OK, I'll Bite...or "The Newbie vs. The Yellow Tang Ques

[phillips]

I'd like to get a yellow tang, but I'm not sure what is the minimum amount of space yellow tangs need to swim around??? Some books say a minimum of a 40 gallon tank, but nothing about a minimum amount of swimming space yellow tangs need to thrive.

I have a 75 gallon tank, lots of live rock w/ lots of filamentous and macro algae (Caulerpa species, Sargassum species, Padina, etc.). But if you take out all the sand, live rock, and corals there's about 45 gallons of water/swimming space. The only other animals I now have are a prawn goby, bicolor blennie, and 2 inch Maroon clown plus several corals, but I wanted to ask the wise ones on the list whether 45 gallons of swimming space was enough for a yellow tang???

Any advice would be more than welcome.

 

[shellshocked]

I have a yellow tang in a 58G tank. He does great. He is about three inches long and about 2 years old. I have some hair algae and macro algae and he nibbles on the hair algae but not enough to make any difference. He mainly grazes the live rock. I feed him formula 1 frozen food which he loves. I have a few other fish and they seem to get along fine. I would think your tank should be fine.

 

[naesco]

I take it the length of your tank is four feet, correct?
It is the length of the tank that is important although many refer to the number of gallons.
If your tank is filled with rock and coral don't get one because it will not have the room to swim back and forth.
If the rock and coral placement allows for it to swim back and forth go ahead and get it.
Be careful not to choose the skinny ones which you often see in LFS.
Choose only a plump one, see it aggressively feeding, and make sure it has clear eyes and no spots, red lines or tears.
Feed garlic extract as an ich preventative measure.

 

[esmithiii]

Lots of room in between the rockwork is also a plus. This is why most people go with the reef-wall concept. There is room in front of the wall for the fish to cruise back and forth (4' in your case) and then it can dart behind rocks to hide if it likes.

BTW- if Naesco says your tank is big enough, then it most probably is big enough!

Ernie

 

[phillips]

Thanks for the input!!!

I should have added that I have a 4-6 inch DSB, w/ the live rock over the bottom, so nearly all of the top 13 to 16 inches of the tank are clear for cruising.

 

[reefgazer]

I also have a 75 gallon with about 80 pounds of live rock. I put the live rock in the back of the tank and left the front open so the tang could swim freely. He is doing fine.

 

[Anonymous]

Where do you live Phillips? It's good to ask around here and get advice on where to get the best fish. I drive 3 hours for mine because my LFS's don't have the best fish.

 

[neurotech]

where do you drive to tangirl?

 

[Anonymous]

Coral Reef Aquarium in Seekonk, MA. Near Providence. I also hear that Aqua Dreams is good and more central MA. And then there is Inland Reef in NH (careful - it's in Nashua

) but that is probably too far for you. I live in the capital of NY and don't have a decent fish store. We have plenty of them, but none with fish that make it through the month. And none that will refuse anyone a hippo tang for a 20 gallon tank.

[ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: tangirl ]</p>

 

[StirCrazy]

Naesco, what about a 92 gal tank that is 3 foot long and 2 foot wide, whould a yellow tang do alright in that if there was lots of open area?

Steve

 

[naesco]

Stircrazy IME no. I also have a tank 2' by 3' and it is too short.
If you already have the yellow tang I suppose the best thing to do would be to setup the rockwork in the middle so that the tang can clearly swim around the outside of the rockwork.

Sorry I could not answer you sooner. I was celebrating Canada's gold medal victory over the US in hockey.

 

[esmithiii]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> Sorry I could not answer you sooner. I was celebrating Canada's gold medal victory over the US in hockey.
<hr></blockquote>

Every dog has its day eventually... It only took you guys 50 years to do it...

Congrats. I will be calling all my bros in Ontario and eating crow this week.

Ernie

 

[StirCrazy]

No I don't have him already, i am trying to figure otu what I can have for a good algae muncher.. oh well something elsse I guess..

Steve

 

[phillips]

I'm pretty lucky compared to most. A new LFS opened up just down the highway, Tropical Paradise in San Leandro, and they have the healthiest corals & fish I've seen in the Bay Area. Not too $$$ either, well...unless I bring my wife with me!!! I went in to buy a yellow tang, asked about the 2 inch Stylophora frag, and my wife says, "Why don't you just buy that whole Stylophora colony over there??" "Oh! Yes dear, I guess you're right. Ok Eddie, I'll take that Stylophora too."

My new yellow tang is doing well, and seems to find his new 75 gallon home to his liking. Lots of algae to munch, though I've been giving him nori soaked in selcon, and frozen krill to help make him feel at home.

Thanks Naesco, Ernie & everyone for your feedback on tank size!

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by StirCrazy:
<strong>No I don't have him already, i am trying to figure otu what I can have for a good algae muncher.. oh well something elsse I guess..

Steve</strong><hr></blockquote>

Blue tuxedo urchin. Love mine!

Good for you Phillips!