[nbd13]

hey guys hopefully knock on wood i gte a 180 gallon 72by24by24

and i was wondering if i could keep 3 tangs in there?

1. Powder blue or whitecheeck really want one of these but dont know which one?)

2. Purple

3. Salfin (really like)

4. Mimic

5. Orange shoulder

6. Regal (but get huge and need special diet?)

So what do you guys think which ones would you choose and why?

i think the other fish will be 2 clowns, 1 anthias, 1 solar wrasse or fairy wrasse, 2 neon gobies, i think thats it.

7. if anybosy can think of more fish to add let me know! but would really like 3 tangs!

thanks guys!

Nick

 

[tommyb]

I have a yellow, naso, and blue/regal/hippo in a 180. They get along great. I have heard bad things about powder blues not mixing well with other tangs but they are absolutly beautiful. I think the most important thing is to not get tangs with similar body features, such as yellow, purple, sailfin. People have had success with these together but I think you will have a better chance of having a peaceful tank if you get three different kinds. If it were me and I had to choose from the list I would say sailfin, mimic and orange shoulder.

 

[nbd13]

alright i am for sure getting the SAILFIN, but the orange shoulder and mimic are from the same genus or what ever.

so for sure SAILFIN,

but nee d2 mroe any suggestions on what to go with the sailfin and in what order do i add them?

also any more fish suggestions?

thanks!

Nick

 

[John Brancheau]

Tangs can be touchy, if yu want three it can be done, but my suggesion to you is this, and I will catch flack for this, add them all at once.

If you opt to go one at a time, your sucess may be not so good, I have always pushed the envelope when it comes to tangs and so far i have been fortunate. Whichever you decide, keep in mnd that powder blues and achilles are tough, and so are the clowns, but given the right care they are gorgeous.


John

 

[nbd13]

yeah thats my only concern here is they are touchy and so are the oscellaris.

so sailffin and what other 2?

i think i may add them all at once too, that way they will define their own terriotory at they same time as opposed to one at a time where there will be mroe fighting good call on that one JOHN!

so i need 2 more any suggestions here?

thanks!

Nick

 

[John Brancheau]

Maybe try a naso, blonde of course, and a powder brown, equally as impressive...

 

[sebaeo]

i have a purple and a hippo in a 180 with no problems don't know what to tell you to add for your 3rd.

 

[moonlitsomernite]

Oscellaris clowns are absolutely fine with other fish. If you get a pair when they are young, preferably tank raised, they will "play well with others". As for the anthias, you shouldn't keep just one, get atleast a trio.
As for tang suggestions, try a convict tang, and a chevron tang, if you don't want to dish out the money for a chevron tang, then go with a kole tang. They are all pretty cool looking. Also, what kind of sailfin tang were you going to get... the desjardini (the kind with the orangy stripes) or the other cheaper... not as attractive kind (to me anyway) regular kind with the yellow stripes?

 

[nbd13]

alright guys i think i am going to go with,

1. Sailfin

2. Powder brown

3. Need one more??? Maybe a mimic or a orange shoulder? anythoughts?

should i be fine with these?

and i think i will get a tri of anthias, 1 male and 2 females right?

1. any suggestions on what kind of anthias?

and of course i will get tanks raised clown fish so i know they wont be a problem!

so one more type of tang guys!

Thanks!

Nick

 

[nbd13]

moonlitsomernite- sorry forgot to answer 1 question of yours i dont know whihc kind of sailfin i am getting, i onyl thought there was one? the yellow striped version? any pics or links the the orangy one? i think these fish are gorgoues. but let me know?

any differences in care for these?

thanks!

Nick

 

[tommyb]

Zebrasoma: yellow, purple, sailfin,scopas
Naso: blonde, "normal", vlamingi, unicorn
Ctenochaetus: kole, chevron
Paracanthurus: blue/regal
Acanthrus: mimic, sohal, powder blue, gold rimmed/ powder brown, achilles, clown
These are probably the most common in the aquarium trade so if you pick one from each family you should be all right. The reason I said mimic and achilles is becuse they don't look very much alike and should get along.

 

[nbd13]

John what do you think?

1. Sailfin

2. Powder Brown

3. What else? I dont want a naso thye get huge? would a mimic or orange shoulder be ok? i read that i think one of these( mimic or orange shoulder) shouldnt be places with a powder brown?

just one more guys any thoughts?

thanks!

