Show off your tangs

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by kar93
I'd like to start some discussion on this thread about Tang Myths and Theories. Here are some things that I hear alot:

Tangs should be kept in tank no less than 4ft - I disagree because i have seen tank in 32" tanks and the tangs are thriving, obviously these tangs are babies and will grow fast and need moving to a bigger tank fast but they seem fat, healthy and disease free. My LFS has a tiny Yellow and Hippo tang in an RSM! These tangs will grow fast obviously but they are also thriving.

Obviously these are only a couple of things that are believed out there so I would like to know some things that you have all read.

Thanks

I wish this topic could be discussed in a purely data driven, or professional manner, but I doubt it ever will.

I also often wonder about the debate regarding housing multiple tangs in 4ft tanks. Now I'm not choosing a side, but I've always wondered how there seems to be a general consensus that a 4ft tank is too small?

IMO... (and that's ALL it is at this point is an opinion, not data driven). I believe a lot more comes into play here with regards to size of the fish and the amount/structure of rockwork in a tank.

I'd like to see the ratio of fish size to open aquarium swimming room for tangs in various tanks. Obviously the fish is going to grow... that's a given, but like I said I would really like to see some hard data on this (if it is even possible to capture).

Here's the thought process or hypothetical situation... Can we determine that it is bad to house 4 appropriately sized tangs in a 90g tank that has no other active swimming fish in it, and rockwork that facilitates open swimming room?

If so how did you come to this conclusion... I'm honestly interested and not trying to pick a side here.

P.S. I am not thinking about this for my tank btw if you happened to notice my tank line... just want to make that clear

[kar93]

Like you say, I would like to see some data. But the size and growth rate of tangs have to be taken into consideration. I remember a thread a while back, somebody had bought a fish for there 80g (tiny little thing) then they asked here for an ID and it was a Vlamingii, Sure it may be fine for a while but Vlamingiis get HUGE and they get there fast! IMO, no tank is ideal for a Tang but once they are collected, they cannot be put back.

[Tswifty]

Agreed completely...

I believe most problems arise out of lack of research before purchase... but that's a whole other story and thread

It'd be nice to see a end size, and growth rate chart for tangs. As far as something like... This is how large they can be expected to get, and this is how quickly they will get there. But so many variables would come into play, it would be quite an undertaking, and very hard to classify a statement such as "under normal conditions"

I have a yellow in my 90... he was purchased at 2-1/2" maybe on a good day

I'm going to be very curious to see how rapidly my little guy grows.

[kar93]

Its funny you mentioned that because I am trying to put together a growth chart for Tangs together. Unfortunately, i can only go by research more than anything else because I don't have a large enough tank to observe Tangs. When i get my 200g i hope to house quite a number of Tangs (not all at once). What i hope to do is house 2 or 3 for 6 months and then trade that 2 or 3 for another genus of Tang. And observe the Tangs for those 6 months. Monitoring size, breathing, disease, stress, colours and mainly not only the way they behave with other fish but the way they behave to other Tangs.

[dirtyclownfish]

Information is also on issue, I remember the good old days when the books said you could keep a Hippo tang in a 20 gallon... Stores need to get books off of the shelves that have information that was relevant in the 70 in them, those ones with a Powder Blue in a 40 breeder with bleached coral decorations and an air driven Sanders skimmer.

[cl2ysta1]

Guy down the road from me has a 180.. in wall.. nice tank, but its covered in hair algae and everything else. looked nice when he set it up.. *rich* he has a unicorn tang in there *juvi*. it hasnt grown an inch in years!!!!!! he NEVER FEEDS HIS TANK at all. it finally died.. poor thing. and he did what.. went out and bought another one!

Here is a hippo we rescued from a 55 gallon tank that had nitrates off the charts. he had actually healed quite a bit in this picture as his gills were right through the sides of his gill plates...

