schooling tangs?

[jimmyreef]

I have two tangs in my 120 gallon. The tank is only 4 feet long. It is 24 wide by 24 high so there is some depth but not too much length, only 4 feet.

My RedSea and my Sailfin flair at each other every now and again. I have never seen them
hurt each other, but they do flair their fins.

I have read that if you introduce more tangs then they will school. a lfs has powder blue (Acanthurus leucosternon) on sale for only 24.99. Me being cheap and always loving powder blues, I'm thinking get it.

But here is my dilemna. a 4ft long tank is just small. I ordered the extra width and thought it would give my fish enough space, but it looks
cramped in there for huge tangs. I would like to know if I should

A. get rid of one of my two current tangs?
B. Purchase the powder blue(notorious for ich)but I always liked, and get one
more yellow so they school?
C. leave my current inhabitants be?

The people who have schooling tangs. how big are your tanks?

Thank you in advance

 

[Bobzarry]

UTOH!!!

 

[esmithiii]

Before you buy any more tangs, you should read this thread:

Powder Blue Tang Poll

I fear, my friend, that the flames will be coming shortly.

I think your tank may be too small for that many tangs. Tangs like room to swim, and 4' is the minimum. Also, tangs of different species will not school but rather fight in that small space.

Ernie

 

[danmhippo]

Let me speak before Naesco vents.

If you see your tangs flair at each other, it's a clear indication of not getting along. There are several reasons to it, inadequate space, insufficient food, degrading water quality -- thus anxiety, and similar con-specie or similar body shapes. I think your current tangs probably matches all of above criteria (although I am not sure about water quality, you didn't give us any hints.)

If you truly loved powder blue, then you must give up the current 2 tangs. Powder blue, being extremely sensitive, is better to be kept away from all other tangs. For a 120, one powder blue is a good enough display.

Forget about schooling tangs unless you have 600+Gal tanks.......

(OK, Naesco, it's your turn now.)

 

[SPC]

Jimmy, the above posts have pointed out what I would have with one exception. I think that your observation that your tank seems a bit small for tangs is very astute. It seems that you have reached this conclusion from simply observing your fish and noting that their behavior doesn't seem to be quite right. I commend you for this! BTW, I would choose C.

Steve

 

[naesco]

Yes your tank is small for its inhabitants but looks like you really care for them.
Three tangs is of course out of the question.
I would not recommend a powder blue tang because in most instances they up an get sick and die. Those who are successful are lucky. I have not been, and I keep tangs.
As your tangs grow you may want to consider moving up to a larger tank.
With tangs, tank length is everything.
How did I do DanM.

 

[danmhippo]

Textbook answer, nice.

(Jimmy is just fine.....)

 

[Bobzarry]

You guys are forcing me to take back my "UTOH!!!"


Bob

 

[danmhippo]

Ugh...What's UTOH?

 

[jimmyreef]

UTOH?

I'm not sure if I should be offended or not.
If it were offensive, then shame on you. The
only thing you accomplished was a willingness
for censorship, which would only result in my
not asking and simply acting, which would end
up in dead fish.

If not too offensive then, belay my last.

I found the thread on PB tangs very interesting. I will no doubt wait till I upgrade to a larger tank.

The reason I purchased a 4' tank is I can get away with only two MH's. Coupled with the extra width and only two MH's I can keep my water temperature very stable even during summer days. I don't even have to turn on my fans which I do just to be safe.
Well to be truthfull I ended up only lighting one
side with MH because the other side has been taken over by my Equad and LPS corals. I really have to get a bigger tank. I just wanna save for a really really big tank. I'm sure I could have purchased a longer tank that was only 18inches wide, but then I would need 3 MH's. Not to mention I like the 24 inch width. With that said my water parameters are generally very good because I keep a refugium on reverse cycle. That enables me to continually add algae in the main tank for the tangs and I only minimally feed my flame angel and anthias.

Well Thanks for making up my mind. I will not gamble. Thank you for that thread.