When to add new fish?

ollysaquariums

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Hey all,
I’ve had my new 197 litre 4ft long reef tank for about 2 months now I think it’s been running, and the first fish I added was a pair of clowns and some corals. Last week I bought a pair of banggai cardinalfish and a yellow coris wrasse as the new additions, along with a green hammer coral, a finger leather and a tuxedo urchin. I’ve wanted a tang forever but have realised my tank isn’t bit enough for one at all, although I have a few experienced friends in the hobby who say a scopas tang would live happily in there but to keep an eye on it and if it grows out in a few years to rehome it. I’m just wondering if I can, when can I add it since I’ve just added the new fish? I’m real keen on it as it’ll be the centrepiece fish and I also was told in the future I could have a barred rabbitfish as well. Is this true and if so when can I add the scopas tang cause I know it’s recommended to wait?


 
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ollysaquariums

ollysaquariums

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Hey all,
I’ve had my new 197 litre 4ft long reef tank for about 2 months now I think it’s been running, and the first fish I added was a pair of clowns and some corals. Last week I bought a pair of banggai cardinalfish and a yellow coris wrasse as the new additions, along with a green hammer coral, a finger leather and a tuxedo urchin. I’ve wanted a tang forever but have realised my tank isn’t bit enough for one at all, although I have a few experienced friends in the hobby who say a scopas tang would live happily in there but to keep an eye on it and if it grows out in a few years to rehome it. I’m just wondering if I can, when can I add it since I’ve just added the new fish? I’m real keen on it as it’ll be the centrepiece fish and I also was told in the future I could have a barred rabbitfish as well. Is this true and if so when can I add the scopas tang cause I know it’s recommended to wait?


20250805_091043_E7675DC7-66A2-4623-AC12-4A86F02EC9E2.png
 

Trixter227

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Hey! Tank looks really good, im digging the rock structures.

Tangs grow quick! Rehomeing is hard, i cant part with my fishy children lol! 4 foot i believe is a bit too small for most tangs. Others will definitely chime in!

Have you ever looked at a bristletooth tang instead of a zebrasoma?
Tomini, white tail, squaretail, chevron (if you have gold laying around)
 
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ollysaquariums

ollysaquariums

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Hey! Tank looks really good, im digging the rock structures.

Tangs grow quick! Rehomeing is hard, i cant part with my fishy children lol! 4 foot i believe is a bit too small for most tangs. Others will definitely chime in!

Have you ever looked at a bristletooth tang instead of a zebrasoma?
Tomini, white tail, squaretail, chevron (if you have gold laying around)
I have had a little look at tominis and they do look really nice and I was going to get one before I was told a scopas would be happy in mine especially since my tank has lots of algae for it to graze on. I would be able to bring it back to the place I got it from it’s a very trusted store and that’s where a few of my mates work that told me I could have one. If I can only get a tomini, when would be safe to add the extra fish?
 
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ollysaquariums

ollysaquariums

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Hey! Tank looks really good, im digging the rock structures.

Tangs grow quick! Rehomeing is hard, i cant part with my fishy children lol! 4 foot i believe is a bit too small for most tangs. Others will definitely chime in!

Have you ever looked at a bristletooth tang instead of a zebrasoma?
Tomini, white tail, squaretail, chevron (if you have gold laying around)
I was also aiming to get a fish to get rid of my bubble algae
 

Trixter227

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Ive known of plenty of people that get the small baby tang and rehome with their trusted store. Just not the thing i do!

I typically wait about a month or so between bigger fish additions. Keep in mind tangs and more territorial, and good to add last if you plan on doing anything else.

Rabbitfish never touched my bubble algea in my previous tank(the reason i got him)
 
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ollysaquariums

ollysaquariums

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Ive known of plenty of people that get the small baby tang and rehome with their trusted store. Just not the thing i do!

I typically wait about a month or so between bigger fish additions. Keep in mind tangs and more territorial, and good to add last if you plan on doing anything else.

Rabbitfish never touched my bubble algea in my previous tank(the reason i got him)
Oh okay true, I was planning on adding a yellow coral goby and longnose hawkfish, and the tang and rabbitfish. Is this overstocked or good?
 

Should I

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i would not get a rabbitfish they get too big for your 200 liter tank wont be able to turn round gotta remember width aswell not just length im guessing ur tank is 12" wide i would skip the tang too for the same reason

foxface require 125 gallons same with the tang really ur tanks volume is less than half of this . . .

i have a 48"x24" and would not do a foxface although i would do a tang but really m8 foxface get huge
 

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20250805_112340_7DBF7C60-F4F3-449E-BD96-4B4D2D81B3A6.png

Scopas tangs and rabbit Fish are great fish. I’ve had these two for 12 years. Here in 120 gallon tall tank they need to be rehomed to a new 210 gallon tank. I wouldn’t get either one of them in your 50 I’d consider dwarf angelfish like a coral beauty or flame angel incredibly striking and would be a great centerpiece.
 

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