Are certain tangs not reef-safe?

[reef dude]

I was in at my Local Fish Store today and they guy that helps me knows a whole bunch about reef tanks. However i told him that my plan was to eventually add a powder blue, or an achilles tang to my tank. Most likely the last fish to add. But he started telling me that powders blues are one of the most aggressive tangs, as well as an achilles. Is that true? ive always thought that yellow tangs were agressive. Would i be safe to add a tang to my tank, especially a powder blue or achilles'?

 

[nm reef]

I've seen both in very impressive(but large) reef systems. The powder especially can be ick prone....but lots of folks keep them ......

 

[deuce biggalow]

I would not say that powder blues are nasty, (it really all depends on the fish) but in general,, yellow tangs are outright nasty, powder blue's are just really hard to keep, they are not very hardy, I have not had any experience with the achilles,, but they are beautiful...

 

[seaguru]

To respond to your question my answer is based on keeping Tangs for many years and a Tang article printed in Freshwater And Marine Aquarium (FAMA) many (15-20) years ago...
The tang agressiveness pecking order goes something like this(from most to least aggressive):
Powder Blue, Achilles, Sohal, Atlantic Blue, Clown, Yellow, Purple, Powder Brown, Scopas, Convict, Chevron, Kole, Sailfin, Blue Hippo, and the wonderful Naso.
I have left out a few like the Fvlamingi because the article did not mention them nor have I had experience with them. Joe.

 

[ed r]

The title of your thread mentions reef-safe. I don't think aggressiveness is the same. Some agressive fish are ok in reefs if there are not other fish that they will harrass. Some tangs will eat polyps or nibble at corals or feather dusters. That means those are not reef-safe even if they don't bother other fish. Fish are individuals. Some are surprising troublemakers. Others get along well. Unfortunately you can only make your best guess.

 

[trailer trash]

IMHO
No tang is a sure fire bet to be "reef safe"
The biggest coral nippers I have ever had are purples and sailfins...
If the question is aggression......
I think Sohals are the pit bulls of tangs....
I find that any tang thats is in the tank first will fight most other tangs introduced later.......regardless of species....

 

[daisy]

Sailfins are coral nippers? Yikes! I've got a big one, and don't want to get rid of him, but want to start building a coral population. Anybody else have experience with sailfins?

 

[ed r]

I bought a small (1-1/4") sailfin recentlly and put him in my reef tank. Within six days he singlehandedly decimated the visual portion of the pod population in my DSB. (At least he didn't dig.) He ripped out several of my yellow polyps by the roots and nipped at the tips of others. He would even nip the "periscope" of my Nassarius snails when they were out feeding. I had to get rid of him. How representative mine was, I don't know, but I have heard from two others since then that they had similar experience with coral and polyp nipping.

 

[smalltimer]

I had sailfin for 2 yrs. no bad luck, guess it's luck of the pick ...........

 

[saltwatergal]

I was reading your article on tangs in a reef tank.
I have had a sailfin, hippo, purple and yellow not in the reef tank.
I would say the sailfin is always looking for food.
I just feed alot of seaweed on the clip. Then they also have their frozen food.
I like the sailfin the best, because he is always in front wanting something to eat.
I have a question for you.
I see you mention Reef Concepts calcium reactor.
What is that?
I recently started a reef tank besides my other saltwater tanks. I was wondering about the calcium after you do a water changes. Is aragamilk any good to maintain after the calcium is between 400 ppm - 450ppm after you do water changes. I also have kalkwasser powder.
Saltwatergal

 

[sgt__york]

When my tank was setup years ago... i kept a Blue Hippo and an Achilees for about 3yrs. Never had a LICK of problems from either. The blue hippo would eat out of my hand, and the achilees would 'take walks' with me across the front of the glass.. anytime anyone came in, he'd go to that corner to check YOU out, as you checked him out. Very personable.
I guess i was fortunate to NOT KNOW before I got them, that they were both considered very delicate tangs. I might not have given em a try. As it was, they were fat, happy, active, and i enjoyed em a good 3yrs
What i've always heard in mixing tangs - keep different body types away from each other - and make the more DOSILE tang larger than the more aggressive one. Introduce the more dosile one first as well (if you don't do them at the same time).
As far as reef safe - as long as they have ample food (being the key) as they are constant grazers - they generally leave most things alone. Although i fed mine a mixture at times - rotating between formula 1; brine shrimp; spinach; and flake food - i "ALWAYS" had a piece of romane lettece (iceberg doesn't have much in the way of nutrition - it's mostly water - greener the better) at ALL Times.

 

[mini-reefer]

I've had a Purple Tang and Yellow Tang for nearly two years now. About 5 months ago I moved them to my new 72 reef and they havent touched a coral(SPS, LPS and softies). The Purple is way more aggressive than the Yellow. Thats why Im stuck to three fish, I dont want to add more because the Purple picks on new comers so much.