Tang Planning

Reefer Rob · #1 12-08-2010, 06:58 PM

I know the little toony size fish are hard to resist, but with a small tank like a 135 I would stay from Regal Tangs. These guys are speed freaks that just seem to enjoy swimming as fast as they can!

I prefer what I like to call "hard working" Tangs. These guys are happy to spend the day cleaning the reef, and hardly seem to notice they're in a glass box. The top of this list would be the Yellow Tang- a real workhorse.

I would substitute the Powder Blue for a White Cheek (Japonica), my personal favorite. While still sensitive it's much easier to keep.

My 2 cents

naesco · #2 12-08-2010, 07:15 PM

Thanks for asking before you buy.
You have excellent advice from all those that have posted.
I would ditch the powder blue and go with the powder brown A,japonica. It is an excellent fish.

I would try to hold off and add the tangs last. Add them together with the lights off for a day or two. Avoid approaching the tank so as not to stress them. Feed from both sides of the tank.
That way you will avoid the tang problems that a recent thread revealed.

BTW I would recommend getting a natural pair of mandarins after your tank is mature. It is really neat to see them be together.

Good luck.

globaldesigns · #3 12-08-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

Thanks for asking before you buy.
You have excellent advice from all those that have posted.
I would ditch the powder blue and go with the powder brown A,japonica. It is an excellent fish.

I would try to hold off and add the tangs last. Add them together with the lights off for a day or two. Avoid approaching the tank so as not to stress them. Feed from both sides of the tank.
That way you will avoid the tang problems that a recent thread revealed.

BTW I would recommend getting a natural pair of mandarins after your tank is mature. It is really neat to see them be together.

Good luck.

+1 on the tangs... If you want a powder, I also like the Brown better.

globaldesigns · #4 12-08-2010, 07:20 PM

Another nice tang is the Blonde Naso

ponokareefer · #5 12-08-2010, 07:45 PM

I wouldn't suggest getting a regal or naso tang. They both get really big, and love to swim ALOT! I tried a regal in my 125 and as he started to grow, he began to pace a lot and got aggressive. He wasn't very happy at all. Regals and powder blue's are both highly susceptible to ich FYI. Scopas and Kole should would great in your tank.

As others have pointed out as well, copperband's have a very poor rate of survival in aquarium tanks.

Mandarins in a newer tank aren't a good idea. They like to feed on pods around the tank, even if they are eating frozen/flaked food. I would wait until your tank is more mature.

If you're looking for a schooling fish, you will be dissapointed with chromis's. They don't school very much, and by a year or 2, you are usually down to one as they kill each other off. Longspine Cardinalfish, also called glass or theadfin cardinalfish, are one of the best schooling fish for marine tanks. Marine Aquaria in Edmonton has a group together in one of their larger tanks that school together. I would look at the school before writing them off. They look like they have a neon blue light in their head that glows.

As others have already pointed out, dwarf angels can eat corals. I had 3 in my tank that weren't for the longest time, and then one day, they started. If you have some type of canopy or top and some sand, I would consider getting colorfull wrasse's instead.

Lampshade · #6 12-08-2010, 11:28 PM

Thanks all, thinking about it the regal does get pretty big. Seeing rob's monster I should stay clear of that one. I like the yellows, I"ll look into the others. And i found a few video's of the chromis, they don't really schoool at all, May i'll stick to a couple and get a couple goby's in there or something.

Thanks again all, great input.

ickmagnet · #7 12-11-2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naesco

Thanks for asking before you buy.
You have excellent advice from all those that have posted.
I would ditch the powder blue and go with the powder brown A,japonica. It is an excellent fish.

I would try to hold off and add the tangs last. Add them together with the lights off for a day or two. Avoid approaching the tank so as not to stress them. Feed from both sides of the tank.
That way you will avoid the tang problems that a recent thread revealed.

BTW I would recommend getting a natural pair of mandarins after your tank is mature. It is really neat to see them be together.

Good luck.

Totally Agree. If you insist on a powder blue, I would buy one from a fellow reefer who has kept it successfully for a sustained period. I've never had any luck with store bought ones. I have one in my 180g and it is the most active of all my fish. I sometimes feel I need a bigger tank for it.