Hippo Tang in a 4' x 2' x 2' tank?

JimKelly12203 · 04/21/2015, 06:51 PM

I have heard 6 foot length minimum... Yet i know for fact that many responsible and skilled reefers have hippos in 75 gallon tanks to say nothing of a 120 gallon.

Advice? I'd like to get one if possible, but i can't go any longer than 4'

m0nkie · 04/21/2015, 06:53 PM

it's not recommended. but lots of people do it. If you must get one, try to get a very small one (~1") and sell it after 2 years when it gets big.

when they grow bigger, they will grow more aggressive due to tank size. Choose carefully on the rest of your stocking list. I've heard so many stories of tangs chasing other fish to death after 2-3 years of peace.

JimKelly12203 · 04/21/2015, 07:01 PM

interesting. Thanks for the advice. Any recommendations for a larger fish in a tank this size? Coral beauty? Any other reef-friendly tangs? Or is one relegated to smaller stuff in a 4' long tank.

I have no interest in straying from the proper protocol.

snorvich · 04/21/2015, 07:51 PM

Is the FOWLR or reef?

JimKelly12203 · 04/21/2015, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snorvich

Is the FOWLR or reef?

reef. just looking for medium/large(ish) centerpiece fish that won't cause problems or out-grow the tank.

I have read that the coral beauty is non-disruptive, to reefs, but the name would certainly indicate otherwise.

sleepydoc · 04/21/2015, 08:21 PM

Have you looked at a Kole tang?

JimKelly12203 · 04/21/2015, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleepydoc

Have you looked at a Kole tang?

I have now. Absolutely beautiful. They grow to a smaller size and/or require less tank length for healthy rearing i take it?

EDIT: Just read the profile for this fish on liveaquaria.com. Great choice for a smaller tank. Also quite beautiful and atypical. exactly what i'm looking for thanks much!!

scooter31707 · 04/22/2015, 06:12 AM

+1 on the Kole. You can also look at the Tomini Tang which also beautiful.

toothybugs · 04/22/2015, 06:22 AM

I happen to like Keyhole Angels myself, especially the males. I've never heard of anyone having an issue with them and they're kinda unique.

But if you really want a tang, Koles are great.

Jade5051 · 04/22/2015, 06:22 AM

White tail bristletooth tang! Best tang for a 4" tank.

CuzzA · 04/22/2015, 06:32 AM

You mentioned coral beauty. Stay away from the Angels unless you don't mind them nipping corals. A clam will no doubt be doomed.

Look at some of the reef safe with caution wrasses. Beautiful fish, lots of entertainment as they're constantly on the move and most don't get too big which would require rehoming. Most are just as reef safe as a tang, but snails, hermits and small shrimp may be a snack. I have a male melanurus wrasse and he's a stunning fish. The blue hippo in my 4 foot tank went from 1" to 6" in a little over a year. He's ready for the 8 foot upgrade like now.

Here's a pic of my melanurus.

CuzzA · 04/22/2015, 06:39 AM

Also angels in the Genicanthus family would be considered relatively reef safe. Bellus, Lamarck, Zebra to name a few.

LeakyZ · 04/22/2015, 06:39 AM

Pretty

Scubaken · 04/22/2015, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimKelly12203

I have now. Absolutely beautiful. They grow to a smaller size and/or require less tank length for healthy rearing i take it?

EDIT: Just read the profile for this fish on liveaquaria.com. Great choice for a smaller tank. Also quite beautiful and atypical. exactly what i'm looking for thanks much!!

I have a 6x3x3, with
Large emporer Angel
Large bristle tooth
Large yellow tang
Large chocolate tang
Large regal tang
Leopard wrasse
Clown wrasse
Black back butterfly
4 clowns
Couple of watchmen gobies
6 black damsels (which I regret getting and won't die)

Would love another big angel, queen or blue face, but my emporer is a real pig and kills every thing I put in now.

Nina51 · 04/22/2015, 07:19 AM

i have a kole tang in my 75g and he's a perfect fish. very peaceful, absolutely gorgeous and eats like a horse.

JimKelly12203 · 04/22/2015, 08:06 AM

Thanks for all the great advice. That Wrasse is absolutely beautiful. The local liquor store has one and he's super cool. Always buzzing around like you said and giving you the curious inspection with his eyes.

I'm pretty dead set on either a wrasse like that or a mandarin, but not both as i'm concerned about pods.

With the reef cautious angels, I've always wondered if anyone has had success with an angel that "lawn mows" the corals but do not destroy them. I see some tank pics and the coral is clearly just getting out of hand. A little trimming might help. But you obviously don't want something in there that would wipe everything out.

Now, this would obviously require coral that is positively thriving. But that's the plan anyway...

CuzzA · 04/22/2015, 08:50 AM

This wrasse and most larger wrasses don't compete with a mandarin for the same size crustaceans. I have a mandarin in the same system doing just fine. The wrasse is after large amphipods and mysid shrimp while the mandarin is after baby amphipods and copepods.

shred5 · 04/22/2015, 09:57 AM

One thing about a wrasse is you have to cover your tank or it will jump out, not if, it will. But they are some of the most beautiful fish ever and some have great personality. Take a look at a Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse they are great starter wrasses and very easy and colorful...

The thing people dont get about Tangs is not that they can not be happy in a smaller tank it is how aggressive they become to other fish and how big of a territory they have in smaller tanks.

