Tangs in 125

[Aparker2005]

Hey everyone. Thinking of our eventual tang selection for our 125 mixed reef.

Currently have a 3-4" Mimic/Chocolate tang.

Plan to eventually add a white tail bristletooth.

Wife and I absolutely love powder blues and know the reputation and ich risk. We had one a few years ago that was huge, and extremely healthy. Eventually had to rehome it as it was such a terror to everything.

Would I be able to even try adding a PBT with these other 2 tangs? I see others with them with no issue, and I know every fish is different.

Or should we just leave it with the mimic and white tail bristletooth?

The other 2 larger fish is a 1 spot foxface and a majestic angel.

I feel like it's a no, but if possible, I'd love to have another one.

 

[fishywishy]

If you want a PBT it has to be the only tang. People that have success usually just get lucky and have a way bigger tank.

The other tangs you mentioned should be fine together though.

 

[littlefoxx]

Hey everyone. Thinking of our eventual tang selection for our 125 mixed reef.

Currently have a 3-4" Mimic/Chocolate tang.

Plan to eventually add a white tail bristletooth.

Wife and I absolutely love powder blues and know the reputation and ich risk. We had one a few years ago that was huge, and extremely healthy. Eventually had to rehome it as it was such a terror to everything.

Would I be able to even try adding a PBT with these other 2 tangs? I see others with them with no issue, and I know every fish is different.

Or should we just leave it with the mimic and white tail bristletooth?

The other 2 larger fish is a 1 spot foxface and a majestic angel.

I feel like it's a no, but if possible, I'd love to have another one.

I tried a PBT in my 125 when I had it, fish was a terror and murdered 2 fish. I would not try another honestly as tempting as they are! Especially since you already have a powder tang (your chocolate) that would not be good. I did have luck with a powder brown in my 125 but that was the only powder tang, so if it were me I would just pick a different tang for your trio! Maybe a yellow or purple (purples can be nasty but Ive never had any major issues with mine and Ive had a couple)

 

[winxp_man]

I have two PBT (blue and brown), a mimic, a white tail kole, and a tomni. The PBT where both about 3” tops. And get along just fine. All of them find something to pick on each other. But over all fine. I have another set of PBT in two other tanks. They where originally in the 60x24x24 tank but about killed themselves. Plenty of food, get them as smaller fish if possible, and I would say at least 60” tank. Unless you get a variety of different tangs. The PBT are the worse if you ask me. Also build rocks in a maze latter in the tank. This will also help.

I have read the info I’m posting. And have seen success. But be careful. In the end they are fish and can be unpredictable. So keep an eye out on them. And if it gets bad remove and separate rather see see dead fish.

 

[cilyjr]

Hey everyone. Thinking of our eventual tang selection for our 125 mixed reef.

Currently have a 3-4" Mimic/Chocolate tang.

Plan to eventually add a white tail bristletooth.

Wife and I absolutely love powder blues and know the reputation and ich risk. We had one a few years ago that was huge, and extremely healthy. Eventually had to rehome it as it was such a terror to everything.

Would I be able to even try adding a PBT with these other 2 tangs? I see others with them with no issue, and I know every fish is different.

Or should we just leave it with the mimic and white tail bristletooth?

The other 2 larger fish is a 1 spot foxface and a majestic angel.

I feel like it's a no, but if possible, I'd love to have another one.

It's a crap shoot.
Mine gets along with my other tangs, He's not even the alpha. That role goes to a large desjardini. But my tank is over 300g.

The bottom line is nobody is going to be able to tell you if it'll work or not.

I have always had my best success if I take the newcomers and put them into an accalamation box of some sort and then release it into the tank very late at night when most fish are in their spots. That way when the new guy settles down, he settles in a place that's not already taken.

Good luck

 

[winxp_man]

It's a crap shoot.
Mine gets along with my other tangs, He's not even the alpha. That role goes to a large desjardini. But my tank is over 300g.

The bottom line is nobody is going to be able to tell you if it'll work or not.

I have always had my best success if I take the newcomers and put them into an accalamation box of some sort and then release it into the tank very late at night when most fish are in their spots. That way when the new guy settles down, he settles in a place that's not already taken.

Good luck

One other thing I see is people post the tank gallons size. That means nothing if they are using the exterior size. Yea my tank is shown as a 150. But that’s far from facts, because it’s only a 130 on a good day if I where to have no sand. I would like to know measurements vs gallons.

And as you stated to release fish at night that is one of the best methods to try to integrate a new member to the tank.

