125g stock list questions???

1990jpyj

Member
ok so i have a 125g fish tank that i have been looking at finally building up and putting in some fish.
my goal with this tank is to get some tangs in there.
my question is how many tangs can i put in there safely?
i have 1 hippo but i would like to do like 4 or 5 differnt types of tangs. something like:
1 hippo
2 yellows
1 powder blue tang
1 "black" tang-cannot think of the name but looks really cool
not sure on the other fish but definatly these guys.
its gonna be a reef tank for sure.
my other option is to go bigger. like a 220 and just sell the 125g. but if the 125g would work then i would definatly like to make it work.
thanks guys
 

hobrien

Member
I would have to say with the amount of tangs you want to keep I would advise to go larger. Just my 2cents
 

1990jpyj

Member
i was thinking the same thing my LFS said that i would need like a 400g tank to do that many tangs. and i thought that was crazy. i would think that a 220 would be pretty good wouldnt it?
 

kevin34

Active Member
ya IMO thats too many. remember a 125 is the minumum for tangs. I wouldnt do more than 2 large tangs. I wouldnt go any larger than the hippo. Maybe the hippo and one yellow tang and you might be able to get the powder blue too if the rest of your stocklist is light. Stay away from 2 yellows because they will most likely fight with eachother (same body shape). In my 125 I plan on getting a lieutenant tang and that will be the only one.
 

aquaknight

Active Member
The problem with a 125 isn't that the 125 is too small for some of those tangs, or 4 large fish in a 125 is that ridiculous, but in a 125, there's only so many tangs that are suitable for life. Or that IMO I wouldn't mix same species in a 240gal or less. Basically pick a Zebrasoma and either a Kole/Tomini. There are a couple Acanthurus tangs that would work, my pick is a Covict tang.
FWIW, I've seen large Hippo tangs, and honestly rather keep a Naso in a 125 then a Hippo.
 

sean48183

Member
I have a naso, sailfin and hippo in a 150g. They have all been together over a year. They get along fine and have plenty of swimming room but do dookie alot. Constantly picking at the rocks and seaweed selects and letting it rip. So bioload is a problem. I use a big skimmer and fuge to knock down the waste.
 

1990jpyj

Member
ok so by the way it sounds is that my 125g tank is way to small for the 4 tangs. and that i should go alot bigger. that was what i though, i just wanted to make sure that i wasnt gonna buy a larger tank if it really wasnt needed.
what other typse of fish could i keep with the tangs when i go to my 240?
i would like some nice colors and i plan on making the tank a reef. so im not sure what types of things i should even be looking at with such a large tank.
thanks
 

1990jpyj

Member
what about some smaller grouping fish?
i dont know how some of the chromis's would work out with them but would they be a nice companion?
i also have a panther grouper and a foxface that would like a move someday to. how would they fit in with that group?
 
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