Nick

 

[nbd13]

are powder browns as tuff to keep as powder blues? if so i dont think i could do it? let me know thanks!

Nick

 

[tommyb]

An orange shoulder gets to be about 14" and a sailfin 15". Nasos get about 18" so if you don't want anything "huge" I wouldn't get those two then. Personally I think any of them would be alright in a 180 but they will get large. On the other hand the regal gets to be about 12" and powder brown 8"

 

[nbd13]

yeah i think the orange shoulder is out!

so a couple of questions?

1. is the powder brown ok or is it hard to keep liek the powder blue?

2. will the mimic tang be ok with the powder brown both from Acanthrus

3. anyother suggestions? just need one more?

4. what anthias would you get for a scholl of 3? 1 male and 2 females?

5. will the anthias and tnags be ok?

thanks!

Nick

 

[moonlitsomernite]

The anthias and tangs would be fine together. If you want to see a place with great pictures of the fish... go to
www.liveaquaria.com

The only difference between the desjardini and the regular kind, besides the coloristic differences are the area they come from and the price... the desjardini is a little more expensive.

As for anthias suggestions... I think squarebacks are really cool, but they are hard to come by... most people opt to get peach or bartletts, which are a little more common but still expensive. If you are looking for cheap... lyretail anthias are colorful and relatively cheap compared to others in their grouping.

 

[Specialk]

They actually sell 2 diff. types of Powder Brown tangs, 1 is Acanthurus nigricans and it is not hardy and the other is Acanthurus japonicus and it is hardy this one will have has a much larger white eye patch..
If you want 3 tangs look at Salfin, Mimic & Hippo.

I dont think the hippo will be any tougher to keep the the other 2. Feed the Nori (seaweed) and as the hippo matures it will eat meaty foods plus the nori. Just offer a variety in the diet and you will be fine. Try to get one that is 2 - 3" and that would be better than one that is 1".
Also if you do it this way add the Hippo 1st wait a few weeks and add the other 2. Feed the Hippo garlic soaked foods a few days before adding the other 2 and you should still be fine.

Kaye

 

[Specialk]

Also the regal in a home aquarium will grow 8 - 10 inches if that helps. Some do get 12" but usually not in a home aquarium.

Kaye

 

[sean]

Too help you out with some more questions, there is a difference in temperment between the two salfins, the red sea salfin tends to be a lot more aggressive toward other high finned species, while the normal salfin tang, can be a little more laid back.

There are two different variations of the powder brown, the true powder brown, is a lot more prone to ich, but a lot more beautiful, the other variation is referred to as the whitecheek tang, his a lot more hardy towards parasites. But not as pretty as the powder brown. They both have similar temperment, and perfer peaceful tankmates.

There are certain species, that are the most prone to ich, and have a lot more chance of getting ich and those are the powder blue, the powder brown, and the reagul tang. I havent had much experience with the clown or the achilles, but i hear they can be very prone to ich too.

As for the nasos (orange spine, viamingii, unicorn), i think me and john know that they are not totally reef safe when they get larger, if you dont keep them well fed enough they will start picking at zoo's, I never caught my blue tang picking at zoo's. But mucho had one that took a liking for zoo's so once in awhile youll find one that will eat all your nice zoo's.

If you still want to go with 3 i would advise adding them all about the same time, otherwise there could be a fight. But its all about luck, there a couple of guys on this site that have 4-5 tangs in their tanks, and never had a problem, while others can barely get away with a third. If you do decide with 2, i would go for aggressive tangs. I think the coolest duos would be the
powder blue, purple
sohal, purple
clown, purple

i dont really think i can give you much advise on a peaceful trio because there are just way to many combinations! Its all about opinion on what looks best two, but if you do decide to get 3 i would go naso, arcanthrus, and zebramosa, or naso, (blue, kole, or chevron) and a zebramosa species.

 

[nbd13]

alright guys heres the list,

1. Powder Brown? any thoughts? i will get the TRUE A. japonicus. anythoughts?

2. Sailfin, but do not know which type any thoughts? do they both have the big fin? any thoughts i like both?

3. OK? now should i go with the Mimic (Chocolate suregonfish) or a chevron tang?

thanks!

Nick