 

[Gundy]

I absolutely love powder blue tangs but am too scared to put one in my 380 with several other tangs I already have. A lot of them are aggressive and fish killers. I recently purchased a hybrid powder blue which is a cross between a powder blue and a gold rim tang. I dropped him in the tank and he got picked on by my whitetail bristle tooth for about 30 minutes but everything settled down and he is peaceful and beautiful. They are typically slightly darker than a true powder blue but have a lot better temperaments.

 

[Cheese Griller]

IMO you're at your large fish limit in the tank once you add the bristle tooth. There was a reason your PBT was a terror before, and that's because a 125 just isn't enough space for one to be comfortable. In the wild they defend their territories from other grazers, so putting one in a small tank with other tangs is a recipe for disaster. Smallest I would ever consider a PBT in would be a 180.

 

[Lavey29]

So looking at your post history you have tried PBT 4 times previously all resulted in death and now your considering another one? Perhaps your tank set up is not ideal for this fish? Also your post history shows you never QT fish so your tang brought ich into your tank recently. Have you removed all fish and treated them and fallow your tank for 45 days?

 

[Aparker2005]

So looking at your post history you have tried PBT 4 times previously all resulted in death and now your considering another one? Perhaps your tank set up is not ideal for this fish? Also your post history shows you never QT fish so your tang brought ich into your tank recently. Have you removed all fish and treated them and fallow your tank for 45 days?

The ones we've received I'm fairly sure had flukes each time. The one we had that was so great was beyond healthy. Wish it hadn't been so mean. Prazi never helped. Also did a few fw dips that did nothing.

We do have a qt system but until now haven't really ever used it properly. After our hippo scare with ich, I will be from here on out.

Won't be adding fish any time soon, I was thinking ahead about it. And no unfortunately do not have time or space to let the tank sit fallow for 45 days.

I understand any ich or whatever it was we had will likely stay in the system, but everything for now has cleared up. Gonna let the tank run as is for a good while before anything else is added.

Definitely will not be considering another pbt in the future as much as we love them. Our mimic tang is beautiful/healthy and fits the tang itch for now.

 

[OrionN]

I always keep PBT but my tanks has been larger than most. Keep them in 65 gal office tank, but bring him home after he outgrow his 65 gal. I think he will be OK in a 125, but you need to get a small on and he should be the last tang added.

 

[Goaway]

My lfs had a super scary tail of a powder blue he got in.
Jumped into another tank to murder all the fish in it.

The one I had just enjoyed tearing my gonioporas apart. But, had scarier fish in the tank. Emp angel and an adult male melanurus wrasse.

Yes, they can get nasty. Whats the secret to keeping them from being a monster?

I sure don't know.

 

[Tamberav]

Yes, they can get nasty. Whats the secret to keeping them from being a monster?

I sure don't know.

Keeping them as the only fish :)

 

[Goaway]

Keeping them as the only fish :)

Probably. It seems like they do better in much larger systems overall. They like to zoom.

 

[OrionN]

My lfs had a super scary tail of a powder blue he got in.
Jumped into another tank to murder all the fish in it.

The one I had just enjoyed tearing my gonioporas apart. But, had scarier fish in the tank. Emp angel and an adult male melanurus wrasse.

Yes, they can get nasty. Whats the secret to keeping them from being a monster?

I sure don't know.

Keep them (PBT) well fed and not overcrowded. Good water movement and multiple nori clips so they cannot monopolize the feeding clips

 

[Goaway]

Keep them (PBT) well fed and not overcrowded. Good water movement and multiple nori clips so they cannot monopolize the feeding clips

You are a big inspiration to the reefing hobby. That is one fat blue!

 

[littlefoxx]

My lfs had a super scary tail of a powder blue he got in.
Jumped into another tank to murder all the fish in it.

The one I had just enjoyed tearing my gonioporas apart. But, had scarier fish in the tank. Emp angel and an adult male melanurus wrasse.

Yes, they can get nasty. Whats the secret to keeping them from being a monster?

I sure don't know.

what the heck really??? He jumped into another fish tank and just massacred everyone??? Thats insane! I can see it for a PBT honestly but still crazy!

 

[littlefoxx]

You are a big inspiration to the reefing hobby. That is one fat blue!

Oh for sure, I love his PBT! Probably the fattest one Ive ever seen. Lots of girth to him :)

 

[Goaway]

what the heck really??? He jumped into another fish tank and just massacred everyone??? Thats insane! I can see it for a PBT honestly but still crazy!

I wasn't there to witness it. But, I doubt the lfs owner would lie to me. I have personally seen random fish jumping into tanks next to them at the store. It's all weird stuff how they can even know they'll land in water.

 

[OrionN]

Oh for sure, I love his PBT! Probably the fattest one Ive ever seen. Lots of girth to him :)

;) Nah, his is big bone fish. :)