I have a kole in a 75 and he is fat and healthy and happy. Problem is the other fish are not. He has claimed about a 1/3 of the tank as his and no other is allowed to cross it. So most of the fish are stuck with the corners of the tank. He is fine with he fish that came before him but most fish I add he will kill and allot of fish he is supposed to be cool with. I just added a bangii cardinal the other day and he destroyed him. I had no problem getting the cardinal out because he was so stressed I just reached in and grabbed him. An angel he wont even tolerate.

You know the myth well its ok if he is the last fish added. Problem is no fish is ever the last fish added if you stay in the hobby long enough..

04/21/2015, 06:51 PM	#1
JimKelly12203 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albany Posts: 205	Hippo Tang in a 4' x 2' x 2' tank? I have heard 6 foot length minimum... Yet i know for fact that many responsible and skilled reefers have hippos in 75 gallon tanks to say nothing of a 120 gallon. Advice? I'd like to get one if possible, but i can't go any longer than 4'

04/21/2015, 06:53 PM	#2
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	it's not recommended. but lots of people do it. If you must get one, try to get a very small one (~1") and sell it after 2 years when it gets big. when they grow bigger, they will grow more aggressive due to tank size. Choose carefully on the rest of your stocking list. I've heard so many stories of tangs chasing other fish to death after 2-3 years of peace. __________________ 560gal in the making

04/21/2015, 07:51 PM	#4
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Is the FOWLR or reef? __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/21/2015, 08:21 PM	#6
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Have you looked at a Kole tang? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

04/22/2015, 06:22 AM	#10
Jade5051 That guy... Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,218	White tail bristletooth tang! Best tang for a 4" tank. __________________ The dream that is now a memory - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550891

04/21/2015, 07:01 PM	#3
JimKelly12203 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albany Posts: 205	interesting. Thanks for the advice. Any recommendations for a larger fish in a tank this size? Coral beauty? Any other reef-friendly tangs? Or is one relegated to smaller stuff in a 4' long tank. I have no interest in straying from the proper protocol.

04/22/2015, 06:12 AM	#8
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	+1 on the Kole. You can also look at the Tomini Tang which also beautiful.

04/22/2015, 06:22 AM	#9
toothybugs In Memoriam Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: The smallest county in Illinois Posts: 1,986	I happen to like Keyhole Angels myself, especially the males. I've never heard of anyone having an issue with them and they're kinda unique. But if you really want a tang, Koles are great.

04/22/2015, 06:32 AM	#11
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	You mentioned coral beauty. Stay away from the Angels unless you don't mind them nipping corals. A clam will no doubt be doomed. Look at some of the reef safe with caution wrasses. Beautiful fish, lots of entertainment as they're constantly on the move and most don't get too big which would require rehoming. Most are just as reef safe as a tang, but snails, hermits and small shrimp may be a snack. I have a male melanurus wrasse and he's a stunning fish. The blue hippo in my 4 foot tank went from 1" to 6" in a little over a year. He's ready for the 8 foot upgrade like now. Here's a pic of my melanurus.

04/22/2015, 06:39 AM	#12
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	Also angels in the Genicanthus family would be considered relatively reef safe. Bellus, Lamarck, Zebra to name a few.

04/22/2015, 06:39 AM	#13
LeakyZ Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 60	Pretty

04/22/2015, 07:19 AM	#15
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	i have a kole tang in my 75g and he's a perfect fish. very peaceful, absolutely gorgeous and eats like a horse. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

04/22/2015, 08:06 AM	#16
JimKelly12203 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Albany Posts: 205	Thanks for all the great advice. That Wrasse is absolutely beautiful. The local liquor store has one and he's super cool. Always buzzing around like you said and giving you the curious inspection with his eyes. I'm pretty dead set on either a wrasse like that or a mandarin, but not both as i'm concerned about pods. With the reef cautious angels, I've always wondered if anyone has had success with an angel that "lawn mows" the corals but do not destroy them. I see some tank pics and the coral is clearly just getting out of hand. A little trimming might help. But you obviously don't want something in there that would wipe everything out. Now, this would obviously require coral that is positively thriving. But that's the plan anyway...

04/22/2015, 08:50 AM	#17
CuzzA Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Palm Harbor, FL Posts: 2,997	This wrasse and most larger wrasses don't compete with a mandarin for the same size crustaceans. I have a mandarin in the same system doing just fine. The wrasse is after large amphipods and mysid shrimp while the mandarin is after baby amphipods and copepods.

04/22/2015, 09:57 AM	#18
shred5 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Waukesha , WI Posts: 4,998	One thing about a wrasse is you have to cover your tank or it will jump out, not if, it will. But they are some of the most beautiful fish ever and some have great personality. Take a look at a Lubbock's Fairy Wrasse they are great starter wrasses and very easy and colorful... The thing people dont get about Tangs is not that they can not be happy in a smaller tank it is how aggressive they become to other fish and how big of a territory they have in smaller tanks. I have a kole in a 75 and he is fat and healthy and happy. Problem is the other fish are not. He has claimed about a 1/3 of the tank as his and no other is allowed to cross it. So most of the fish are stuck with the corners of the tank. He is fine with he fish that came before him but most fish I add he will kill and allot of fish he is supposed to be cool with. I just added a bangii cardinal the other day and he destroyed him. I had no problem getting the cardinal out because he was so stressed I just reached in and grabbed him. An angel he wont even tolerate. You know the myth well its ok if he is the last fish added. Problem is no fish is ever the last fish added if you stay in the hobby long enough.. __________________ David Polzin