This fish is 8-10 inches long!!! who does that???




this is my 120. i picked it up used and it came with all the livestock other than the rabbitfish.

these fish live in a totally clean environment, fat, healthy. Do they need a bigger tank??? probably yes. I don't plan on keeping them in here forever. however at this point they appear to be thriving. they eat well and there are no agression issues like they are cramped. I have a TON of flow in there, and they swim fine.



look how fat!

[Reeftanks6]

Great pictures cl2y. I feel sorry for the regal. Happened to mine to i felt so bad. I tried and tried to fix it but never cam back to its full health when i had him. You tank is also beautiful cl2y. how big are all your tangs and fish?

[cl2ysta1]

well the 180 was in ohio. i just moved out here. it has been sold and gone. I now have a 220 cube with * tang wise*
achilles 3 inches
blue eye kole tang 3.5 inches
hippo *the one in the 180 pic who flew out here* 4 inches
dussimeir 3.5 inches

i have a 5 inche orange shoulder tang in my frag tank. along with a 3.5 inch purple tang

in my 72 bowfront i have a 4 inch yellow belly hippo that will be moving into the cube as soon as we move and i can catch him. along with a 3 inch purple tang

and in that 120 pictured i have
blonde naso with streamers. about 10 inches not including tail
orange spot rabbit same size
6 inch sailfin
10 inch hippo.

we are in teh planning stages of a 1000 plus gallon system. should be a reality in about 5 years MAX. we'll see if when these tangs are moved to a much large system if anything changes. as for right now they are extremely healthy and happy!

[black_majik]

Originally posted by kar93
I'd like to start some discussion on this thread about Tang Myths and Theories. Here are some things that I hear alot:

Tangs should be kept in tank no less than 4ft - I disagree because i have seen tank in 32" tanks and the tangs are thriving, obviously these tangs are babies and will grow fast and need moving to a bigger tank fast but they seem fat, healthy and disease free. My LFS has a tiny Yellow and Hippo tang in an RSM! These tangs will grow fast obviously but they are also thriving.

Tangs have a big affect on bioload - I have seen a 40g with a PBT (brown), Hippo and a Kole and they had 0 Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and Phosphates. So IMO if you maintain a well kept system with a good amount of filtration then things may be fine.

Obviously these are only a couple of things that are believed out there so I would like to know some things that you have all read.

Thanks

Sorry Karr93 i must disagree,

The 4ft tank statement is for tangs in consideration of their adult size. Of course baby fish can be kept in smaller tanks. In reality all fish are reccomended by their adult size not infant size. Stuff such as an Orange Shoulder in a 90gal is a perfect example of a no-no of course it can fit, it won't thrive. Again the tank recc. are based off of the adult size of the fish. I believe you misinterepted.



Tangs on bio-load. Honestly you go as natural as possible:

Tangs are herbivores.

Herbivores feed on plant matter.

Plant matter has less protein than meats.

It takes more plant matter to achieve the protein amount needed to live.

The more food the more waste

The more waste the more Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate,Phos

More Am , Nitrite, Nitrate the more denitrifying bacteria.

More denitrifying bacteria the more waste.

etc
etc

In general more bio-load. Just because the levels of Am, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phos read zero means absolutely nothing about bio-load. I have a heavily stocked 75 gallon, Am-0 nitrite-0 nitrate-< 5 ppm Phos-0 and I know its a high bioload because my feather dusters thrive, I have a green tint to my water( planktivorous algae), I have tons of micro fauna growing. That all points to a heavy bio-load. You might want to re-phrase your statement.


If you really want to get technical the keeping of tangs in general is a crime. ( Most cases) Most tangs travels miles upon miles in schools in search of food. Even a 8ft tank isn't a mile. Those tangs are your Convicts, Atlantic Blues, Hippos, Sailfins etc. Only a smaller group actually stay in the same location for feeding ( PBT's, Pbt's)But obviously the tangs are kept in an aquarium and they do fine. Bringing up a Tang Myth and Theories movement will open a gigantic door to much more larger arguements.

