If you could choose three tangs...

[skyrye7]

If you could choose three tangs in a mixed reef system (5feet long), which would you choose and why?

Short list as per below
Achilles Tang
yellow tang
Purple tang
Black tang
Gem tang
Kole tang


I am undecided between these 6

[bullitr]

Gem ( very hard to find a small one now )
Achilles you need to upgrade later
Black tang

[evolutionZ]

achilles, yellow and purple.

[Tornader]

I am biased. I have yellow and hippo and yellow has so much more personality

[madweazl]

Chevron, purple, and achilles :)

[o2manyfish]

Chevron, purple, and achilles :)


My choice as well. For a reef tank a Chevron is a must have fish. It has the best mouth for eating algae.

Dave B

[ca1ore]

Hippo, purple, yellow ...... and Achilles. My three favorites

[echoreef]

Black tang, yellow tang, and blue hippo tang. I know hippo tang is not on your list but I think it's a must have.

[airplanes1016]

Black tang, yellow tang, and blue hippo tang. I know hippo tang is not on your list but I think it's a must have.

Nice fish for sure. But not in a five foot tank.

[Mrscribbled]

Guys this is a 5 foot tank.... absolutely not an Achilles. ..

[danimallaminad]

purple gem black

[woodnaquanut]

Kole (great grazer and pretty in a subtle way)
Purple - well they are just eye candy pure and simple!

No need for a third.

[Jasanden]

Powder brown... Just my fav and a relentless grazer Atleast the ones I've owned.

[Bernie21]

From your list:
Purple tang
Black tang
Kole tang

My own list:
Cheveron tang
Gold rim tang
Lieutenant tang

[nikon187]

Guys this is a 5 foot tank.... absolutely not an Achilles. ..

+100.. Achilles should NOT be in a 5 foot tank.

[DavidinGA]

Halfway ignoring your list I would say:

Achilles
Blonde naso
Powder blue

[scar79]

Given your list and the size of your tank,
Kole - cute fish, awesome grazers
Purple - hot, just hot
Yellow - contrast

I would remove the achilles from the list

[WayneL333]

Out of your list, I would choose the gem, black and Achilles.

A word of warning. My tank is a little over 5'. It's actually 5'x3'x3'. When I tried to put 3 tangs in there, they were very territorial. 2 tangs were fine though. Maybe you'll have better luck than me.

[Holsteiner]

I have an achilles and I would agree with the others to take him off your list. 5ft isn't enough, we're in the process of upgrading to an 8ft tank just because of him. Not to mention the aggressiveness you'll have issues with...

[Mark4869]

Powder blue should be on the list

[ingtar_shinowa]

My choice as well. For a reef tank a Chevron is a must have fish. It has the best mouth for eating algae.

Dave B

Hey Dave, I have a 6' 125g what are your thoughts on a Cevron in there. My LFS has a juvi that I could get for cheap and if you like them so much there might be something to that.


Out of your list, I would choose the gem, black and Achilles.

A word of warning. My tank is a little over 5'. It's actually 5'x3'x3'. When I tried to put 3 tangs in there, they were very territorial. 2 tangs were fine though. Maybe you'll have better luck than me.

I'd also be wary with 3 tangs in a 5ft unless its a big cube. I have a lavender, black, and tomini and the lavender was a freak the whole time.

[Empty Bottles]

Mine would be
Chevron (not on your list), but will mature to look like a gem
Purple Tang
Instead of the Achilles I would pick another one from the Acantharus genus. Visually I'd go with the powder blue.

You may have a war with the purple and the powder blue though. I'd try not to add more than one of each genus. And I'd add the bristletooth one first.

[starkii]

Kole (great grazer and pretty in a subtle way)
Purple - well they are just eye candy pure and simple!

No need for a third.

As above but swapping a yellow for the purple as purples can be nasty ime

[BossHoggin]

Achilles, purple, kole

[Dmorty217]

With that tank length and volume you should be thinking more kole,Tomini, chevron

[Singlefin]

What size tank does a black need? Anyone have experience with them? Are they worth the money?

[Borchers]

Purple Tang
Achilles Tang
Chevron Tang

[echoreef]

What size tank does a black need? Anyone have experience with them? Are they worth the money?

It's my favorite fish in my tank. Mine is 5" and is in a 120 gallon which is too small for the fish. You need a 6' tank that is at least 180 gallon so that it has plenty of room to swim. It is fairly easy to take care of and is peaceful. I am moving the black tang to a 250 gallon tank next month.

[Mussin]

Purple and a kole..

[Wrench]

My favorites would be:
Powder blue or Achilles
Tomini
Blonde naso

Three very different species who all get along well and look great together. I almost put sohal on the list but decided not to because of their agressiveness and size.

From your list:
Powder blue
Kole
Yellow.

[CReyes350]

Kole (great grazer and pretty in a subtle way)
Purple - well they are just eye candy pure and simple!

No need for a third.

My exact thoughts...

[clownman33]

gem
black
purple

all of my dream fish

[Marshall O]

gem
black
purple

all of my dream fish

And all 3 are Zebramosa's. Not sure how well that would work out in a 5' tank. All beautiful fish, but I would certainly not recommend all 3.

I agree with doing a Kole Tang and Purple though! Keep it to two as mentioned :)

[Dmorty217]

What size tank does a black need? Anyone have experience with them? Are they worth the money?

Same size as a yellow 125g(IMO). They are very hardy as far as tangs go, maybe the hardiest of them all.

[ingtar_shinowa]

I agree that a 180 may be best for a black. Mine is in a 125 but he seems very comfortable at 6-7 inches. He is also my most docile fish, but can certainly take care of himself. Probably the best personality fish i have and eats bubble algae.

[OrionN]

If they are hardy (tolerate a wide range of condition, they would not be rare). In general rare fish are more difficult to keep fish.

[Marshall O]

If they are hardy (tolerate a wide range of condition, they would not be rare). In general rare fish are more difficult to keep fish.

Or just not collected due to depths or restrictions of where they are endemic to. Doesn't necessarily mean they are any less hardy IMO.

[ingtar_shinowa]

If they are hardy (tolerate a wide range of condition, they would not be rare). In general rare fish are more difficult to keep fish.

disagree very much.

[Singlefin]

Same size as a yellow 125g(IMO). They are very hardy as far as tangs go, maybe the hardiest of them all.

Thanks. I have a 120g. Just figuring out my livestock.