We consider a multi-scalar field theory with either short-range or long-range free action and with quartic interactions that are invariant under $O(N_1)times O(N_2) times O(N_3)$ transformations, of which the scalar fields form a tri-fundamental representation. We study the renormalization group fixed points at two loops at finite $N$ and in various large-$N$ scaling limits for small $epsilon$, the latter being either the deviation from the critical dimension or from the critical scaling of the free propagator. In particular, for the homogeneous case $N_i = N$ for $i=1,2,3$, we study the subleading corrections to previously known fixed points. In the short-range model, for $epsilon N^2gg 1$, we find complex fixed points with non-zero tetrahedral coupling, that at leading order reproduce the results of arXiv:1707.03866 ; the main novelty at next-to-leading order is that the critical exponents acquire a real part, thus allowing a correct identification of some fixed points as IR stable. In the long-range model, for $epsilon N ll 1 $, we find again complex fixed points with non-zero tetrahedral coupling, that at leading order reproduce the line of stable fixed points of arXiv:1903.03578; at next-to-leading order, this is reduced to a discrete set of stable fixed points. One difference between the short-range and long-range cases is that, in the former the critical exponents are purely imaginary at leading-order and gain a real part at next-to-leading order, while for the latter the situation is reversed.