Tangs in a 90?

[Troy F]

Originally Posted by Willow

why is it evertime something gets debated with any level of enthusiasm the thread gets closed or moved to a black hole until we learn to litter our posts with smileys.

I don't think all threads with some heat get closed but usually the threads that are closed end up off topic with little or no relevant information shared. Where does your comment pertain to tangs in a 90?

I don't really believe tangs belong in the 4' and under category but as Brad says this is a selfish hobby so if you're going to take 'em from their home then fill your boots. My observations of their behaviour in the wild lead me to believe that only fish with a small territory should be kept in the smaller tanks. DWTFYW

[EmilyB]

Originally Posted by reef_raf

As for your tangs growing and doing better in a larger tank, glad to hear it. Sure didn't stop you from adding them to a 72 originally, did it?

No, but the long term is what I was talking about Brad. I didn't know anything about tangs when I got them.

Not everyone can afford to move up to a bigger tank in a year for the sake of the fish. Not everyone wants to trade the fish in when/or if it becomes too large, or begins to show different swimming behavior. Not everyone plans for their fish to be around for a dozen years or more. I do.

People will do what they want in the end anyway, but along the way, many will begin to see why these opinions are there. I did. So maybe some of these fish don't grow for whatever reason. Mine did. Maybe some are fine within their space. Mine weren't.

That doesn't negate me offering my experience, or does it?

Bah.

[doch]

Wow.... didn't forsee this becoming such a heated topic. Not sure who it was, but someone had emphasized OPINIONS. This is all that I was looking for. Now, that said, it is my OPINION that I am selfish and really want a Regal, so going by a few of these OPINIONS I'm going to give it a shot. What's the worst that can happen? Either I end up needing a bigger tank (that would be HORRIBLE) or, worst case scenario, I end up having to donate a big unhappy tang to some poor soul with a tank large enough. That's the beauty of such an experiment... it's not going to kill the fish, but it may end up unhappy (not that it would ever be truly happy in one of our man made Ocean 'boxes') and if so, the fish goes to a different 'box' to someone who I'm sure would be happy to accept a free fish... especially one as beautiful as the Regal Tang. So, the end result here is I'll give it a shot! Thanks to all of the people with OPINIONS!!!

[Nemo]

doch

Next time you want an OPINION I am sure the people on Canreef can accommadate you

And just for the staff of Canreef

That should just about do it

[naesco]

Well Doch please read this short article and I would invite all to do so as in my opinion it is a reasoned discussion by an author and expert and it happens to be on the exact tang you are considering.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-03/hcs3/index.htm

Summary
"This works out to 25m2 per sub-group, or just over 3m2 per animal or about 10f2, or about the size of any of the commercially available 125-gallon aquariums. Hence, I would propose this is a good starting point as the absolute minimum aquarium size for any solitary individual"

After carefully reading it would you kindly post your opinion on the article.


If you were considering a ctenochaetus species (bristletooth) consider this article by another author.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/hcs3/index.htm
Summary
"It is unlikely that a four-foot long aquarium will provide a suitable environment to match these natural growth patterns"

[naesco]

[quote="StirCrazy"]

Originally Posted by naesco

The opinions of keeping tangs in only large tanks (six footers) is pretty much an established rule of thumb now largely based on experts and authors, and those who have experience keeping them.

so which experts and authors have made this a rule of thumb? I have never seen anyone but fanatics say you must have a 6 foot tank because if you think of it what does that mean?
All of them Stir; the brackets indicate my opinion. I have posted some threads which I have posted in the past.
well if I have a 6 foot tank that is 12" high and 12" wide I have a 43 gal tank and by your statement It is enuf for a tang. I think water volume wise, a 43 gal is to small for any tang.
Tangs need the length for swimming. Volume is irrelavent. A large tank filled with coral with little end to end swimming room isn't any good either.

going back to your "and those who have experience keeping them" how long do you need to keep tangs to be experienced? I got 3 years now and mine have all grown in my 94 gal tank, My latest, an Achilles has grown 1" in 4 months, he is fat and generally looks content (if we can really tell with a fish) he never darts around nervously or does any weird laps in the tank. so generally I think I am successfully raising a tank in a 3 foot long tank. having said that my 3 foot long tank is 2 foot wide and 25" tall with lots of rock, kept fairly low, and massive flow for a tank that size. Maybe it is the flow that keeps the tang exercised and content who knows.

Certainly no one with any experience would keep 3 tangs in a three foot tank.
No one with any experince would mix similar species of tangs
No one with any experience would choose an Achilles tang. A tang which is almost impossible to keep by the most experienced tang keepers with ideal setups.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Nemo

And just for the staff of Canreef

That should just about do it

Nemo, if you're gonna post stuff like this, can you include a smily maybe, just so we know you're joking? Thanks

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by naesco

No one with any experience would choose an Achilles tang. A tang which is almost impossible to keep by the most experienced tang keepers with ideal setups.[/b]

Just gotta address this one. There is a guy over here that has had an Achilles in a 75 for years, and by all measures I can think of, it appears to be a happy healthy fish. I aldo recall you telling me that my white cheek would die in three months. That was two years ago. While some generalities may exist, pleae don't make up "rules". They may not apply in all cases.

[naesco]

[quote="Doug"]

Originally Posted by naesco

Again I must disagree with this. My Kole is larger than my yellow and uses more of my 170 for swimming than the yellow. So in my case its the opposite.

Plus they have a long body length, with a somewhat similar shape as the Regal, but not as large.

Yellows, Scopas and Purple tangs, seem to stay smaller and swim less. {if thats possible with tangs. }

That's the problem. We try to choose one tang knowing that in many instances a poster will only choose the opinions that confirm their desires as Doch has done. Better a small Kole than a Regal, Achilles, Niger, Vlamingi etc. IMO.

I wonder whether those who encourage a new reefer to go out and stock smaller tanks with tangs know the damage they are doing? Sadly, they are aware of the numerous authorities on the subject but choose to ignore them and give advice as if they were experts.

[Willow]

those who encourage a new reefer to go out and stock smaller tanks with tangs know the damage they are doing?

damage? dang dude join greenpeace.