Tang tank size

[hdtran]

After reading topic http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=38369, I'm a bit afraid of starting this topic, but what the heck...

We're getting a bigger tank. My spouse likes tangs. The bigger tank is 60x18 (LxW) x26H. No sump. (120 gallons if you don't want to do the math. A lot less after you put in sand, live rock, etc.)

After putting in all the LR, do I have enough room leftover for a couple of different tangs? I like the yellow (Zebrasoma Flavescens) and the blue (Paracanthus Hepatus, I think). Most of my reading says tangs get territorial with themselves, but different species can coexist.

Our other denizens will be our existing A. Ocellaris clowns (2), 1 blue damsel (A. Cyanera, I think) from our existing small tank.

I would also like to put in 1 or 2 neon gobies, and once everything settles down, a Mandarin dragonet.

So, is 60" sufficient swimming room once a tang is fully grown? Should I aquascape the LR so it's all in the middle of the tank, leaving the outside sort of like a big oval lap track, or can I just gracefully pile the rock to the back of the tank?

What's your experience?

Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

I think it MIGHT be possible, emphasis on MIGHT. I would stick with one tang, myself, and make it one of the smaller species. The idea of piling the rock up in the middle is a good one.

 

[Len]

Hehe, don't let the other thread get to you The root troublemaker is no longer with us.

Your new tank can definitely house a tang, if not two. However, here's my best advice to you that I can offer through experience: Tangs do best alone in tanks of your size. I lost my 6 year old Chevron a few months back from disease. The silver lining in its death is that my remaining Black Tang is A LOT less stressed nowadays, evidenced by it's swimming pattern, eagerness to feed, growth rate, and lack of disease. I recommend you keep only one tang.

 

[Len]

BTW, of the two you like, I'd recommend the Yellow. Zebrasoma sp. are hardier IME.

 

[Expos Forever]

Len wrote

BTW, of the two you like, I'd recommend the Yellow. Zebrasoma sp. are hardier IME.

It's also smaller and a better nuisance algae eater.

Also, your yellow tang would most likely come from Hawaii and be net-caught. Your hippo/regal/blue/Hepatus will most likely come from Phillipines/Indonesia and has a good probability of having been collected with cyanide. If you decide to try one make sure to enquire about it's origin.

As for aquascaping: you can try to make 2 rock piles so that your tang has a figure eight space to swim in and of course open space at the top of your tank.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Two smaller tangs would be fine in your tank. Don't put in too much rock.
Minh Nguyen

 

[danmhippo]

I would suggest a yellow tang and a chevron tang. These 2 have different target food and are less likely to get aggressive toward each other. Chevron is a slow grower and stays relatively smaller too.

Hippo tang doesn't really do much clean up for your nuiance algae, and they grow much faster than many other tang species.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

I agree with danmhippo that his namesakes don't act much like tangs. If you have not though about it, consider a Goldrim tang Acanthurus japonicus with either a Purple or Yellow tang. It is an extremely beautiful and underrated tang. Here is mine

{Admin Edit: It appears that RC does not allow hotlinking to their image galleries. They block the hotlink and show their logo instead. That's unfortunate - Minh, send us the photo if you'd like and we'll post it}

Minh

 

[hdtran]

Thanks for all the replies! Experience is great!

I will tell my spouse "a tank a tang" (or is it "a tang a tank"?) for now. No, I had not considered the Goldrim tang (A. Japonicus), but now, we will.

It'll be a few months before the tank is IMO mature enough anyway. (Just finished painting the back to hide lines, wires, & the wall...).

Once all is settled, I intend to purchase most of my additional livestock from the LFS, since he appears to be very knowledgeable, and is definitely very helpful (he installed all the lights n/c, and does housecalls!).

LFS is out of Caribsea "special grade reef sand", so I'm waiting on him. Then, it's live-rock time.

 

[Anonymous]

Minh,
I see an Acanthurus sohal, not A. japonicus. Maybe an incorrect link???

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Minh,
I see an Acanthurus sohal, not A. japonicus. Maybe an incorrect link???

?????
I don't ahve a A. sohal. I see my A. japonicus pictured above, not a link. I think there is a server mal-function. The picture is on my gallery at Reef Central.
Minh

 

[tripsied]

Minh, you mentioned a Goldrim tang Acanthurus japonicus in your last post. Are these also referred to as a Lollipop Tang?

