Blue tang! which tank size is better?

Vishwa.J · 05/14/2017, 07:07 AM

I've seen this question asked everywhere but doesn't have the answer I'm looking for..
I will be setting up a fowlr or a small reef soon. (Currently have a 20 gallon tank with 2 Clowns , 1 Bicolor Dottyback) .
It'll be either a 90 gallon (not standard dimensions , it'll be 4x2x1.5) or a 85 gallon (again not standard , it's a 5x1.5x1.5) with Sump filtration.

So my question is this , which size tank suits a Blue tang better? I'll be keeping Clownfish , Cleaner Shrimps and the like as tank mates)

Is it better to go with 5x1.5x1.5 since it's longer or with the 4x2x1.5 since it has slightly higher footprint?

Note : I know both tanks are not suitable for a blue tang for life , I have the option to trade it at my LFS anytime I want. So what I want to know is which tank is more suitable for a Juvenile for , say 2 years or so?

Thank you in advance!

kissman · 05/14/2017, 07:22 AM

Look up the requirements on liveaquaria most tangs need a tank 6ft long or they stress. I don't thing the Blue does but the bigger the tank the better.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Moto_fish · 05/14/2017, 07:31 AM

I'm sort of in the same position, looking at how ethical it would be to put a tank bred blue in a 5x27x27. I think if you went tank bred it might be ok in the 5, definitely not in the 4ft though.

mcgyvr · 05/14/2017, 08:39 AM

Longer the better..

marleesan · 05/14/2017, 08:48 AM

They need at least eight feet long tanks

Rilelen · 05/14/2017, 09:47 AM

With tangs, longer is better. You really want a minimum of six feet even for a juvenile, and 8'+ for an adult.

GroceryGetterS4 · 05/14/2017, 10:44 AM

Jesus, the amount of "advice" in tang threads always make me laugh. I have a standard 90G, which i've raised a quarter sized blue tang in, up to a 4" with NO problems. He's been in there for almost 2 years as happy as can be. He's fat and healthy. I'm in the process of a 240G upgrade at my new house. But don't listen to the neigh-sayers. You'll be fine with a tiny/small one in a 90G for a LONG time. If you want it, and can keep it healthy, go for it. 8 foot tank??? LOL

nereefpat · 05/14/2017, 10:55 AM

You don't have the fish or the tank yet?

I would just set up the system needed to keep the fish you want then. You will be happier and more successful in the hobby if decide what you want to keep, then setup a system to meet its lifetime requirements.

hkgar · 05/14/2017, 12:46 PM

Here is a good guide. In most cases length is more important than total size as most tangs love to swim back an fort and hit high rates of speed.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1946079

You will always hear from someone who "bet" the odds with a tang in a smaller than recommended size tank. Good for them, but there are many others factors to also consider - how many total fish, how many tangs, how much live rock, aquascape allowing for unrestrcited swim room. Go by the recommendations from those wh are concerned for the overall benefits of the fish.

After two years I can't believe a 4 inch blue tang is happy to be so slowly growing.

johnike · 05/14/2017, 03:49 PM

Mine is in an 8' tank.

With 8 other tangs.

hkgar · 05/14/2017, 04:05 PM

Thinking, could I really do an 8 foot tank? I have already gone from 40 to 90 to 180 over about 15 years. Hey, what's one more upgrade? NO! I'm too old (73). What if I lost all my corals? But, all those beautiful tangs. What ones do you have?

johnike · 05/15/2017, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Thinking, could I really do an 8 foot tank? I have already gone from 40 to 90 to 180 over about 15 years. Hey, what's one more upgrade? NO! I'm too old (73). What if I lost all my corals? But, all those beautiful tangs. What ones do you have?

Purple x2, Yellow x2, Chevron, Tomini, Convict, Hippo, and a huge Desjardini.

Shotter · 05/15/2017, 04:29 AM

Id be intrigued to know how many people actually have an 8' plus tank on here?! It gets banded around like every other reefer has a 8' tank and when I worked in the inds. a few years ago, not one customer had an 8' tank.

johnike · 05/15/2017, 05:18 AM

If Photobucket lets me, I'll get some pics or a quick video after work.

ktownhero · 05/15/2017, 08:22 AM

I have a 4' tank (120g) with a Kole and Yellow Tang. I have a fairly open aquascape with plenty of swim throughs and I see absolutely no problem with keeping them. When looking at Blue Tangs, I did not feel comfortable putting one in this tank.

