Tang fight

[Ruth]

It is a 6 foot tank with lots of live rock and hiding places and the Naso is the only tang in there - I would not think of putting a big tang like a Naso in anything smaller. I still think I am going to wait until I have my 300 set up.
One question that I have for you Tang Police is that I want to get a Powder Blue, Achilles and Sailfin for my new tank. It is a 300 cube - dimensions are 4' X 4' X 30". My question is about the 4' length and width - is this going to be enough swimming room? I know that the total water volume will handle those larger fish but am now starting to question the swimming room as I know how much these guys like to race from end to end.

[Chin_Lee]

I'll probably get double tapped by the TP but I say if you can put all three at the same time, they will be fine. thats about 16 sq ft of swimming space or 40 cubic feet which will be a lote more than most people can provide. my 180g is only about 12 sq ft/24 cubic feet whereas most people with 90g can provide 9sq feet/12 cubic feet,

Originally Posted by Ruth

It is a 6 foot tank with lots of live rock and hiding places and the Naso is the only tang in there - I would not think of putting a big tang like a Naso in anything smaller. I still think I am going to wait until I have my 300 set up.
One question that I have for you Tang Police is that I want to get a Powder Blue, Achilles and Sailfin for my new tank. It is a 300 cube - dimensions are 4' X 4' X 30". My question is about the 4' length and width - is this going to be enough swimming room? I know that the total water volume will handle those larger fish but am now starting to question the swimming room as I know how much these guys like to race from end to end.

[Psyire]

Does your cube have an island style overflow so they can swim laps around and around?

[Ruth]

It does so they can do laps if they want to. Overflow is right in the center and is 18" X 12".

[Chin_Lee]

that is a sweet sounding setup. something that I will definitely consider in the future when I get to build my own place one day.

Originally Posted by Ruth

It does so they can do laps if they want to. Overflow is right in the center and is 18" X 12".

[Psyire]

That's awesome that they can do laps.

I think that negates any tank length issues.

[naesco]

Originally Posted by Ruth

It is a 6 foot tank with lots of live rock and hiding places and the Naso is the only tang in there - I would not think of putting a big tang like a Naso in anything smaller. I still think I am going to wait until I have my 300 set up.
One question that I have for you Tang Police is that I want to get a Powder Blue, Achilles and Sailfin for my new tank. It is a 300 cube - dimensions are 4' X 4' X 30". My question is about the 4' length and width - is this going to be enough swimming room? I know that the total water volume will handle those larger fish but am now starting to question the swimming room as I know how much these guys like to race from end to end.

No Ruth a 4 foot tank is too small for any tang let alone the Powder Blue and Achilles. There is insufficinet length to meet the needs of these two.

You also need to know that the Powder Blue is a very difficult tang to keep. They are ich magnets, prone to disease and oftern perish after a few months taking there tankmates with them.
The achilles is an almost impossible tang to keep. Those very few who have success have large mature tanks. Pristine, highly oxygenated water is essential.
Ruth, as you know tangs are swimmers. Sorry but a four footer doesn't meet the requirements.

[TheReefGeek]

I think a 4 foot cube would be enough swimming room for any tang.

I look at it as, how much can they swim without having to stop and turn around? In the 4ft cube, is is never, they can swim 16ft before doing one lap. In a 6 ft tank, it is just 6 feet because of rockwork and corals.

Sure they have to turn a bit, but what fish on a reef dont turn all the time? They dont swim perfectly straight. If a 6ft tank is good enough, I would say a 4ft cube is more than large enough.

[Ruth]

Thanks for the replys. I am aware that both Powder Blue and Achilles are challenging to keep and would not even try it in a smaller system. They would definately be the last fish I added and even then only after the system had been set up and stable for at least 6-8 months. I don't think that well oxygenated water will be an issue as I plan on having 4X6200 tunze streams as well as a Bubble King 500 skimmer. I do regular water changes on all my tanks of at least 10-15% a minimum of every 2 weeks and other that the 190g that I am running zeovit on do not add a bunch of "stuff" to my systems.
I am still undecided but just looking to collect as much information as I can so really appreciate when people take the time to pass on their knowledge.

[Skimmerking]

U go Ruth the main thing is that the tangs are cared for at the top quality. I have 4 tangs in my 170 60x27x24 and they are small but they swim around until i get up the nerve to build my 8 footer soon i hope...

mike