Three tangs in a 5’

[Saltyanimals]

Do you have issues adding any other kinda fish out side of tangs? Say like wrasses, mandarins, clowns or even fox face to the tank?

Yes I still have issues.

General rule of thumb is to add fish at about the same time, but the more agressive ones last. This allows the more chill fish to settle down first before the big boys come. And again add the big boys together.

If you were to add more fish later as we all will, they need to come in batches. I did a wrasse only QT and added 5 at the same time. And some tangs are more aggressive than others. I have yellow, PBT, hippo and the flame tomini. All of the tangs are pretty chill to new additions except for the tomini. He's went after a batch of clown fish. Lucky for them, he can't tell them apart and aggressions is dispersed. I have about 20 fish now. Been tempted to do another QT round and add more. Note I said QT a couple times. =) What sucks is to spend the time and energy to think through a fish addition strategy only to have the entire thing taken down because of a sick fish. PIA but must IMHO.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

Yes I still have issues.

General rule of thumb is to add fish at about the same time, but the more agressive ones last. This allows the more chill fish to settle down first before the big boys come. And again add the big boys together.

If you were to add more fish later as we all will, they need to come in batches. I did a wrasse only QT and added 5 at the same time. And some tangs are more aggressive than others. I have yellow, PBT, hippo and the flame tomini. All of the tangs are pretty chill to new additions except for the tomini. He's went after a batch of clown fish. Lucky for them, he can't tell them apart and aggressions is dispersed. I have about 20 fish now. Been tempted to do another QT round and add more. Note I said QT a couple times. =) What sucks is to spend the time and energy to think through a fish addition strategy only to have the entire thing taken down because of a sick fish. PIA but must IMHO.

Funny enough is this will probably be the first tank I ever attempt QT. It’ll also be the largest tank I’ve ever kept. I broke an old 10 gallon down that’ll serve as my QT. I just honestly don’t know if I’ll be able to wait and make the tangs the very last fish added on the list. I am prepared to make precausions to add new fish though and with having that QT I do have a side tank to move things into. I know also based off the size of my tomini the three tangs are going to be less then 3” when added if I’m trying to keep them all around the same size. I just recently rescued this one eyed tomini and he’s super cool. Still real young but surprisingly super healthy and active for missing an eye ball. We call him Captain Uno

 

[litsoh]

I had a Convict and Yellow Eye Kole in my 125 that never had any issues with each other apart from some initial pecking order spats. After that they were pretty much best friends and would graze together. An acclimation box definitely helped. Funny enough I only had to give away my Convict about a month ago since it started bullying almost everything else BUT the other tang. I thought it was just a passing thing but my Threadfin Butterfly started getting beat up pretty bad.

 

[LPS Bum]

I have 3 Tangs in a 5 foot system (Reefer 625 XXL). They squabble from time to time, but it's always minor. If they're all added at the same time and there is only 1 of each type (Zebrasoma, Acanthurus, etc) you should be just fine. Having plenty of rock for hiding and grazing, and feeding plenty of nori each day helps too.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

Has anyone here put effort into or feel it’s closer to the required side of having an auto feed with some seaweed extream pellets go off for the fish a few times a day? I’ve contemplated it only cause anthias may be a fish I acquire and feel they need that treatment to be successful.

 

[Reef Wizard]

Has anyone here put effort into or feel it’s closer to the required side of having an auto feed with some seaweed extream pellets go off for the fish a few times a day? I’ve contemplated it only cause anthias may be a fish I acquire and feel they need that treatment to be successful.

Anthias dont require 2+ feedings a day. I have 10 in my tank and they get fed twice a day. Lyretails and dispars
You CAN feed more but dont need to

 

[idal305]

60x30x30

Blonde naso, whitetail Bristletooth, blue hippo
Added in this order

With a gem tang and convict tang on order that will go in together.

Knock on wood, everyone gets along great. After the last two tangs on order I won’t be adding any more tangs.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

Anthias dont require 2+ feedings a day. I have 10 in my tank and they get fed twice a day. Lyretails and dispars
You CAN feed more but dont need to

I hear as a generalized to them all witch I’m sure there may be a few but that they have a high metabolism and to make keeping them easier feed multiple times a day with a high protein or fat diet.

 

[litsoh]

Has anyone here put effort into or feel it’s closer to the required side of having an auto feed with some seaweed extream pellets go off for the fish a few times a day? I’ve contemplated it only cause anthias may be a fish I acquire and feel they need that treatment to be successful.

