here are some that i liked purple, sail fin, hippo, kole, and im hopping to mix 2 of them with my naso. the tank will hopefully be set up and ready for fish by january so i have plenty of time for planning.
I would also like some opionins on keeping a powder blue or brown in the tank.
i want 3 tangs. if possibal 2 tangs and a surgin ( blue or brown powdered tang).
thanks brett
No way. I’d say your maxed with a yellow or a kole tang in a 55g. One tang in a tank that sized, a bristletooth tang would be best. Acanthurus tangs (powder blue, brown) need atleast a 6ft tank. Salfins and naso tangs get huge and need much bigger tanks. Tangs are some of the most active fish in the ocean, confining them to a 55g would not be healthy for them and not a good idea at all. I’d say if you want 3 tangs, get a 180g to be safe.
I agree 55-gallons are great starter tanks for salt but not the best for tangs
A kole tang averages 5" but will max at 7"
A yellow makes a great tang for 55-gallon tanks
Tangs (with the exception of yellows) get too big too fast and require too much room for a 55g.
Why not look at the different types of dwarf angels? You should nly keep 1 in the tank but at least you can get a very colorful fish that will be happy and thrive in a 55.
Yeah… I dont even want to put another tang in my 90 because I feel it may get cramped… they really do need alot of swimming room.
+++++1
DPS is right- you would need at least a 180 to do what you are proposing. a 240 would be better. its not to say that there arent people out there packing in tangs, but its really not humane. even a yellow tang in a 55 is pushing it in many peoples book. a 75 is typically considered the minimum humane tank to house a tang, but a 55 can work for a yellow if you have plenty of swimming room(aka not packed with coral and LR)
being a 55 owner myself I can say that the list for reef safe, size compatable fish for a 55 is pretty short.
i figured all these tang would get huge but i didnt know how fast. if i got ones 2-3 in how long would it take for them toout grow the tank.
I really don’t think it matters what size or out growing the tank. 2-3 tangs in a 55g at any size would be a bit too much. I think yellows personally get to big for a 55g, I’ve seen some huge yellows at the fish stores before. Bristletooth tangs are better suited for a 55g (kole, tomini, etc). I really don’t see a point in getting a fish that you know you will have to get rid of later down the line because it will out grow your tank. I get attached to my fish and would hate to get rid of any of them, especially a tang that has great personality. I have a 2.5" kole and 2.5" yellow in my 120g, I thought about adding a small 2-3" powder blue tang, but the more I think about it, no way. I plan on eventually upgrading to a 180g or so, when I do, then I’ll add the PBT. Are you planning on upgrading? When and what size? I know its hard to not pack your tank with fish, but we gotta think about whats best for the fish, especially long term.
I never understand people that purchase fish that the know they cant keep long term. Im sure there are a thousand people that keep 3 tangs in a 55g. Im sure someone on DRC will jump in and say “I do it, its fine, go for it”. Dont do it. It wont work for more than a few months. They will stress, they will get ich, they will die. If your lucky enough to keep them that long with your lack of experience. I know you lack the experience simply because your asking the question. Im not trying to be overly harsh, i just want to convey to you how bad of an idea you have. There are so many beautiful fish you can buy, heed our advice, dont kill these tangs just because you want eye candy. Someone mentioned dwarf angels. Great idea. Even better, look into flasher wrasse. Beautiful fish that will thrive in the right environment in a 55g.
i will pro get a flame or bio color but i have heard they will pick at polyps and clams . what else will they pick at? i’ve read were they will have no problems but others raise hell. i didnt know what to think so i discarded it as an option. i also like a coral beauty. i know they like big systems but can i keep one in a 55
[quote=“bz350, post:10, topic:812”]
i will pro get a flame or bio color but i have heard they will pick at polyps and clams . what else will they pick at? i’ve read were they will have no problems but others raise hell. i didnt know what to think so i discarded it as an option. i also like a coral beauty. i know they like big systems but can i keep one in a 55[/quote]
Whether or not a fish picks at corals is more a matter of the fish not the species, there are some species that are more likely to pick then others, but several of us have kept various angels without an issue with them picking at any of our corals.
I understand the thought process of keeping a fish until it grows too big for the tank, but imagine the frustration in having to tear your entire tank apart in order to catch a fish that immediately runs for cover the moment the net comes anywhere near the water.
but imagine the frustration in having to tear your entire tank apart in order to catch a fish that immediately runs for cover the moment the net comes anywhere near the water
lOl You should have done the deed when you had the chance!!
I agree with craig. Dwarf angels are more likely to pick at clams and sps than other fish, but it doesnt necessarily mean they will. Also, in a well established well fed tank chances are they wont be able to do enough damage to be noticeable anyways unless it finds one particular coral to be a delicacy. >LOL<
If your keeping primarily softies, you shouldnt have anything to worry about.
[quote=“logans_daddy, post:9, topic:812”]
I never understand people that purchase fish that the know they cant keep long term. Im sure there are a thousand people that keep 3 tangs in a 55g. Im sure someone on DRC will jump in and say “I do it, its fine, go for it”. Dont do it. It wont work for more than a few months. They will stress, they will get ich, they will die. If your lucky enough to keep them that long with your lack of experience. I know you lack the experience simply because your asking the question. Im not trying to be overly harsh, i just want to convey to you how bad of an idea you have. There are so many beautiful fish you can buy, heed our advice, dont kill these tangs just because you want eye candy. Someone mentioned dwarf angels. Great idea. Even better, look into flasher wrasse. Beautiful fish that will thrive in the right environment in a 55g.[/quote]
I had a yellow in a 55
And when I had my 75 I had a yellow and a hippo. The yellow was fine but you do need a lot of open rock work. The hippo I had started at 1.5 inches and had ick and a secondary infection. PIA After 2 years it was 6-7inches and was getting stressed about tank size. I sold him because he was large and getting to large for the tank (started to get aggressive.)
I guess this is where individual personalities come into play. My hippo is very sedentary as far as tangs go, much more so than my old yellow. He pretty much spends his day hovering above the rock, grazing on the rock, or chilling inside of the rockwork. He doesnt pace the tank like my yellow did. This may change as he gets bigger, i dont know. I feel that a hippo in a 75g is ok as long as its the only tang. I think that hippos, yellows, koles, convicts, and bristletooths are all acceptable in a 75g if they are the only tang and the only “bigger” fish. Howver, as most of you know, i had a 255g FOWLR set up before and it wont be long before i have another(hopefully tax time!!). Even knowing that in all likely hood i will have a big tank coming, i still wouldnt buy a fish that is inappropriate for my current setup with the idea of having a grow out tank. You never know what can happen, and it isnt fair to the fish.
Go for a convict, very cool. Yellow would work. But stick to one in a 55.
Ive always wanted a convict but never pulled the trigger. Ive heard that they dont ship well, even for tangs, but i have seen a couple of really healthy looking convicts around lately. Greenbanks had one about 2 weeks ago. I would really love to get one one day.
I got two for my 125 from DF&S, other than being a bit skinny, they’ve been great. No aggression, and swim all day out in the open. They’re really graceful swimmers, even compared to the yellow.
the question now is can i keep my 3in naso in the 55?
IMO, a naso is one of the tangs that need a 6’ tank minimum. I would trade him in for something more suitable before you get too attached.
My hippo was very calm when it was small also. As it grew it chased any fish who came near his spot