What Tang should i buy?

am00re34

am00re34

Member
I am in the market for another tang. I currently have a yellow tang, 2 clowns, and 4 blue chromis. I know there are tangs i need to stay away from since they might fight with my yellow.
I was looking at a powder blue, blue, blond naso, sailfin, and white cheek. Any one have any other ideas? or which ones i should stay away from? easier to keep then others?
before anyone starts to call the tang police i'm looking to get a small tang since my tank is really healthy, but i will be upgrading in april to a 125.
 
S

saltman23

Guest
I would stay away from the blue hippo or the powder blue. they are ich magnets! you could try the naso. i have one currently in my 75 with a yellow. Ever thought of maybe a yellow eye kole tang?
Only worries with a sailfin is that 2 tangs that have the same mouth structure usually have a hard time getting along. (yellow and sailfin)
 
m0nk

m0nk

Active Member
Originally Posted by Saltman23
http:///forum/post/2474299
I would stay away from the blue hippo or the powder blue. they are ich magnets! you could try the naso. i have one currently in my 75 with a yellow. Ever thought of maybe a yellow eye kole tang?
Only worries with a sailfin is that 2 tangs that have the same mouth structure usually have a hard time getting along. (yellow and sailfin)
With Zebrasomas, like the yellow and sailfin, you can have groups of 3, but with most tank sizes, 3 total is about it. That would mean you could have 1 purple, 1 yellow, and 1 sailfin, or 3 yellows, or 2 yellow, 1 sailfin.... something like that, the individual numbers don't matter, you just come together with 3 total zebrasoma tangs. Same sorta goes with other species of tangs, though with some, like the blue hippo, it's more of a guideline and not a rule. The zebrasomas are a bit more aggressive than the other so it's more important with them, but lets say you want a convict and a powder blue... they're both acanthurus, so you should try and do a group of 3 there if you can too, but if you can't, and you have something like a 300g tank and low stocking, it should be ok.
 
am00re34

am00re34

Member
the reason i didnt mention a kole tang is the ones i've seen aren't real colorful and thats what i'm looking for. Also what i'm hearing is that if i want to get something like a sailfin i'd need to get two and i think even a 125 might be to small for that.
I really want the powder but i dont want ick. stupid tangs!!
i also want a trigger, but everything i read says they aren't reef safe, but many people i know have them in thier reefs. thoughts?
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Saltman23
http:///forum/post/2474299
I would stay away from the blue hippo or the powder blue. they are ich magnets! you could try the naso. i have one currently in my 75 with a yellow. Ever thought of maybe a yellow eye kole tang?
Only worries with a sailfin is that 2 tangs that have the same mouth structure usually have a hard time getting along. (yellow and sailfin)
Please excuse my ignorance but exactly what is a ICK MAGNET
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2474370
Please excuse my ignorance but exactly what is a ICK MAGNET

Good question. If a new fish is properly Qtd and put into an ich free DT...they sure can't use "magnetic" force to draw the parasite from the air.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2474370
Please excuse my ignorance but exactly what is a ICK MAGNET

An "Ich Magnet" is closely related to the Bermuda Triangle, The Loch Ness Monster, and the Krakken....

Tangs are prone to Ich, but as pointed out, simple QT procedures easily prevent this.
Tangs get the reputation of being "ich magnets" because people put them in inproper habitats where Ich is already present. The fish gets stressd, stresses the tank, and suddenly the Tang gets a bad reputation.
Either that or the hobbyist doesn't practice proper QT with the Tang.
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by Am00re34
http:///forum/post/2474235
I am in the market for another tang. I currently have a yellow tang, 2 clowns, and 4 blue chromis. I know there are tangs i need to stay away from since they might fight with my yellow.
I was looking at a powder blue, blue, blond naso, sailfin, and white cheek. Any one have any other ideas? or which ones i should stay away from? easier to keep then others?
before anyone starts to call the tang police i'm looking to get a small tang since my tank is really healthy, but i will be upgrading in april to a 125.
Even a 125 isn't big enough for some of the fish you mention.
My best advice is to simply wait until you get the bigger tank then choose fish accordingly. Buying fish now and planning for a future upgrade isn't a good idea for several reasons. Not the least of which is Tangs do best in seasoned aquariums. Get your new tank in April, stock it with quality, fresh live rock, let the tank age for a few months, then shop for a new Tang (and choose a species that stays under 10 inches)
 
