even better, Naso and Sailfin (both Red Sea and Indo-Pacific) will need at least a 10’ tank long term, 12’ even better lol.

 

[Auquanut]

I'm going to have to agree with @Zionas. One of the smaller bristletooth tangs should fare well in your current tank. When it's time to upgrade, you can look at additional options. My yellow eye kole tang is an algae eating machine.

 

[Fakegolfnews]

Multiple tangs takes experience no matter the size of the tank, in a smaller tank its even harder. Maybe pick a tang you like and buy it small (like under 2 inches). Dont listen to these tang police/haters that have 10 8"-18" fish bumping into eachother and corals all day in a 180 gallon tank. Your one tang will have more room to swim than theirs ever will even if you dont upgrade for 3 years.
Be prepared, the tang police are coming.

 

[SDK]

Get one of the bristletooth tangs as suggested above. Kole tangs are a favorite of mine. They have that tang personality and will clean everything. I keep one even in larger tanks because they will scrape clean film algae and detritus that other tangs won’t touch.

A well cared for bristletooth in a proper tank environment can stay in an 80 gallon tank indefinitely. Then you can look into some others when you upgrade.

 

[tlips]

Thanks for everyone’s input! I decided to say screw it lol and I bought a shark lol. But I think I’m gonna go with a kole tang!

 

[Zionas]

Congrats! Hope you enjoy him!

 

[Dieing for a Drink]

yellow tang kole tang

 

[OrionN]

I think the smallest Foxface are the FoxFace Lo and the One spot. Both will grow very quick and will be too large for a 80 gal tank, in months rather than years so I would advise against them. Mine certainly reach 7 inches in a hurry.
I think one or even two small tangs will be fine. I would seriously consider Tomini, White Tail or Kole and a Yellow tang. Almost all the other tangs will need to be move out of a 80 gal in short order IMO.
Of course, this depends on how much you feed too. I always in the opinion that our fish need to be feed as much as they can eat. My tangs have food in the tank in the form of Nori clips which often run out later in the afternoon.

 

[4tanks]

Just to add I have a yellow and a silver spot in a 100g and I wouldn't want them in anything smaller

 

[southerntnreefer]

I had a yellow in a 90 for a while, he was a dink. He moved to a 220 and chilled out. I vowed then i wouldnt have another tang. I sold off the 220 for a few reasons, mostly to consolidate down to less tanks. Im bringing a 72 on hand, and as many people tell me a Kole eye or any bristletooth would be happy, i just dont feel that way. Maybe im crazy.

 

[LOVEROCK]

i got a yellow tang kole tang in a 60 , 4 ' tank , they seem to be okay ,eating ,healthy , although i am planning to have a 150 in the future , next year

 

[anthonygf]

I have a yellow Tang in a 46 gallon for 3 years now and he is fat and happy. I had to rescue him from Petco because of his condition, skinny, fins missing/shredded and housed in what a ten gallon tank?! He is doing great in my reef, 46 bowfront and 30 gallon sump. Not in the photo I have a Flame Hawk and File fish, all are super happy and eat twice a day. They all find hiding places at night, yellow has a big cave behind the rocks on the left.

 

[revhtree]

Oh boy, we got a new one here...

This is a legitimate question so please be kind and offer your best advice. Thank you!

 

[G Santana]

I had a Purple and a Yellow in a 75 gallon for a few years before I upgraded and they were fine. As long as you keep them fat, they'll be happy!!!
Don't over crowd!!!

 

[anthonygf]

I have a yellow Tang in a 46 gallon for 3 years now and he is fat and happy. I had to rescue him from Petco because of his condition, skinny, fins missing/shredded and housed in what a ten gallon tank?! He is doing great in my reef, 46 bowfront and 30 gallon sump. Not in the photo I have a Flame Hawk and File fish, all are super happy and eat twice a day. They all find hiding places at night, yellow has a big cave behind the rocks on the left.

This is the most recent picture with my new clam I have had for 6 months.

 

[X-37B]

I would go for a tomini.
Peacefull fish for me. Swims in and out of rockwork in my 120.
I also have a convict tang and a foxface.
The convict is the tank boss and was very skinny when I got him.
It never stops moving.
A 4' tank is really to small for it.
It does keep my 6 blue green chromis inline though.
I also have a foxface.
The convict is the biggest fish.
All will go into a tank at least 3x the size of my 120 within a year.
I am already working on it.
I also have a mininalist scape that has alot of swimming room with just enough hiding places fo everyone at night.