Yellow Tang or Yellow Eye Kole Tang?

[Waters]

I am looking to add my final fish to my 105 mixed reef. I unfortunately cannot keep snails or hermits due to my Tusk so I need to add a fish that will help with keeping the live rock "clean" but is still pleasing to look at and will add some color. Looking for experiences (aggression, algae maintenance, etc.) with each. Thanks :-)

 

[Kworker]

Go with the kole tang. There are other bristletooth tangs that are nice as well.

 

[shred5]

Kole tang, they seem a little hardier and have great personality. They can be bullies in smaller tanks though.

 

[Blue Lip]

I have both. The kole tang will clean your rocks better.

 

[Humblefish]

Kole, Tomini, Blue Spot would all be good additions to your tank. YT is more likely to be aggressive IME.

 

[eliramos]

Kole tang!

 

[eatbreakfast]

Kole tangs are a better algae eater and a little more peaceful, the yellow tang is more brightly colored.

 

[Akida17th]

I love my yellow tang. As far as aesthetics go, I think the yellow looks much more vibrant however I have heard of cases where they can become aggressive. Mine eats algae off anything (god knows I have alot of it right now) and likes to get cleaned daily by my fire shrimp which is really awesome to watch. She is very nice and really doesn't like any fighting. When my clowns go to war she tends to break it up :).

 

[steve&mari]

Never had a yellow but our old kole was awesome a beautiful active grazzer never really bothered anyone in tank with him.

 

[TD13]

Will a Kole tang eat green hair algae?

 

[eatbreakfast]

Will a Kole tang eat green hair algae?

Yes.

 

[Waters]

Thanks for all of the responses.....I think I am going to go with a Kole tang. My only "concern" was their coloration....the few that I have seen at LFS seem to be pretty drab compared to the Yellows. I have seen some very colorful Kole Tangs online however. The main reason I am picking one up though is for tank maintenance and it appears the Kole may be a better choice in that regard.

 

[Kworker]

I think the kole looks a lot nice than yellow.. But I am also biased since I hate yellow tangs because I find them highly aggressive.

Give the Squaretail bristle tooth a look.

 

[Akida17th]

Don't expect them to clean, I mean they will graze but they're not going to necessarily "clean". If you have a GHA issue a tang usually won't solve it. Expect to feed them daily with nori.

 

[TD13]

Bought a Blue Eyed Kole... sianara GHA!!!

 

[Waters]

Don't expect them to clean, I mean they will graze but they're not going to necessarily "clean". If you have a GHA issue a tang usually won't solve it. Expect to feed them daily with nori.

Fortunately I do not have a green hair algae issue (or any algae issue for that matter)....just need something to pick at the rocks...help scrape them clean :-) I fully expect to feed nori (that is what I have had to do in the past).

 

[Waters]

I think the kole looks a lot nice than yellow.. But I am also biased since I hate yellow tangs because I find them highly aggressive.

Give the Squaretail bristle tooth a look.

I definitely like the looks of the Squaretail.......may have to give them a look as well.

 

[Pfisherman]

I would get both

 

[BryanS4]

I would get both

Yep, agree. I have both and they are good buddies.

 

[jlanger]

Kole Tang! I love my Kole Tang!

Although, the best fish in my tank for eating algae is my One Spot Foxface. It will eat hair algae, bubble algae, (macro algae)... all of it!
My sump has periodic outbursts of nuisance algae but my tank is kept virtually spotless with my algae crew consisting of the Kole Tang, a Lemonpeel Mimic Tang, the One Spot Foxface and a Scribbled Rabbitfish. Any of these fish will help keeping algae in check.