Ultimatereef.com TOTM keeps a yellow tang in a 30gal...

[MMAX]

Tangs are swimmers and need the larger room longer tanks provide. (A Kole tang would be an exception though)[/quote]

Exactly the type of tang I want for my 4' 100 gallon.

[StirCrazy]

not bothered in the least.. years ago 30-40ish was the minimum for a yellow tang, but now the self proclaimed tang police have inflated that to a standard swimming pool.

also if you have been snorkiling in Haiwii you will have noticed the larger tangs swim all over the place, the juviniles tend to stick to one area as long as there is food, and in the 50+ times I have been snorkiling in haiwii I have even noticed if there is an abundance of food the adults dont stray far at all. so compair that to our tanks, abundance of food, strong curent to give them exercise.. if the tank is set up right there is no reason an aproperate sized tank can't be in it.. my problem would be a full growen fish that can't turn around in its home or even get off a little blast of speed.

Steve

[naesco]

Originally Posted by MMAX

Tangs are swimmers and need the larger room longer tanks provide. (A Kole tang would be an exception though)

Exactly the type of tang I want for my 4' 100 gallon.[/quote]

Ya, you will love the Kole. Choose an active one with clear eyes, no blotches or tears or spots.
It is a film algae eater so keep one end or a part of your tank glass 'dirty'. You can also buy some of the smooth stones LFS sell for freshwater tanks and pile them up. They get covered in film algae very soon and also they act a a safe home for pods. A pod pile.

Stir Crazy, I know you never agree with my posts but you have to admit a packed 30 gallon tank is far too small for an adult yellow tang. I think most reefers are tang police on this one!

[whatcaneyedo]

You say 'not bothered in the least' and then you contradict yourself with what you write afterwords. The tang is 5 years old and that tank is STUFFED with coral growth so there is very little swimming space. Have a look at the article and you'll see what I mean.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

You say 'not bothered in the least' and then you contradict yourself with what you write afterwords. The tang is 5 years old and that tank is STUFFED with coral growth so there is very little swimming space. Have a look at the article and you'll see what I mean.

ah all you said wasa yellow tang in a 30 gal tank. I am not botherd by that. a 30 gal tank with a large tang yes I wouldn't do it myself, but still I won't lose any sleep over some one else doing it. life is to short to worry about what other people are doing all the time

Steve

[shrimpchips]

While I don't approve of people who keep large tangs in tiny tanks, I also don't usually agree with the self-proclaimed-holier-than-thou tang police folks.

And REALLY folks? Did anyone actually look through the article? That tank is a 36 x 18 x 18, and that Yellow tang has got to be no more than 4" snout to tail. It's definitely not an adult tang in a typical 30g tank. Look at the pictures - it definitely has swimming room.

Also, not to rain on your parades, but you'd think a guy with 22+ years of aquarium experience wouldn't willy nilly stick a tang in a tiny tank. He seems good at keeping fish too - a 16 year old clown and a 4 year old mandarin. Maybe, just maybe, he knows what he's doing?

FWIW, Nano-reef also featured a tank with a yellow tang sometime last year I think.

[whatcaneyedo]

At what age do yellow tangs reach adulthood? This one must be at least 6 years old... I've only had a tang myself for the last 4 years so maybe someone else can answer that.

I did read the whole article and the thread that follows. Later he does admit that he will pass the tang along if it should show signs of decline or when his coral grows in a bit more and restricts too much of its swimming room. The pictures don't show much swimming room to me. But thats just my opinion.

I've known people in this hobby who claim to have more experience than that to do far more ridiculous things. Also, in his article he states that he still considers himself an amateur (like the rest of us).

What kind of message do you think these articles by Ultimate Reef and Nano Reef send to people getting into the hobby? That is where I see the problem. People who are being honored and those who have been doing this for decades should be setting a better example.

[zum14]

[gobytron]

Originally Posted by shrimpchips

While I don't approve of people who keep large tangs in tiny tanks, I also don't usually agree with the self-proclaimed-holier-than-thou tang police folks.

And REALLY folks? Did anyone actually look through the article? That tank is a 36 x 18 x 18, and that Yellow tang has got to be no more than 4" snout to tail. It's definitely not an adult tang in a typical 30g tank. Look at the pictures - it definitely has swimming room.

Also, not to rain on your parades, but you'd think a guy with 22+ years of aquarium experience wouldn't willy nilly stick a tang in a tiny tank. He seems good at keeping fish too - a 16 year old clown and a 4 year old mandarin. Maybe, just maybe, he knows what he's doing?

FWIW, Nano-reef also featured a tank with a yellow tang sometime last year I think.

well put.

This tank looks exceedingly healthy and the guy mentions the tang is 5 years old and shares the space with very few other inhabitants.

I think this is probably a well looked after fish and that you can (and should)really do whatever you want to in your own aquarium without worrying about other people getting emotionally involved.

Without knowing the aquarist and being familliar with their aquatic methodgy judging in this way is a slippery slope for any aquarist to be on.

In reality, what we all do is pretty selfish and any way you look at it, we are taking organisms out of their preferred natural environment and putting them into one of our own construction for our own pleasure....

It doesnt matter how incredible your tank is, it's still just a 30 gallon compared to the ocean so to single out any one individual for an action that we are all guilty of but is preceived to be worse for some reason is hypocritical.

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by naesco

I am bothered by it especially when the reefer is honoured. It tells you a lot about Ultimate Reef the UK forum.

It would never never happen on Canreef even if the corals dazzled like diamonds.

Originally Posted by naesco

If you observe a tang in a 3 or 4 foot tank swimming and than observe one in a 6 foot + tank swimming it is easy to see the difference. In the small tank the tang kinda swims around and in the longer tank he really motors from one end to the other.
Tangs are swimmers and need the larger room longer tanks provide. (A Kole tang would be an exception though)

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

At what age do yellow tangs reach adulthood? This one must be at least 6 years old... I've only had a tang myself for the last 4 years so maybe someone else can answer that.

I did read the whole article and the thread that follows. Later he does admit that he will pass the tang along if it should show signs of decline or when his coral grows in a bit more and restricts too much of its swimming room. The pictures don't show much swimming room to me. But thats just my opinion.

I've known people in this hobby who claim to have more experience than that to do far more ridiculous things. Also, in his article he states that he still considers himself an amateur (like the rest of us).

What kind of message do you think these articles by Ultimate Reef and Nano Reef send to people getting into the hobby? That is where I see the problem. People who are being honored and those who have been doing this for decades should be setting a better example.

Well said naesco and whatcaneyedo I couldn't agree more with both of you.