Okay, so it’s a ways off, but never too soon to start talking. I think I want a biotope-ish tank. I’d like to do a bunch of convict tangs, and a couple of yellows. Maybe one or two oddballs. What do you think the capacity is?
Have you decided on a skimmer? That plays a big part, and I am assuming you’ll have a refugium with macro algaes? I liked the list we discussed earlier. Biotopes are cool, I just like too many different fish. Maybe if I saw them in the wild like you did, it’d change my mind, but then I’d need a tank for every biotope out there.
Yeah man, do a google for hanauma bay convict tangs. Crazy, it was relly unbelievable for a kid from Wyoming. Anyway, yeah, I am looking into skimmers now, probably won’t be up and running until the fall. What do you think the capacity is as far as tangs go? The convicts are really mellow, it’s just a question of carrying capacity/bioload.
seems you are planning to put tank to good use. did it make it down stairs? well if ya need some extra hands let me know.
No way Glenn, that thing is way too big to get down the steps. I think I’m just going to leave it where it is for now (outside). WHen it’s time to set it up it will be in the den anyway.
I think the tank dimensions could definitely handle a small harem of convict tangs. I know they are extremely passive, they don’t even have a cadual spike! It really comes down to your filtration more, if you get an oversized skimmer, then you shouldn’t have a problem, water changes will help a lot, refugium with macro algae, even look into dosing vodka or sugar. I’d be a little weary about the yellows, they can be aggressive, plus just having two might not work, they’d more then likely fight each other. Having groups dissipates the aggression. Having a group of convicts and yellows I don’t think would work. I’d just stick with the convicts, maybe add one smaller yellow tang. I like the bluethroat trigger pair, maybe a harem of flame angels as well and if room permits, a large angel as a centerpiece, of course get a juvi and let it grow, chances are, the angel will need a bigger tank down the line.
I had a yellow and two convicts in my 125, sold the convicts, kept the yellow. He was my first fish in DE, so he’s gotta stay. Maybe I’ll try a differerent zebrasoma, purple maybe. I thought about a black tang(pricey) but I want a black durgeon, and I think that may invite a fight. The blue throats are really pretty, I just love the black durgeon for some reason. What do think think the maximum is on the convicts? maybe five? 26? heheh
I think if you have one yellow, you will be fine. Depending on your filtration and other fish, I think 5 convicts would be the max. Black durgeons are nice, I have considered getting one for my FO setup, but think I am going with a clown instead.
I was contemplating a school of yellow tangs but I have read getting the fish to school not fight can be an issue. So I was then decided on chromis since if there are larger fish in the tank they school.
Chromis usually pick each other off. No fish will ever “school” in our tanks, maybe shoal though. If you want a small shoaling species, check out the threadfin cardinals. They form groups and look great in bigger tanks, especially when you have them surrounding a center piece fish.
aahhh… not always true. if u have enough agressive fish i think they will school. its all about scaring the poop out of them and making them stick together. then again i havent done alot of research into this so yada,yada,yada.
Not true, they will never actually school. I’ve seen some lose shoaling in tanks with larger angels/tangs like you said, to scare them into the shoal/school defense methods, but that never works, they usually just hide or scatter in home aquariums. Not to mention chromis almost always kill each other off. Cardinals are definitely a better choice, especially the threadfin.
I had 5 chromis in my 75 and they followed each other in a school/shoal and would dart together anytime the tangs were out. They did chase each other but no more then any other fish. As soon as a possible predator was around they amassed in a school until the danger disappeared. I never saw they scatter.
I doubt it they would school, shoal definitely (a loose bunch). I am not saying it can’t be done, but most of the time, chromis pick each other off. You are better off with cardinals, especially the threadfin, great shoaling species, don’t know if they are from hawaii though, I don’t think so?
Joe, any updates? Getting the cycle going yet? lOl just kiddin man!
Nothing yet, I think I want to DIY some rock up first so that I can afford to fill it. Need a couple of nice days in a row, this weather has been mucho crappy.
From dictionary.com
School -
- a large number of fish, porpoises, whales, or the like, feeding or migrating together.
[hr]
shoal - any large number of persons or things.
- a school of fish.
[hr]
So they will shoal but not school?
Why do fish swim in schools? From about.com
First and foremost, schools protect fish from enemies. It’s the same rule our mothers taught us, always stay in a group because there is safety in numbers. Predators find it easier to chase down and gobble up a fish swimming all alone, than trying to cut out a single fish from a huge group. The same holds true in reverse. Fish can better defend their territory in a group. Bullies will think twice about facing an angry school of fifty fish.
Never really understood the whole shoal vs. school thing. Maybe one of our resident biology majors would like to chime in…
A shoal is a group of fish that are loosely together, a school is when a group of fish all swim the same way and look like one big fish. There is a big difference. In our home aquariums, we will never get a group of fish to school, maybe for a few seconds, but most groups will just form a loose group or shoal.
Joe, are you going to use rock and foam? How are you going to make your DIY rocks? I have some dead rock I would love to use with some foam to make some awesome pillars/rock forms. I made pillars/ziptied rocks together in my FO but my eel just throws them around. I think the foam will hold everything solid. Be sure to take some pics of your rocks, I’d love to get new ideas (and for other reefers). Goodluck with everything! I know its going to take some time, but I am dying to see this thing setup as a sick peninsula FO!
I thought about the foam, but I’m afraid that the Tangs/Triggers would pick it to pieces. I think I’m going to DIY concrete rock in some large shapes and augment with liverock from my 65.
[quote=“Jocephus, post:17, topic:1505”]
Never really understood the whole shoal vs. school thing. Maybe one of our resident biology majors would like to chime in…[/quote]
seems to me they are the same thing… isnt that what porter posted?