Pretty much says it there. It's funny how we criticise people killing a tang as we type over our dinner plate of salmon. These ornamental fish are actually food in their parts of the world, and get killed all the time. Groupers probably eat more fish than hobbyists kill :)
In all honestly, if a person is that passionate about fish, they should be working in a field trying to preserve reefs, not contributing to their demise. A fish does not, ever, belong in an aquarium. Birds don't belong in cages. Nor snakes. Or any wild animal. But as a species, we tend to be a bit selfish in our self rewarding behaviours, and "pets" often pay for that with their lives.
That being said, if you're going to keep these poor little things captive, doing your best is all that one can ask......

Blah blah blah. Red list, yellow list, green list, whatever. If you have a tank with fish and corals, you are a hypocrite! I have broken every rule. Tangs, bring em on. I have many. Different species of clowns in one tank? I got em. Mixed reef? Mine is. It thrives. I have seen many tanks like mine that thrive. Even when I posted my journal, I was judged. I say whatever. I am in a hobby that can only be supported by taking from mother nature. Am I a bad person? Maybe. I am no worse than anybody else in the hobby. Maybe we all need to keep our opinions to ourselves, unless asked, including myself.

This is a very truthful statement, to acknowledge that the hobby we partake in is detrimental to the lives of the animals we care for makes sense. To become passionate about it though (and that's why I believe most of us stay in this hobby) is what is really the life blood of the reefing industry. To see beyond the fish tank and understand that your responsible for the lives of ALL of these organisms is what everyone has to understand. Good on you Diana, it really looks like you are putting the effort in to care for these animals if I can give you any advice it's just to learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of the others around you, after all that's what this forum is for.
Levi

Diana we still have not seen any new pics of your setup... I would love to see some. Glad to hear the new tang (well not so new any more) is doing great!! Get some pics up.

Thanks for the more positive comments, they are nice to see. It is also nice to see some members agree with some of these other posts as well. I do have to mention I didn't think there was a three year time line in order to know you have been successful. I may not have this tank and the fish for three years, I don't know that. As long as I live in this house, I will have them and consider their health and well being while I have them to be a success. I don't worry about if they will be dead in the morning or have the mentality that I am going to fail them. If I had this mind set, I should not be in this hobby... I wouldn't want to be, since that would not be enjoyable at all. I paid those dues at start up and with every fish I added. I am glad I have all the fish I want, and don't need to put myself through worrying about any new fish. If any do die, I will admit to it... why hide. Perhaps others could learn from the deaths and do better if they try.

I was told my limited success I have had in the past months in no way makes me an experienced hobbyist, but I never claimed to be one to begin with. I never tell anyone to do what I did, and never advise anyone to do what I have done. I would never advise or condone anything I had done...However, what I have done to make things work, may be different then other people's so I do think I deserve some credit. I am aware that problems may or will crop up later on as the tank matures, it is almost nine months old now. I was worried about hitch hiker crabs, but they give my Banana wrasse a hobby. He is a hunter and he loves to look for the crabs. Sometimes bad things can be blessing in the long run.

My husband built this system, and for someone that has never known a thing about things of this nature, he by far outdid himself. He made things very simple for me to do my job, which is care for the fish and the system. Nothing came easy and with the higher risk fish came great amounts of stress and tension.

Some times rules are made to be broken or bent. Sometimes it takes a newbie reefer to have the torch passed onto them, to try something once again. From my extensive research on many fish, there is not a large amount known about them to begin with, and if people continue to try, perhaps more knowledge of keeping them successfully will come along. I don't know everything of claim to even know very much. However I do know what I have learned, and I do know everything I had done to be where I am.

I continually see people get beat up for stocking choices, or impulse buys. Instead of bashing people and making them fearful to ask questions, why not say nothing at all. Why bother posting the tank will crash, the fish will die, or they have no chance. What is the point of closing doors?

Any ways, I have a serious hike to go on, and I appreciate all the input and insight on my post.

Working on pictures my other computer is not working properly and this one is brutal to get pictures to load and and stuff like that. There are some pictures in my photo album on the forums though... I hope that is enough for now. I will try to borrow hubby's computer to get things done.

I go away on holidays and I miss out on commenting earlier. I have seen Diana's tank and it is beautiful. She has been a great friend to me and I am glad she has the fish she wants and the ability to take care of them. I agree that research should be done before buying a fish, needless to say I have bought fish I shouldn't have thinking I could care for them when a bit more research turned up things I didn't know about the fish which may have made me not buy it, but in the end you learn from mistakes and try to do better for future reference.

Sometimes it's good to try (within reason) because you just never know what might work that otherwise you wouldn't of thought possible.

FYI her regal is a indo regal angel and is basically full grown, not a juvi red sea regal.

Hey Diana! Great to here that your tank is doing so good. I am glad that you have had success so far with these fish. Just curious on how your sargassum trigger is doing. I would love to see some pics of these guys in your tank.

Keep up the good work!!

Thanks Laurie, at least you saw it in person, so nobody thinks I am lying.

Seanoman, the trigger is doing awesome. He is a fat so and is a really neat fish. Very quirky personality, and fun to watch playing in the powerheads.

This thread is awesome, it reflects how I feel about this hobby... often people are quick to bash someone for trying something, when they have themselves killed things. Often the best thing to do is step back, take it all into perspective, and try to think of ways to help rather than just saying that someone is stupid for even wanting to try something.

Offer help when asked, or say nothing... don't pollute threads with worthless comments about how something can't be done.