Tang Selection (Controversial)

[Reefingthebestong]

I have a 165 gallon reef tank. It currently has an orange shoulder (6 inch), tomini tang (3 inch), 7 green chromis, blue damsel, and a pair of ocellaris clowns. I am wondering if I am able to get a juvenile clown tang or a powder blue. I know this is very controversial because people say that the clown tang needs at least a 250 minimum. In a few years (prob 3-4) I can upgrade to a custom 300-400 gallon system if needed. The powder blue will probably be fine in my tank size because they don’t get too big but it can become extremely mean (so can the clown tang). I am willing to take any thoughts currently because there is so much mixed info. For example, there is this fish store in Hayward California that has a clown that in the display tank (210) with a few other tangs. They even have a powder blue with it! All the tangs in the that tank are fully grown and the clown tang is at around 14 inches. The owner said I could pull it off easily in a 165 if it is not full grown. There are also many people that say that they need like 600 gallon tanks. I am not saying any of these opinions are wrong and I would like some guidance please. My aquascape is not perfect right now. I will fix it after I deal with some other problems in the tank. The fish have a ton of space right now and I think there may be room for a clown or a pbt. If you could help me out then that would be great! Thanks

 

[OrionN]

You already know the issue. Better not count on ..."In a few years (prob 3-4) I can upgrade to a custom 300-400 gallon system if needed...."

 

[CHSUB]

I have had both, clown while bigger was not very aggressive. My PBT needed removal in a 300+ gal system after, iirc, about 3 years. In the wild PBTs defender a small area for themselves, maybe same in an aquarium?

 

[JumboShrimp]

I won't enter into the 'a fish will grow to the size of the tank' debate, but some of the Clown Tangs that I have seen in person (such as in the extremely large display tanks at World Wide Corals) have large, powerful, Clown Tangs that seem to want lots of room to roam.

 

[Slocke]

@Fish Styx time to get to work

 

[Tamberav]

Just upgrade now as even juvi tangs will enjoy the extra space and more room helps with aggression and then you can address the aquascape at the same time. Plus your orange shoulder needs the upgrade NOW.

 

[Fish Styx]

The issue here, as @OrionN has stated, is that the OP already knows the answer.

There are several factors at play here, not the least of which being that a 5' 165g aquarium is already an inappropriate enclosure for that Orange Shoulder. In fact, the ONLY tang that would be appropriate for his/her existing tank would be a smaller Ctenochaetus sp. such as his Tomini.

Adding not just one, but two of the most aggressive Acanthurus sp. to the mix is a recipe for disaster.

PBTs are demons in the largest of exhibits, regardless of having enough space to comfortably swim, and both the Orange Shoulder and Clown should not be housed in anything less than a 10' tank. Even then, the Clown tang will be a menace.

My advice here is the same as it always is when inexperienced aquarists pose questions like this: stock the system you have now with specimens that are appropriate for that enclosure. These are living, breathing creatures of the universe and when we take them into our charge we have a duty to provide them with the best possible care.

Planning a tank upgrade is awesome, and I congratulate the OP for taking the next step as a hobbyist. However, despite its size, that Orange Shoulder has already outgrown that 165g and It will, sadly, most likely not survive the estimated 3 -4 years until a hypothetical upgrade. Neither will any other tang he/she decides to add to the mix.

 

[Reefingthebestong]

You already know the issue. Better not count on ..."In a few years (prob 3-4) I can upgrade to a custom 300-400 gallon system if needed...."

I can though

 

[Reefingthebestong]

The issue here, as @OrionN has stated, is that the OP already knows the answer.

There are several factors at play here, not the least of which being that a 5' 165g aquarium is already an inappropriate enclosure for that Orange Shoulder. In fact, the ONLY tang that would be appropriate for his/her existing tank would be a smaller Ctenochaetus sp. such as his Tomini.

Adding not just one, but two of the most aggressive Acanthurus sp. to the mix is a recipe for disaster.

PBTs are demons in the largest of exhibits, regardless of having enough space to comfortably swim, and both the Orange Shoulder and Clown should not be housed in anything less than a 10' tank. Even then, the Clown tang will be a menace.

My advice here is the same as it always is when inexperienced aquarists pose questions like this: stock the system you have now with specimens that are appropriate for that enclosure. These are living, breathing creatures of the universe and when we take them into our charge we have a duty to provide them with the best possible care.

Planning a tank upgrade is awesome, and I congratulate the OP for taking the next step as a hobbyist. However, despite its size, that Orange Shoulder has already outgrown that 165g and It will, sadly, most likely not survive the estimated 3 -4 years until a hypothetical upgrade. Neither will any other tang he/she decides to add to the mix.

Thanks for your opinion. However I do believe the orange shoulder has tons of room because it is the only big fish.