TokiHacker · 05/15/2017, 08:38 AM

QUICK STATS

Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons
Care Level: Moderate
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025
Max. Size: 1'
Color Form: Blue
Diet: Herbivore
Compatibility: View Chart
Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, Solomon Islands
Family: Acanthuridae

What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here

yes... your tank that is half the size of the MINIMUM tank size will work fine....

see the problem?

scooter31707 · 05/15/2017, 08:42 AM

Neither!!!

f3honda4me · 05/15/2017, 08:47 AM

Inevitably people chime in that they had a 14" long tang in a 75g or whatever for "years" with "no problems" and act as if there should be some obvious visual problem that the tang would indicate it was not ok in their tank. That's not always the case. This is about having a happy healthy animal. Can you keep a tang in a tank too small and possibly have "no problems"? Sure. But that doesn't mean the animal is happy. Could you keep a golden retriever in a cage all its life that is only 4' by 4' and have "no problems"? Sure. But does that mean that dog will be happy? Do people even think about these animals before they put them in tanks too small? No, they just want their tang and they don't give a damn about the animal.

I waited 8 years til I could have a large enough tank for the tangs I wanted. Think about these fish, not just yourself.

exsequor · 05/15/2017, 08:58 AM

Depends if you can catch and move it and have a minimum 6' tank ready for it when it gets to that size. It really only needs 36-48" until it's multiple years old (takes two years to grow from a .75-1" size to a 5-6" size)

exsequor · 05/15/2017, 08:59 AM

But don't plan your tanks around catch and move unless you really have the resources in place already, please please please

EdgeN · 05/15/2017, 09:03 AM

The amount of these fish on the market and those of us who can house them properly are vastly outnumbered. There has to be some sort of compromise. I guess we could just stop keeping saltwater fish altogether, (problem solved) but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.

Vishwa.J · 05/15/2017, 10:21 AM

Looks like I will not be keeping a blue tang anytime soon

So it'll only be Clowns , Gobies and other small fish..

webslinger · 05/15/2017, 10:30 AM

put him in. All tanks are too small for a tang anyways. They swim like they are in jail. Back and forth back and forth even in a 8' tank. So it really doesn't matter if it is a 2' or 8' tank. just more laps

marleesan · 05/15/2017, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webslinger

put him in. All tanks are too small for a tang anyways. They swim like they are in jail. Back and forth back and forth even in a 8' tank. So it really doesn't matter if it is a 2' or 8' tank. just more laps

This is horrible advice. Just because other people make bad choices with fish does not mean it's ok

ktownhero · 05/15/2017, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webslinger

put him in. All tanks are too small for a tang anyways. They swim like they are in jail. Back and forth back and forth even in a 8' tank. So it really doesn't matter if it is a 2' or 8' tank. just more laps

Holy false equivalence Batman!

05/14/2017, 07:07 AM	#1
Vishwa.J Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 15	Blue tang! which tank size is better? I've seen this question asked everywhere but doesn't have the answer I'm looking for.. I will be setting up a fowlr or a small reef soon. (Currently have a 20 gallon tank with 2 Clowns , 1 Bicolor Dottyback) . It'll be either a 90 gallon (not standard dimensions , it'll be 4x2x1.5) or a 85 gallon (again not standard , it's a 5x1.5x1.5) with Sump filtration. So my question is this , which size tank suits a Blue tang better? I'll be keeping Clownfish , Cleaner Shrimps and the like as tank mates) Is it better to go with 5x1.5x1.5 since it's longer or with the 4x2x1.5 since it has slightly higher footprint? Note : I know both tanks are not suitable for a blue tang for life , I have the option to trade it at my LFS anytime I want. So what I want to know is which tank is more suitable for a Juvenile for , say 2 years or so? Thank you in advance!

05/14/2017, 08:39 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Longer the better.. __________________ Who me?

05/14/2017, 08:48 AM	#5
marleesan Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 327	They need at least eight feet long tanks __________________ 90 gallon FOWLR Valentini puffer, ocellaris clown, cherub angelfish, flametail blenny, falco hawkfish, green wrasse 180 gallon reef: starry blenny, yellowtail damsel

05/14/2017, 09:47 AM	#6
Rilelen Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Virginia Posts: 245	With tangs, longer is better. You really want a minimum of six feet even for a juvenile, and 8'+ for an adult. __________________ 72g: Percula pair, Foxface, Kole tang, Midas Blenny, Blue/green chromis, Yellow & green clown goby pairs Office Nano Tank System (29 Gallon + 20 Gallon): Saltwater mollies + fry

05/14/2017, 10:55 AM	#8
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	You don't have the fish or the tank yet? I would just set up the system needed to keep the fish you want then. You will be happier and more successful in the hobby if decide what you want to keep, then setup a system to meet its lifetime requirements. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

05/14/2017, 07:22 AM	#2
kissman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Lynchburg, Va Posts: 2,963	Look up the requirements on liveaquaria most tangs need a tank 6ft long or they stress. I don't thing the Blue does but the bigger the tank the better. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

05/14/2017, 07:31 AM	#3
Moto_fish Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: queen creek,az Posts: 201	I'm sort of in the same position, looking at how ethical it would be to put a tank bred blue in a 5x27x27. I think if you went tank bred it might be ok in the 5, definitely not in the 4ft though.

