5' - 50 gallon tank large enough for a tang

[Josh24]

Just looking for some feedback & if so what type would you recomend?

[Doug]

Not for an adult Regal I mentioned in your other thread but it would be fine for young one if you were planning on upgrading in the future. I would assume a 5ft. 50g would be fairly narrow. Even the smaller tangs, like a scopas would not like it much over the long run, when adult size.

[Skimmerking]

Josh trust me if you can get a longer and wider tank do it. I know its hard not get is or fill it up We can't tell you to not do i. But all we can do is point you in the right direction. I have a 170 gal 60x27x24 and My lavender tang to me should be in a bigger tang. and i have DOug's Kole tang for him i would love to house them in a 72" 6 footer tank or longer maybe later down the road.

[Dave C]

Found this on RC...

1. Tangs are not good choices for newly set up aquaria. To thrive they need a stable environment with pristine water conditions.

2. Tangs are medium to large, active fish that need plenty of space. On the question of tank sizes, we defer to Scott W. Michael, who recommends the following minimum sizes in Marine Fishes, 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species, Microcosm Ltd., 1999:


1. Acanthurus achilles, Achilles Surgeonfish, 100 gal (380l).
2. Acanthurus coeruleus, Atlantic Blue Tang, 75 gal (285l).
3. Acanthurus japonicus, Powder Brown Tang, 75 gal (285l).
4. Acanthurus leucosternon, Powder Blue Tang, 100 gal (380l).
5. Acanthurus lineatus, Lined or Clown Surgeonfish, 180 gal (680l).
6. Acanthurus nigricans, Whitecheek Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
7. Acanthurus olivaceus, Orangeshoulder Surgeonfish, 135 gal (510l).
8. Acanthurus pyroferus, Mimic Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
9. Acanthurus sohal, Sohal Surgeonfish, 180 gal (680l).
10. Acanthurus tristegus, Convict Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
11. Acanthurus tristis, Indian Mimic Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
12. Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis, Chevron Tang, 100 gal (380l).
13. Ctenochaetus strigosus, Kole's Tang, 75 gal (285l).
14. Naso brevirostris, Spotted Unicornfish, 180 gal (685l).
15. Naso lituratus, Orangespine Unicornfish or Naso Tang, 135 gal (510l).
16. Naso unicornis, Bluespine Unicornfish, 200 gal (760l).
17. Paracanthurus hepatus, Pacific Blue Tang, 100 gal (380l).
18. Zebrasoma desjardinii, Indian Ocean or Red Sea Sailfin Tang, 135 gal (510l).
19. Zebrasoma flavescens, Yellow Tang, 75 gal (285l).
20. Zebrasoma scopas, Brown Tang, 75 gal (285l).
21. Zebrasoma veliferum, Sailfin Tang, 135 gal (510l).
22. Zebrasoma xanthurum, Purple Tang, 100 gal (380l).


You will note that none of these minimum sizes are less than 75 gallons. If you have a tang in a smaller tank, you should expect that some people will give you a hard time about it. Expressing outrage about that could result in suspension of your posting privileges. We are not, BTW, giving a free pass to the self-styled "Tang Police" to be abusive.

3. The above sizes assume a standard rectangular shape with plenty of open swimming space. If your tank is full to the brim with coral, your tang won't be happy. Tanks 125G or larger are assumed to be at least six feet long (approx. two meters). Where possible, choose longer rather than deeper shapes. While smaller species may be OK in a four foot tank, they will probably do better in a five foot or longer tank.

4. We do not condone the practice of keeping more than one specimen of the same or very similar species together in the same aquarium, except possibly for Zebrasoma species in a very large tank.

5. If you wish to keep multiple dissimilar tangs in the same aquarium, we recommend you have an aquarium significantly larger than the sizes listed above.

[Josh24]

Thanks for the responses...

I have not actually built the tank but I'm restricted to the length of the tank due to space. I may be able to get a couple inches in width or height increasing the total volume.

In any event I want to ensure whatever livestock I place in my aquarium are healthy.

Thanks
Josh

[fortheloveofcrabs]

I'm surprised that a yellow tang wouldn't be okay. I've seen many places that say the min tank size for a yellow tang is 50 gal. Interesting...

[robzilla]

ive got a yellow tang in a 44gal and he's been doing fine for 1yr plus

[Josh24]

Thats an interesting post Dave but isn't a standard 75 gallon tank usually only 4' long? Wouldn't it be better to distribute the volume of the tank over the length and width rather then having an extremely tall tank? after all the fish swim from side to side and not so much up and down.

Just a question... thoughts.

[Farrmanchu]

I've got a Regal and a Yellow in the same 55, they are both medium-small. In the future, these fish will become my leverage to get a much larger tank. If you have a spouse, you must got about this with future interest in mind.:lol:
"No honey, I don't NEED a larger tank, the fish MUST have it though."

[naesco]

Thanks for your concern about the size of tank needed for tangs.

Choose a tank with a minimum 6 foot length as length is important here not height, width or gallons.

Tangs are swimmers they race from end to end at high speed and reguire the extra length that larger tanks provide.

Thank you
Wayne

[Josh24]

Thats for all your responses.