S

saltman23

Guest
for your trigger question.
one of the only triggers considered to be reef safe is the bluethroat trigger.
the should be ok with corals but shrimp are questionable.
i will soon be getting a bluethroat myself!
 
m0nk

m0nk

Active Member
I agree with journeyman1 on the size issue... especially when it comes to the naso. They get 18" long, as such they don't belong in a lot of tanks, especially the size you mention. I'd probably not put one in something smaller than a 180, but it's better to put them in something like a 300+.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2474395
An "Ich Magnet" is closely related to the Bermuda Triangle, The Loch Ness Monster, and the Krakken....

Tangs are prone to Ich, but as pointed out, simple QT procedures easily prevent this.
Tangs get the reputation of being "ich magnets" because people put them in inproper habitats where Ich is already present. The fish gets stressd, stresses the tank, and suddenly the Tang gets a bad reputation.
Either that or the hobbyist doesn't practice proper QT with the Tang.
That last sentence says it all. Ich, on a tang, is usually easy to cure in QT. Tangs may or may not be more susceptible to ich than many other fish ; I really don't know. I DO think they tend to show it easier. While I'm not suggesting this to everyone; I use copper (Cupramine brand, with a Sea Chem test kit) on almost every fish in QT. Very safe, compared to older hit-or-miss copper cures. Copper seems to be real scary to a lot of hobbiests, IMO; it shouldn't be. Copper is used regularly by many wholesalers and online shippers. I know some folks use hypo-salinity on all fish in QT as well. Both methods work extremely well. But are useless if you don't QT. Everything required to set up a QT (Craig's list, maybe), is either sitting around or can be bought for less than the price of most tangs. Certainly less than the worth of the hours trying to cure ich, once its in the DT.
 
al mc

al mc

Active Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
http:///forum/post/2474404
Even a 125 isn't big enough for some of the fish you mention.
My best advice is to simply wait until you get the bigger tank then choose fish accordingly. Buying fish now and planning for a future upgrade isn't a good idea for several reasons. Not the least of which is Tangs do best in seasoned aquariums. Get your new tank in April, stock it with quality, fresh live rock, let the tank age for a few months, then shop for a new Tang (and choose a species that stays under 10 inches)

I agree...Patience is a virtue in this hobby. I read too many threads about the size tank people will have in the future so they want to get a particular fish that is ill suited for their existing tank now. Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby and nothing bad haapens slowly.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by Al Mc
http:///forum/post/2474603
I agree...Patience is a virtue in this hobby. I read too many threads about the size tank people will have in the future so they want to get a particular fish that is ill suited for their existing tank now. Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby and nothing bad haapens slowly.
Yep! The problem with addiction is that it is so easy to justify our actions by saying what we'll do tomorrow; because what we have if front of us today is so desirable!
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Not wanting to high jack this thread BUT it seems we all love tangs especially the poster of this thread so maybe we should address the Ick FARMERS the irresponsible hobbyists who do not QT and introduce ick into their tank were a fish that is prone to get infected such as the tangs get the bad rap if I had a dolor for every time I was on the soap box about this I would be able to buy a pare of cross hatch triggers
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2474666
Not wanting to high jack this thread BUT it seems we all love tangs especially the poster of this thread so maybe we should address the Ick FARMERS the irresponsible hobbyists who do not QT and introduce ick into their tank were a fish that is prone to get infected such as the tangs get the bad rap if I had a dolor for every time I was on the soap box about this I would be able to buy a pare of cross hatch triggers

Nobody I'd rather see on the soapbox, Joe. BTW, I think my triggers have arrived at their 1st stop and I should get pics sent to me on Tuesday.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/2474691
Nobody I'd rather see on the soapbox, Joe. BTW, I think my triggers have arrived at their 1st stop and I should get pics sent to me on Tuesday.
good for you my friend cant wait to see them the b-day present was a long time coming but it will be well worth it i bet
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top