Tangs in a 120g...

aerius007 · Nov 18, 2009

Ok, a local is tearing down his FOWLR and I have a chance to get a couple of really nice fish. The problem is that Im not sure how safe it is adding more tangs into my mix. I have a 120g, the rock work I have leaves enough hiding spots towards the bottom and lots of swimming room in the upper 2/3 of of the tank. Right now for tangs I have a Vlamingi and a purple tang. Both are fat, healthy and eat like pigs. I also have a mystery wrasse, two ora black clowns, mandarin, and 5 chromis.

I understand at some point the Vlamingi will out grow the tank, I bought him very small and in 8 months hes grown a TON but still nowhere ready to be pulled. My guess is though that by this time next year I will be finding him another home. The two tangs I can get now are a yellow belly blue hippo and a blonde naso. The naso is 4" and the hippo is 6-7". If I could only get one Im leaning towards the Naso but not sure. Is this a recipe for disaster or could I add one or both into the mix? The two fish I would be adding already live a vlamingi and purple in their current tank. I doubt my Vlamingi would be an issue (gentle giant) but not sure about the purple.

Viva'sReef · Nov 18, 2009

I think the Purple tang will tear into the Hippo for sure, and will probably not like the Naso either, but who knows...right?

rng_pw · Nov 18, 2009

Is your 120 4ft or 6 ft long. Even still I think because of the size of the fish that it is going to be cutting it tight. Good luck with the Vlamingi. I have a friend that has one in his 150 and that thing has gotten huge. I would say that he is about 12-14" and growing. I may have gotten lucky with my purple tang but he has never bothered any new comers, that maybe could be because my achilles has it covered though

. Good luck man. Let us know what you decide

aerius007 · Nov 18, 2009

4' 120

ness · Nov 19, 2009

I would try and stay away from a Hippo and Naso for a 120g, especially with the Vlamingi already in there. I have a 120g with a Black Tang and Tomini in it. The Black grows very fast, a lot quicker than Purple Tang. I'm going to take him out and the Tomini soon (though the Tomini still has plenty of room) and put in a new mix of Tangs all small. I think Tomini's and Kole Tangs are perfect for 120g. They just chill and don't swim all furiously like the other tangs in my experience, also great grazers and they grow slower.

aerius007 · Nov 20, 2009

Ok, so I made the move and got both of the fish.

Does anybody want a blue hippo? Hehe, it was supposed to be around 6". I didnt look too closely, I had it in a bucket with rocks when I was acclimating it. I put it in the tank and its probably 10", its a monster, absolutely huge and way too big for my tank. If anybody is in driving distance and wants a beautiful and HUGE hippo let me know and we can work something out.