Unfortunately I don't feel there is a privately owned aquarium that does meet minimum requirements. So what we do is the best we can with what we have. My tangs grow, eat, interact well with their tankmates and show no signs of stress. That is my goal and I've attained it. I don't think my 150 is any less suitable than a 300 or a 1000g tank. Simply, these fish would be happier in the ocean and no tank will provide a substitute for that. As self-indulging humans we decide to justify keeping wild animals captive for our viewing pleasure in many ways. You need a large tank to justify your keeping tangs, whereas I can deal with the fact that I'm a self serving human intent on keeping a piece of the ocean that's all mine in my own house. If any of us honestly cared as much as we go on about, we wouldn't keep these poor creatures in captivity....Period.

In general, does providing a strong water flow channel through the length of the tank help by providing tangs a more "vigorous" swim?

I have found that since adding my stream, the tang seems happier. Not smiling really, but not scowling either :biggrin:

Yes IME it does two things. If the powerhead is within a foot of the surface it provides highly oxygenated water which many tangs love.
Like reef said, my observations are that they love to play in it. I do not know if they are exercising.

Providing a strong blast of current at one end of the tank helped me out big time when I had my two regals. Like most fish-tangs love to swim, to search for food(grazing) and also for exercise. Reducing swim space by placing most fish in a tank like Brad said is #!?*@# in my opinion, yet we all do it. :confused:
I would suggest like mentioned above, create a full run from side to side or better yet a full oval around the entire reef like naesco said. Then position powerheads or returns to make a decent flow in this area.
When I had both my regals before they outgrew the tank, this worked great for 2 years. I made a figure eight pattern with my rockwork, then re-adjusted the powerheads to blow in the same pattern. After only two weeks the tangs would start swimming around in opposite direction of the current. I noticed they would do this almost right after they finshed eating, as to burn more energy so they would have room for some more food :mrgreen:

I plan on getting another baby blue tang one day, as I have found it a larger home after it outgrows my reef in a year or two. But that means I would have to rearrange the rockwork and sell off corals, so maybe I will wait until my 8 footer is up and running-which will be some time yet :sad:

cheers, Rich

If you need to get rid of it quinn my tank will be going soon :razz:
I'm sure it would appreciate the extra 2 feet and extra 1" of height :lol:

Jon if you want him, then he's yours. I'll go tell him he might be moving and see if he reacts to that, I feel bad because he's started pacing the back again. :sad:

I had photos of my rockwork layout online but my host went down. I have a huge open area in the front of the tank, basically the front half and the top half are all open, with only 1/4 been rock. The rock that is there is basically four big chunks supporting a large shelf. There are a lot of open channels and from what I've seen of tangs, I know he could navigate them all very very easily. However I expect that in his state of duress, he's just rushing around and not paying attention to where he's going. For now I will see if I can move a powerhead and provide flow straight along the front of the tank (I might not have enough cord).

Sounds good quinn.
It will be a few weeks probably. maybe 1 to 2.

we will see what he does in the 6ft tank

My Powder Blue absolutely loves the two 1,100-gal powerheads (hag901's) plus the LittleG-3series. Exercise your fish.

-Stephen