[black_majik]

BTW Crystal if you want to go Snakehead or Caulpera hunting call me up!

[cl2ysta1]

Originally posted by black_majik
BTW Crystal if you want to go Snakehead or Caulpera hunting call me up!

I get the caulpera hunting part.. but you mean snakehead as in.. snakes heads?!?


excuse me i'm a blonde

[black_majik]

http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/a...akehead.shtml\


There is a lot on them. I guess your out west.

[cl2ysta1]

yes. i am out west

[kar93]

No need to apologise Black Majik.I completely respect all of your opinions. I agree with the adult size (I forgot to mention these things im my post) I apologise im a bit dumb at times I know that all Tangs need to be moved to a larger Tang when they grow but thats not stopping them from thriving in a small tank when they are juvenile. Once again, I respect all of your opinions and would like to hear them.

[Reeftanks6]

Very nice cl2y.

[Tswifty]

Here's some pics of my new PBT in my 55g quarrantine tank. He just got here on Friday, so he's still a little thin, but started eating nori off the clip yesterday... he'll be nice and fat before he transitions over to the DT

[black_majik]

Originally posted by kar93
No need to apologise Black Majik.I completely respect all of your opinions. I agree with the adult size (I forgot to mention these things im my post) I apologise im a bit dumb at times I know that all Tangs need to be moved to a larger Tang when they grow but thats not stopping them from thriving in a small tank when they are juvenile. Once again, I respect all of your opinions and would like to hear them.

Please do not think my post was a aggressive reply to yours. You brought up very good points, but I believe you should have re-worded them. Such as the nutrient issue you could have stated," In an established tank the addition of a tang won't increase nitrate & phosphate levels if the tank is mature and cared for." Saying they won't have an effect on bio-load is a pretty hefty promise to tell a novice reefer. As well as the tank size. I understand your position as a aggressor towards Tang Police and that is completely fine, but the issue with saying a smaller tank is most people who have tanks may not be so willing to "upgrade" or purchase a larger aquarium to acommadate a tang's full size. By saying they can thrive in a smaller tank may give some people the wrong idea. But I am glad to see that you are bringing up these points as they are important and overlooked. Again don't perceive that post as against you just more worried about the wording. Don't worry though I too type too fast and read it after I post and realize mistakes. I'm glad though this thread is being kept alive. Keep up the good work.

[Reeftanks6]

Very nice pictures Tsifty.

[Tswifty]

Thanks

[kar93]

Thanks black_majik. You may have to bare with me sometimes as I sometimes cant think of what to say and it comes out all wrong. I didn't take it as an aggresive reply at all, like i say I respect all of your opinions. Its people like you that keep this website helpful.

Tswifty Beautiful lil' guy, Im sure he'll fatten up nicely.

[Aquarist007]

kar93
you can post about incidents in your tank, joke sometimes and even post about your love life
But two areas IMO to stay away from are threads about LFS's and the appropriate size of tanks for tangs
--they just don't seem to stay postive and civil around here

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by Tswifty8
Here's some pics of my new PBT in my 55g quarrantine tank. He just got here on Friday, so he's still a little thin, but started eating nori off the clip yesterday... he'll be nice and fat before he transitions over to the DT

very nice aquistion T.J.

[kar93]

I know what you mean Cap'n, the amount of threads where somebody asks a simple question and they turn into a 6 page argument. It kinda defeats the object of RC all together. Why not 6 pages of help?

[Aquarist007]

Originally posted by kar93
I know what you mean Cap'n, the amount of threads where somebody asks a simple question and they turn into a 6 page argument. It kinda defeats the object of RC all together. Why not 6 pages of help?

one of the forums has a message from a mod posted about not discussing tank sizes and tangs--I'll see if I can find it

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
very nice aquistion T.J.

Thanks

He'll be a nice addition to my "world's smallest tang collection"

He's only about 3" if that.