The reason I ask, is that I recently purchased one at my LFS. "Dizzy" (he tends to whizz around the tank like a maniac and play jumping games with the snails, as well as making me dizzy while watching him :lol: :lol: :lol: ) The tang was sold as a lollipop tang (though I could find no other reference to lollipop)

So...if this is the fish that you are referring I second the suggestion, as Dizzy happens to be my favorite fish in the tank 8) 8) 8) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Minh Nguyen]

tripsied,
That is the problem with common names. We cannot be sure of the right fish when we use common name.
A. japonicus also know as White Face, Powder Brown, Goldrim, White Cheek maybe a few other names. I never heard it being call a Lollipop tang.
There is another species Ancanthurus nigricans that does looks similar. Many of the common name above apply to both. When I talk about fish, if there is any possibility of mistake, I try to use Scientific name to make sure we talk about the same fish.
One can use FISHBASE.ORG to search for pictures of fish with common or Scientific names. Here is a picture of A. japonicus from Fishbase

 

[jamesw]

Minh,

It appears that the site that hosts your images is blocking hotlinking. I'd love to see a photo of your tang, so would you mind sending it to [email protected] and I can post it here if you'd like.

FWIW, I have two tangs in my 120, but I have VERY little rock, and I still feel that they are a bit crowded. I moved them from a much larger tank and they are my "buddies" so I didn't want to get rid of one or both. They are fat and happy - but I'm sure they would like some more room. Wouldn't we all...

Cheers
James

 

[Anonymous]

:evil: Dude, your tank is doomed! That tank is way to small for any of those fish...you better try keeping a clown goby alone in there. But only one, or else it could mean disaster!... :lol:

Seriously though, I have heard of tanks that large with two tangs (of different shapes and habits of course)...although you are the first person I have seen to heed the more conservative advice so quickly. Better to stick with the gut instinct of these good people and get just one tang. Look at it this way: now you can get another two 3 or 4 inch fish to replace one of those large tangs.

I would stay away from the chevron because they are so expensive. If you are inexperienced, you might want to stick with cheaper fish, like yellows, so that if they die only your feelings get hurt and not your wallet.

Good luck

 

[Expos Forever]

tripsied wrote

Minh, you mentioned a Goldrim tang Acanthurus japonicus in your last post. Are these also referred to as a Lollipop Tang?

The reason I ask, is that I recently purchased one at my LFS. "Dizzy" (he tends to whizz around the tank like a maniac and play jumping games with the snails, as well as making me dizzy while watching him ) The tang was sold as a lollipop tang (though I could find no other reference to lollipop)

So...if this is the fish that you are referring I second the suggestion, as Dizzy happens to be my favorite fish in the tank !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tripsied,

It is very important that you properly identify your fish! Two species can look very similar yet have quite different feeding requiremnets, behaviour, agressiveness, survivability, origin, maximum adult size, etc...

As mentioned by Minh www.fishbase.org has many pictures of tangs as does www.wetwebmedia.com . Here is an article showing the difference between nigricans and japonicus .

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GoldRimSs.htm

 

[Minh Nguyen]

James,
I send the picture to you by email.
Minh

 

[jamesw]

Here is the shot of Minh's tang. Thanks Minh!

This one is a beauty. If you all remember when we featured the Waikiki Aquarium in our Advanced Aquarist photo gallery spotlight - they have a large A. japonicus in there. It's a very nice fish.

Cheers
James

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Minh,

It appears that the site that hosts your images is blocking hotlinking. I'd love to see a photo of your tang, so would you mind sending it to [email protected] and I can post it here if you'd like.

.....
Cheers
James

I think since I am a member there (RC) I can assess the picture. Prior to Jame edit the link, I see the picture of my tang. I guess other people, not a member, only the RC logo.
Sorry about that.

tripsied,
Since you see the RC logo A. sohal I want you to know that this tang is a very aggresive tang and know to be difficult to keep tang. Most of the time Sohal tang died unexpectly in aquarium.
FWIW "....he tends to whizz around the tank like a maniac and play jumping games with the snails, as well as making me dizzy while watching him ...." is not a good sign. IMO, this is evidence that he does not like his home and wanted to get out of it.
Good luck with him. Be careful on adding another tang or angel into the tank. He often will make sushi out of the new fish.
Minh
Minh

 

[Anonymous]

I would only like to point out that your best course of action will be to ensure a good disparity in size between the tangs in question. Personally, I'm with dizzy when it comes to displacement of aggression (I think they might do better if there's a third), but I do believe that the tank size limits this choice. The genus disparity, and ensuring you've placed animals of significantly differing sizes should be enough.