tank space and my new blue face

[locust]

I know you guys aren't going to like this but, i ended up buying a 4" blue face for my 110g tank. Now before you start the flaming, think about this. I have looked at several of your tank pictures and i can tell you that my tank has more swimming space than your jumbo size tanks. The overall trend here for most of you guys seems to be to cram as much coral into your tank as is possible. It's like a contest to see who can squeeze the most in. Now how can you say that you need a 200g tank to sustain a blue face angel when in actuality, your 200g tank has no swimming space? I don't keep corals, i like my tank to appear natural. I only have live rock, and this allows the fish to swim anywhere he likes in my tank. It's only day 4 for this fish, but he's eating, is very healthy and relaxed, docile and friendly towards tankmates.

Now i'm not just trying to receive justification for buying this fish, because seeing your tank pics is proof that any justification from you guys is mostly false.

(ps. liveaquaria states that a minimum tank size for BF angel is 100g, and the wonderful crew at wetwebmedia said that i could keep the angel in my tank for several years).

[Cralex]

I'm assuming your 110 is a 4' tank, I'm not going to flame but I think your tank is on the smallish side for an angel that size for the long term. If you would rather have fish than corals that's cool. Just don't understand...

Now i'm not just trying to receive justification for buying this fish, because seeing your tank pics is proof that any justification from you guys is mostly false.

I guess you've already made your mind up?

[locust]

Ye it's a 4 foot. I guess only time will tell if the angel gets too big. No i didn't already have my mind made up. I knew the fish was in the store and i thought about it and researched it for 2 weeks.

[Cralex]

Research is key, keep that guy happy and healthy and best of luck to you both. Enjoy.

[lisafoster]

Enjoy the fish you know in the future you will have to rehome him. I hardly think you would have trouble finding someone to take him. There is no time will show he will get too big he will.

[locust]

Originally Posted by lisafoster

Enjoy the fish you know in the future you will have to rehome him. I hardly think you would have trouble finding someone to take him. There is no time will show he will get too big he will.

Thanks. So how long do you think it will take before he gets too big??

[AquaKnight]

Actually, your justification for the purchase is completely backwards. "Swimming room" is one of the harder concepts for aquarists to grab. Yes, there has to be ample room for the fish to turn around, swim easily, etc. But justifying a barren tank by saying you have tons of 'swimming room' is false. Look at where most reef fish come from in the wild, out on the rocks/corals, and almost none in the open sandbed area. These fish stick tend to stick to the rocks.

Let's take a look at the fish in question, a Blueface angel. Blueface's are perhaps the most cryptic of all large angels. Having enough caves, and certainly at least one big "home" for just him, is absolutely essential.


I do see where you're going and will provide and example, David Saxby's tank.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLRubZGWXiY
The Vlamingii tangs and Crosshatch triggers, definitely don't belong in there. However to make the assumption that "everyones" tank are similar is grossly incorrect.

[Toddrtrex]

As someone who kept (( past tense )) a blue face in a 4 foot tank, I can tell you that they won't work long term. And like was addressed above, they tend to stick to the rocks, and even then need more like an 8 foot tank.

I would say that you would have 6-9 months before you are going to have to either re-home this fish or get a bigger tank.

[locust]

Originally Posted by Toddrtrex

As someone who kept (( past tense )) a blue face in a 4 foot tank, I can tell you that they won't work long term. And like was addressed above, they tend to stick to the rocks, and even then need more like an 8 foot tank.

I would say that you would have 6-9 months before you are going to have to either re-home this fish or get a bigger tank.

Well i'm trying anyway. I'll give it to someone if it get too big. When you say that you kept a blue face in a 4ft tank, how many corals did you have crammed in there? How many other fish did you have in there? And if they stick to the rocks, why do they need an 8ft tank? I would assume the more active swimmers like tangs and triggers would need that sort of length.

[Toddrtrex]

Originally Posted by locust

Well i'm trying anyway. I'll give it to someone if it get too big. When you say that you kept a blue face in a 4ft tank, how many corals did you have crammed in there? How many other fish did you have in there? And if they stick to the rocks, why do they need an 8ft tank? I would assume the more active swimmers like tangs and triggers would need that sort of length.

It isn't a matter of "if" but, when.

I only had a couple corals in that tank -- granted one was a large tabling milli, but it was high up.

I want to say that I had 3 other fish -- a flame angel and a pair of Clarkiis.

But, not sure if the above matters, you have already made up your mind, even though that fish isn't appropriate for any 4 foot tank -- should try to learn from others mistakes.