05/14/2017, 10:44 AM	#7
GroceryGetterS4 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 111	Jesus, the amount of "advice" in tang threads always make me laugh. I have a standard 90G, which i've raised a quarter sized blue tang in, up to a 4" with NO problems. He's been in there for almost 2 years as happy as can be. He's fat and healthy. I'm in the process of a 240G upgrade at my new house. But don't listen to the neigh-sayers. You'll be fine with a tiny/small one in a 90G for a LONG time. If you want it, and can keep it healthy, go for it. 8 foot tank??? LOL

05/14/2017, 12:46 PM	#9
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Here is a good guide. In most cases length is more important than total size as most tangs love to swim back an fort and hit high rates of speed. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1946079 You will always hear from someone who "bet" the odds with a tang in a smaller than recommended size tank. Good for them, but there are many others factors to also consider - how many total fish, how many tangs, how much live rock, aquascape allowing for unrestrcited swim room. Go by the recommendations from those wh are concerned for the overall benefits of the fish. After two years I can't believe a 4 inch blue tang is happy to be so slowly growing. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

05/14/2017, 03:49 PM	#10
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Mine is in an 8' tank. With 8 other tangs.

05/14/2017, 04:05 PM	#11
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Thinking, could I really do an 8 foot tank? I have already gone from 40 to 90 to 180 over about 15 years. Hey, what's one more upgrade? NO! I'm too old (73). What if I lost all my corals? But, all those beautiful tangs. What ones do you have? __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

05/15/2017, 04:29 AM	#13
Shotter Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 74	Id be intrigued to know how many people actually have an 8' plus tank on here?! It gets banded around like every other reefer has a 8' tank and when I worked in the inds. a few years ago, not one customer had an 8' tank. __________________ Reefing is like golf, you're never quite 'there' Current Tank Info: Aqua One 300 - upgrade awaits

05/15/2017, 05:18 AM	#14
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	If Photobucket lets me, I'll get some pics or a quick video after work.

05/15/2017, 08:22 AM	#15
ktownhero Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 1,426	I have a 4' tank (120g) with a Kole and Yellow Tang. I have a fairly open aquascape with plenty of swim throughs and I see absolutely no problem with keeping them. When looking at Blue Tangs, I did not feel comfortable putting one in this tank.

05/15/2017, 08:38 AM	#16
TokiHacker Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 549	QUICK STATS Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons Care Level: Moderate Temperament: Semi-aggressive Reef Compatible: Yes Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.020-1.025 Max. Size: 1' Color Form: Blue Diet: Herbivore Compatibility: View Chart Origin: Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, Solomon Islands Family: Acanthuridae What do these Quick Stats mean? Click here yes... your tank that is half the size of the MINIMUM tank size will work fine.... see the problem? __________________ 200 GAL Mixed Reef Build \| 20GAL JBJ Frag Tank \| 29GAL Chiragra Mantis Shrimp Tank

05/15/2017, 08:42 AM	#17
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	Neither!!!

05/15/2017, 08:47 AM	#18
f3honda4me Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,218	Inevitably people chime in that they had a 14" long tang in a 75g or whatever for "years" with "no problems" and act as if there should be some obvious visual problem that the tang would indicate it was not ok in their tank. That's not always the case. This is about having a happy healthy animal. Can you keep a tang in a tank too small and possibly have "no problems"? Sure. But that doesn't mean the animal is happy. Could you keep a golden retriever in a cage all its life that is only 4' by 4' and have "no problems"? Sure. But does that mean that dog will be happy? Do people even think about these animals before they put them in tanks too small? No, they just want their tang and they don't give a damn about the animal. I waited 8 years til I could have a large enough tank for the tangs I wanted. Think about these fish, not just yourself. Last edited by f3honda4me; 05/15/2017 at 08:54 AM.

05/15/2017, 08:58 AM	#19
exsequor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 224	Depends if you can catch and move it and have a minimum 6' tank ready for it when it gets to that size. It really only needs 36-48" until it's multiple years old (takes two years to grow from a .75-1" size to a 5-6" size)

05/15/2017, 08:59 AM	#20
exsequor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 224	But don't plan your tanks around catch and move unless you really have the resources in place already, please please please

05/15/2017, 09:03 AM	#21
EdgeN Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Overlook Hotel, CO Posts: 108	The amount of these fish on the market and those of us who can house them properly are vastly outnumbered. There has to be some sort of compromise. I guess we could just stop keeping saltwater fish altogether, (problem solved) but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. Last edited by EdgeN; 05/15/2017 at 09:19 AM.

05/15/2017, 10:21 AM	#22
Vishwa.J Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 15	Looks like I will not be keeping a blue tang anytime soon So it'll only be Clowns , Gobies and other small fish..

05/15/2017, 10:30 AM	#23
webslinger Friendly Neighborhood Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Lancaster, NY Posts: 307	put him in. All tanks are too small for a tang anyways. They swim like they are in jail. Back and forth back and forth even in a 8' tank. So it really doesn't matter if it is a 2' or 8' tank. just more laps