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B-Man

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Any one out there with experience with a sailfin tang in a 65 gal? The tank is a 48x18x18 with a coral beauty, a yellow tail damsel, a 6-line wrasse, and a skunk cleaner shrimp. There is quite a bit of macro alge in the tank, but I'm concerned about the size the tang could eventually get. There is lots of swimming space and the tank has been up for 2.5 years. Any thought, comments or suggestions welcome. Thanks.
 
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Anonymous

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Even tho there seems to be lots of swimming space, that's still not enough for a sailfin tang, IMHO. They need at least a 125 gallon, if not more, for enough lateral space to swim in.

Peace,

Chip
 

B-Man

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Thanks for the reply, I was already a bit apprehensive about the keeping one. The LFS has one and was going to give me a great deal on it. On question I have about your post, isn't a 125 only 48x24x24? To me that doesn't seem like a lot of difference. Also, if a sailfin tang is out of the question then are there any tangs besides a yellow tang (wife thinks they are too plain) that would be acceptable?
 

THillson

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FYI, I kept a sailfin in a 65 gallon tank for two years untill I upgraded tanks. I didn't have a problem.
 

danmhippo

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IF YOU REALLY DECIDED TO GET ONE, Go with a small juvenile as a start, then scoop him out when getting larger. (danmhippo typing as he try out his flame retardant suit with gas mask......)
 
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Anonymous

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by B-Man:
<STRONG>Thanks for the reply, I was already a bit apprehensive about the keeping one. The LFS has one and was going to give me a great deal on it. On question I have about your post, isn't a 125 only 48x24x24?</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A 125 gallon is 6 feet long.

Peace,

Chip
 

danmhippo

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Actually, Depends, there are 6 feet long version, and 4 foot long version. Depending on the height and width of the tank being built.
 

BBReefkeeper

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I have a sailfin tank in my 70, and it is happy as can be. My aquascaping allows for lots of swimming room. I got him when he was 1 1/2-2". Now only 3-4". Great fish, very peaceful. I plan on upgrading in 1-2 years. If I don't I will remove him and give to someone with a larger tank.
Good Luck
Bryan
 

B-Man

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Ok... maybe a dumb question but here goes. How would you catch a tang without tearing down the tank? The tang in question is quite small 1.5-2" and in the future I do plan on upgrading the tank (who doesn't)but probably not for a few years. How quickly did the tangs grow for those of you who started out with smaller tanks?

THillson: I was looking last week at your corals, would love to purchase some but I live in Canada. Have you ever shipped to Canada? Also I tried to do a web search for your M. Tuberculosa and found no information and no other photo's from other people reef. Is it just that rare? Just curious but where did you get yours?
 

XXX

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I bought a 5" Red Sea sailfin last December and put him in my 127 (68") with five other small fish. It was sort of a mercy buy as he had a bad case of HLLE. He grew to over 8 inches as of last week. He began to look uncomfortable to me. I removed him and put him in my 55 quarantine/frag tank while I try to find him a new home. Tangs are my favorite fish but I will not get another one without a much larger tank. A year ago you couldn't have talked me out of having one. Tangs also require alot of food which in turn means you need alot of nutrient export to offset it. I have cut my fish feedings by 75% without him. I have come to see a large tang (and they get that way quickly) as a Mack truck on a NASCAR track. They start to look out of proportion in an average size reef tank and don't have the room to be themselves.
 

jdeets

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FWIW, I recently upgraded from a 115 gallon to a 180 gallon. I considered adding a sailfin tang to the larger tank but ruled it out because I felt he would outgrow the tank...
 

B-Man

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Well I passed o n the deal on the sailfin, thanks to the advice here. I really liked him but it's not worth it if my tanks not adequate. So I ordered a Kole's Tang instead, I think that according to everything that I've read He'll be quite happy in my tank. Thanks for the help everyone...
 

THillson

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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by B-Man:
<STRONG>Ok... maybe a dumb question but here goes. How would you catch a tang without tearing down the tank? The tang in question is quite small 1.5-2" and in the future I do plan on upgrading the tank (who doesn't)but probably not for a few years. How quickly did the tangs grow for those of you who started out with smaller tanks? </STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Growth depends on species and the amount of food they receive. I have two tangs in my 170, a sailfin and a purple. The purple hasn't really grown much over the years, about 4" now. The sailfin I bought when it was only about 1½" long two years ago. He is also about 4" now. IMO, the only way to get a fish out of an established reef tank is to use a trap. Less stress on you and the fish.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR><STRONG>
THillson: I was looking last week at your corals, would love to purchase some but I live in Canada. Have you ever shipped to Canada? Also I tried to do a web search for your M. Tuberculosa and found no information and no other photo's from other people reef. Is it just that rare? Just curious but where did you get yours?</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have never looked into shipping to Canada, I know the importation rules are strict. If you are interested look into it and get back to me directly [email protected] I'll check into it from my end with people I know. Can't say if the Montipora tuberculosa is rare or not. But, I've never seen another since in a LFS or corals list I've seen. I bought it three years ago from a LFS. I'm not 100% on the species ID, Steve Tyree also ID'ed it as such based on a picture, so I go with it.
 

naesco

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Way to go B-Man! Thanks for listening.
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