 

[exnisstech]

It sounds you already have your mind made up. I add fish that fit the current tank and if I upgrade I then add fish I want. Often life has a way of getting in the way of plans. I doubt you'll find the support you want here but we're not trying to sell livestock.

 

[Reefingthebestong]

It sounds you already have your mind made up. I add fish that fit the current tank and if I upgrade I then add fish I want. Often life has a way of getting in the way of plans. I doubt you'll find the support you want here but we're not trying to sell livestock.

Yeah I understand but I have not made my mind yet. I still have a long time to decide, but I am still not sure which opinion is correct. I could possibly try it out and then rehome if it doesn’t work

 

[Reefering1]

I could possibly try it out and then rehome if it doesn’t work

It not working usually means suffering before dying. Weather the new fish or existing getting bullied and starve

 

[Fish Styx]

Thanks for your opinion. However I do believe the orange shoulder has tons of room because it is the only big fish.

Best of luck to you on your reefing journey.

 

[Reefingthebestong]

It not working usually means suffering before dying. Weather the new fish or existing getting bullied and starve

Ok thanks, I won’t get either most likely

 

[littlefoxx]

I would not add either of them. Both are extremely aggressive and in the top 5 most aggressive tangs having them in general is such a gamble with their aggression. Your orange shoulder will get massive just like a clown so two large fish in that tank not the best idea. I think you will have carnage in there with those two honestly especially in a tank considered very small for the aggressive and large tangs.

That being said I do think you probably would be fine adding another tang MAYBE 2 if they are smaller species and not aggressive like those two. Im going on the assumption this tank is a 6 footer? If its only 4 or 5 I would say no to anymore tangs in my opinion.

Also as someone who did play the “Ill upgrade when they get bigger” game I 100% recommend against it. Took me way longer than I wanted to get my 300 gallon, and I had fish that I had to rehome because they needed a bigger tank and it wasnt fair to make them wait however long it was. And it takes a fat minute to find the right tank, get it in, set it up, cycle and stuff so unless you have room for two big tanks while the other is waiting I say no to that. Just what I learned from that and will never do again

 

[JumboShrimp]

@littlefoxx is dispensing tough-love, but it's the truth. ;)

 

[areefer01]

I have a 165 gallon reef tank. It currently has an orange shoulder (6 inch), tomini tang (3 inch), 7 green chromis, blue damsel, and a pair of ocellaris clowns. I am wondering if I am able to get a juvenile clown tang or a powder blue. I know this is very controversial because people say that the clown tang needs at least a 250 minimum. In a few years (prob 3-4) I can upgrade to a custom 300-400 gallon system if needed. The powder blue will probably be fine in my tank size because they don’t get too big but it can become extremely mean (so can the clown tang). I am willing to take any thoughts currently because there is so much mixed info. For example, there is this fish store in Hayward California that has a clown that in the display tank (210) with a few other tangs. They even have a powder blue with it! All the tangs in the that tank are fully grown and the clown tang is at around 14 inches. The owner said I could pull it off easily in a 165 if it is not full grown. There are also many people that say that they need like 600 gallon tanks. I am not saying any of these opinions are wrong and I would like some guidance please. My aquascape is not perfect right now. I will fix it after I deal with some other problems in the tank. The fish have a ton of space right now and I think there may be room for a clown or a pbt. If you could help me out then that would be great! Thanks

With all due respect it sounds like you are just shopping for a "yes" answer. Save everybody time and just do what you are going to do.

 

[Reefingthebestong]

Best of luck to you on your reefing journey.

You too

 

[Reefingthebestong]

I would not add either of them. Both are extremely aggressive and in the top 5 most aggressive tangs having them in general is such a gamble with their aggression. Your orange shoulder will get massive just like a clown so two large fish in that tank not the best idea. I think you will have carnage in there with those two honestly especially in a tank considered very small for the aggressive and large tangs.

That being said I do think you probably would be fine adding another tang MAYBE 2 if they are smaller species and not aggressive like those two. Im going on the assumption this tank is a 6 footer? If its only 4 or 5 I would say no to anymore tangs in my opinion.

Also as someone who did play the “I’ll upgrade when they get bigger” game I 100% recommend against it. Took me way longer than I wanted to get my 300 gallon, and I had fish that I had to rehome because they needed a bigger tank and it wasnt fair to make them wait however long it was. And it takes a fat minute to find the right tank, get it in, set it up, cycle and stuff so unless you have room for two big tanks while the other is waiting I say no to that. Just what I learned from that and will never do again

Oh thanks for the advice.

 

[Reefingthebestong]

With all due respect it sounds like you are just shopping for a "yes" answer. Save everybody time and just do what you are going to do.

No I decided to not get them because it won’t be the right choice. Maybe when I get my 300-400 gallon upgrade I can get one