new tang????

i have a 90 gal tank with lots of rock, currently only of a yellow tang who is about 6 inches, and 8 damsels in the tank, also have a dwarf lionfish who i never see during the day because he is lazy and only comes out the eat some frozen krill twice a week. anyway, i was considering adding another type of tang to my setup, i am interested in the genus Acanthurus, however i know that most members of this genus grow large and could outgrow my 90, also am nervous about aggression with the yellow tang. any suggestions????? also i am considering trying to get a regal angelfish. from what i have heard they are very touchy and most only live for a couple of months before dying off, and have heard varied accounts on their ability to be reef safe?? is the regal angelfish like one of those fish like the moorish idol that everyone wishes they had but could never be a possibility???????

 

As for adding an Acanthurus sp., your Yellow Tang should be fine with it as will the Acanthurus you plan to add to your tank. Different species ( body structure) are usually fine with Tangs. If you were to add another Tang similar to the Yellow(ie. Scopas, Sailfin or Purple), that is when you would have a problem on your hands!
I would shy away from a Regal as they aren't very hardy and have a poor track record over time! Try a Koran, French, Queen, or better yet a Centropyge Angel!
I would have to remind you though, that you don't want to crowd your tank!!!!! Also, strong filtration is a must with your large bioload!
Good luck and let us know what you end up doing!

 

thanks for the advice. i was also wondering about increasing the bioload with a new tang, a while back i added a bluthroat trigger that ate like a pig and saw my nitrates skyrocket even with weekly water changes. i utilize a sump system with bioballs, i run carbon 24/7 in a kent marine phosreactor and also protein skim 24/7, so another tang shouldnt be much of a problem. my main concern would be with tank space and open swimming room as i know many species of Acanthurus need lots of open space and turbulent water flow. although i do know someone who has a large 10 inch sohal tang in a 72 gal. bowfront, seems a little cramped? anyway, i guess im crossing the regal off my wanted fish list and gonna start shopping around for a smaller acanthurus sp.

 

For a 90g, I would stick with a smaller angel like the Coral Beauty, Flame Angel, Bicolor Angel to name a few. You could also try a Navarcus/ Majestic angel if you could find a small one. They are very beautiful and change to their adult coloration early on when they are small. They grow to about 10" but will take a few years to get that size, by then you could trade it in.