Tank Limits on Tangs

[srepinski]

How many tangs can I put in a 220? We have a 220 mixed reef and a 125 FOWLR. I would like to take down the 125 and bring the tangs together in the 220.
Current tangs are Chocolate, Atlantic Blue, Orange Shoulder, Purple, and Chevron.

 

[4FordFamily]

You'll be fine with that I have tons of tangs in one of my 180. 10 I think. Small tangs but 10 nonetheless. No problem just frequent water changes and skimming 3x as heavily as most people with 180

 

[Reefing Madness]

I don't know, I have a 240g tank, and only have 4 Tangs in there. they get rather large, and mine are full grown now.

 

[pciscott]

Your tank size can handle the fish, but another consideration is your aquascape. If your fish have plenty of hiding spots they tend to do well, but I have found that in a minamalist aquascape that lack of hiding places adds to the stress of larger fish. I had 14 tangs in my 400 and I was having some stress issues do to minamalist aquascape. I now have 5 tangs and they are all doing very well and show much less aggresion as they do not have to fight for hiding spots.

I have a Orange Shoulder as well, one of my favorite tangs. I did not know that the Orange Shoulder is a Anacanthus Tang and in same family as Achilles until a recent read. I have never had ick problems with this fish compared to the Achilles that did not work out in my busy reef. I had a few of my tangs in a 120 before I got the 400 and I can say that the fish seem to grow faster and larger in the 400 compared to the 120.

Good luck with the move and you will be fine.

 

[srepinski]

Aquascape is not an issue, there is a little more than 200 pounds of rock of all sizes and many hidey holes as well.

 

[srepinski]

Water changes are bi-weekly and we test the water weekly for everything.

 

[Reefing Madness]

If your just worried about feeding the messy guys, don't worry about it. I only do water changes twice a year. I vodka dose, and don't worry about Nitrates.

 

[4FordFamily]

Your tank size can handle the fish, but another consideration is your aquascape. If your fish have plenty of hiding spots they tend to do well, but I have found that in a minamalist aquascape that lack of hiding places adds to the stress of larger fish. I had 14 tangs in my 400 and I was having some stress issues do to minamalist aquascape. I now have 5 tangs and they are all doing very well and show much less aggresion as they do not have to fight for hiding spots.

I have a Orange Shoulder as well, one of my favorite tangs. I did not know that the Orange Shoulder is a Anacanthus Tang and in same family as Achilles until a recent read. I have never had ick problems with this fish compared to the Achilles that did not work out in my busy reef. I had a few of my tangs in a 120 before I got the 400 and I can say that the fish seem to grow faster and larger in the 400 compared to the 120.

Good luck with the move and you will be fine.

Orange shoulder are perhaps the hardiest acanthurus tang. They are one of the few that can handle ich management methods on occasion, as well as sohal tangs.

 

[srepinski]

Awesome! Good stuff to know! Thank you!!

 

[AussieGaz]

Jeez, here I was worrying about putting 4 tangs in my 4x4x2 and them having enough free swimming room

 

[srepinski]

Added the tangs Saturday morning, no issues other than a little territory chasing, but that stopped by midday. Skimmer is tated for 400 gallons, so that should be good. Added more live rock to the 75 gallon sump and to the tank for extra hidey holes. All is well!
Thanks for the feedback all!!