question regarding tangs and tank size

[reeferfulton]

this question is not to point fingers or start a debate

It is mearly intended to gain some insight on the situation .

I am a severe newbie when it comes to SW tanks and fish . I am currently building my first 110gallon .. semi cube 36x28x25h



Question

Tangs .
I am really trying to tell myself that I should not be getting any tangs whatsover due to my tank size .. My longest run is 36" .

But I am incorporating a minimilst approach to my rock work . There is an extreme amount of open space in my tank , So thus i am wondering if a Yellow and PB tank would be acceptalbe if purchased very small >?

And ive done hours of reading that say never buy a fish that can outgrow your tank.

heres the problem .
I see lots of pictures of TOTM with tangs in small tanks. I also see tangs in very large tanks (6ft long ) with so much rock work that the fish can barly swim down the front pane of glass.

I have also seen 6ft tanks with like 5 or more tangs in the same tank .

I Just wonder why there seems to be this blanket rule for tangs when it comes to 6 ft and shorter tanks, But 6 feet and above is open season on cramming them in there

I would like to possibly have a TOTM in the future .Thus i would like to follow the responcible fish keeping trends that appear to be the norm .

(Essentially Any cube tank should never have a tang .. )

Just this tang buisness has got me all worked up

sorry for the rant .
all thoughts would be appreciated
Jon

[Aquattro]

Wayne should be along any time now, if his macro is working properly

I agree. A 6ft tank with 300 pounds of rock isn't any more suitable than a 36 inch tank.
Of the two you've mentioned, the YT would, IMO, be more suitable. The PBs tend to like really blasting around the tank.
Another point to consider is that while yes, Yellows can get to be the size of dinner plates, I've never actually had one grow much beyond the size I purchased it. I feed a lot.
So if you have a smaller tank with tons of swimming room, add a YT. Keep the water clean and feed it well to ensure good health. While there are tons of rules about this online, Tangs don't read a lot online and don't know the rules.

Get a smaller to mid size, make him the primary large fish for the tank, keep him healthy and you're doing fine.

[Rice Reef]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Tangs don't read a lot online and don't know the rules.

I have the following in a 120... Sailfin, regal, purple, yellow and a kole. They are always in their best behaviour and gets along with the other fish in the tank. I am planning to go with much less rocks in the 120 soon to allow more swimming room for them.

[naesco]

Thanks for the post op.
Conscientious reefers start with the premise that we want to provide the optimum conditions for the tangs we decide to remove from their sea home. I believe you are one of us.

Tangs are swimmers. They spend their whole day swimming from one end of the tank to the other. Those who have kept tangs in a small four foot tank and mived them to a larger tank have really noticed the difference.

The solution is to simply wait until you have a suitably sized tank. Some reefers try to justify their purchase because it is a small immature tang. The poster who has a sailfin in his small tank will soon see exactly how fast that tang grows. Because it is an easier tang we often see it grow to pie plate
Unfortunately yellow tangs are often seen in small tanks not because it is large enough. We see them because they are common, cheap and often a reefs first tang.
The kole tang, very beautiful and very personable is suitable because the kole kind of hangs around rather than actively swimming.
No acanthrus species should be placed in a tank smaller than six feet because of their size and very active swimming behaviour.

The above information is shared with you not for the purpose of creating a dump on the tang police thread but for the purpose of sharing with you my own experience of 20 yearsthe experience of tang keepers, and what I have learned and read. And, as was pointed out, I read every tang thread everywhere

Grizz when you get a 300 try a vlamingi.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by naesco

Thanks for the post op.

There you are, I was getting worried

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

There you are, I was getting worried

I try to post within 24 hours

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by naesco

Grizz when you get a 300 try a vlamingi.

But minimum tank size is a 360 gal

[naesco]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

But minimum tank size is a 360 gal

Get a small one lol. Or build a bigger tank

[Madmak]

I have many tangs in a 6' tank but I don't entirely agree with the notorious tang police when it comes to tank size . I have never seen my fish do full 6' laps of my tank but they do have plenty of room to roam around or to find privacy.

I would personally rather see someone properly care for and nurture a tang in a small tank than see someone neglect one in a big tank. Pick a smaller sized tang like a Kole or Yellow and keep them happy, that's what matters.

[ashr]

I myself have a very happy 2-3 year old tang in my 66 gallon. He is very happy and healthy and has room to swim. I see no issues with this as he is the only large fish I have. As long as you care for them and keep them happy and healthy I don't see any issues with a smaller tank like mine keeping a tang.

I wouldn't get any more though. haha