I have an autofeeder going off 3 times a day with TDO pellets for my group of Dispar, Ignitus, and Bartletts anthias. It definitely helped with the growth of the tangs though, mine eat just about anything that gets put in the water

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Plus I’ve seen multiple tanks at my lfs’s with both and no issues

Just because LFS's have multiples of one type of fish "with no issues" does not mean that once they are in a system where they can establish territories that they will be ok.

Pick one kind of bristletooth per 5 foot tank.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

I am prepared to make precausions to add new fish though and with having that QT I do have a side tank to move things into.

Do you really want to destroy your scape to remove a fish?

 

[mikeg18]

Current tang list in my 5’ x 2’ 200 gal tank
Tomini
3 captive bred yellows
PBT
Achilles
Black
Convict
Blond Naso

Last tang addition was the black tang 14 months ago. I did remove a sailfin that I grew to over 10” from 2” in just over 2 years. Very aggressive doing anything in the tank, and just too big overall. Also tried a clown tang; 3” specimen lasted about a week. Way too aggressive from jump.

I feed one sheet of nori placed in 3 clips, and frozen food 3-4/day.

Lots of hiding places and other small fish help. No real aggression as they have a well established pecking order. All fish fat healthy, perfect fins and scales. The only fish that has seen their wrath was on of my (3) pyramid butterflies; had a 1” deep gash that healed well but if you look closely can see the scar.

Other fish include copperband, 12 lyrtail anthias, captive bred goldflake and Potter’s angelfish, two captive mandarins which have spawned. Two assessors, 5 green chromis (which I regret the most). And a hawkfish.

Feed feed feed. Nitrates are an issue reason which is why I do 100 gal water changes each week.

 

[mikeg18]

Pic from short side of tank. Forget the Coris and leopard wrasses, 2 Madagascar wrasses.

 

[Bartanto]

I’ve got a 5’ with three islands - a purple and white tail + 2 Watanabe angels, a big Melanarus, springeris, clown, blenny, diamond goby, 4 grammas, 3 bimacs….everyone is totally happy. I’m on the bubble w/ adding a powder brown, there’s room but I don’t like the purple’s vibe, so might be a swapsie situation…

 

[Bartanto]

Has anyone here put effort into or feel it’s closer to the required side of having an auto feed with some seaweed extream pellets go off for the fish a few times a day? I’ve contemplated it only cause anthias may be a fish I acquire and feel they need that treatment to be successful.

I have 2 planks pushing pellet/seaweed/reef jerky and like/love them + feed nori and a cube daily. No one is hungry - including the aptasia lord in my overflow.

 

[mikeg18]

I do also use an auto pellet feeder midday while at work to keep them busy. Just a little seaweed and general pellet food.

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

So I’m getting a lot of don’t have two bristle tooth tangs to the tank but yet people here are also mixing multiple different types of tangs with success. Why just the bristle tooth being a problem? Also if I omitted the bristle tooth what would be a sub for it with a tomini and purple tang? Could I throw a yellow tang into that? Powder tangs?

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

Just because LFS's have multiples of one type of fish "with no issues" does not mean that once they are in a system where they can establish territories that they will be ok.

Pick one kind of bristletooth per 5 foot tank.

So to clarify the tanks that both LFSs have these guys in are display tanks, it just holding tanks. Full on reef displays in a smaller platform than my tank. Idk how much they are fed but they did a big rock pile as the scape in the tank. Assuming to be able to grab and sell coral out of it easily

 

[ItouchedThebutt]

Pic from short side of tank. Forget the Coris and leopard wrasses, 2 Madagascar wrasses.

Can we get a total view pick from the front? That’s an awesome tank man

 

[Gary Stegman]

Hey all, I plan to make an actual fish stocking list and get opinions but wanted to ask this one up front. My ideal is to have a tomini tang, bristle tooth (havnt decided on witch one exactly) and a purple tang. I know aggression is key so when the tank gets built first off it’ll be a 60x24” tank. Plan to design the scape with three main island. Two islands on the left and right of the tank going I’d say 2/3-3/4 of the way up with tons of arches and swim through. Middle island will be more of a small cove for a higher light clam and easy sps but should also give a nice swim lane from one island to the other. My goal was to add all three at the same time and hopefully roughly the same size. What are the chances of success here? I’ve my lfs have all three of these in a 4’ Red Sea with not noticeable issues.

My tank is 72” L x 36” W x 27”D and I have a Blue hippo, Naso, Yellow, Gem and a Powder blue and have had them together for years and years with no problems. The key is adding them at the same time although I did add the Gem and Powder blue much later but they stayed in an acclimation box for a few weeks before turning them loose. I added mirrors on the sides of my tank to just confuse the other tangs so they spent time fighting with their reflection and did not solely chase the new additions. All is well.