55 gallon options.

[Josh752]

Hey all brand new to the salt life. But I have a friend who’s gotten me interested is hooking me up with a sump live rock and protein skimmer all I need is the tank he has ro water and is going to help me through the cycling and full process which is amazing! But I’m leaning towards a 55 gallon it’s about all I have room for and I can generally find the best deals on used tanks in my area that are 55 gallons.. but now comes the big question after looking more at tanks and things the biggest question I have is can this tank support a one spot fox face honesty the only reason why I’m really wanting to get into this hobby is to keep one and a mandarin goby by far the 2 best fish I’ve seen is it possible to get away with these 2 fish and a pair of clowns in a 55 gallon will it be big enough for the fox face for life ?

 

[L0L_Z]

No, but 75 gallons are slightly larger ans should support those and an array of other fish

 

[Lineatus]

Hey all brand new to the salt life. But I have a friend who’s gotten me interested is hooking me up with a sump live rock and protein skimmer all I need is the tank he has ro water and is going to help me through the cycling and full process which is amazing! But I’m leaning towards a 55 gallon it’s about all I have room for and I can generally find the best deals on used tanks in my area that are 55 gallons.. but now comes the big question after looking more at tanks and things the biggest question I have is can this tank support a one spot fox face honesty the only reason why I’m really wanting to get into this hobby is to keep one and a mandarin goby by far the 2 best fish I’ve seen is it possible to get away with these 2 fish and a pair of clowns in a 55 gallon will it be big enough for the fox face for life ?

In my opinion, no unfortunately. Though you’d get a good few years before needing to rehome it, if your morally ok with that sort of thing.

 

[Josh752]

Okay well I will try to find a 75 it’s just in this area they are crazy. Expensive compared to a 55 and I’m just curious why exactly would they need a 75? I mean they only get 6 or 7 inches and the 55 is still a 4 foot tank?

 

[Lineatus]

Okay well I will try to find a 75 it’s just in this area they are crazy. Expensive compared to a 55 and I’m just curious why exactly would they need a 75? I mean they only get 6 or 7 inches and the 55 is still a 4 foot tank?

They are super active and seven inches is a big fish for a four footer.

 

[Josh752]

Okay would you even say they would be okay in a 4 foot tank for life? I’ve also done some reading and not a wild caught but a captive bred yellow tang I’ve heard averages out at a max of 5 inches would that be acceptable for the 55 instead? I just want to try and work in 1 bigger fish that would be okay with for life and build the rest of the tank around them any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

 

[Lineatus]

Okay would you even say they would be okay in a 4 foot tank for life? I’ve also done some reading and not a wild caught but a captive bred yellow tang I’ve heard averages out at a max of 5 inches would that be acceptable for the 55 instead? I just want to try and work in 1 bigger fish that would be okay with for life and build the rest of the tank around them any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

It’s an opinionated topic but in my opinion a yellow tang needs 5’ bare minimum. I personally wouldnt keep one in a tank smaller than 6’. Smaller bristletooth tang species could work in a 4’ maybe have a look if there’s any of those you like

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

55 is the worst footprint for a marine system. Get a 75. Ticks all the boxes.

 

[Fishkins88]

It’s an opinionated topic but in my opinion a yellow tang needs 5’ bare minimum. I personally wouldnt keep one in a tank smaller than 6’. Smaller bristletooth tang species could work in a 4’ maybe have a look if there’s any of those you like

I have a Tomini / flame fin tang and find them beautiful. Mine has a fantastic personality and interacts great with my smaller fish. These fall in the category of the bristletooth species. I am in the process of upgrading to a 55 gallon and feel that I can keep him for life in it.

 

[L0L_Z]

Okay would you even say they would be okay in a 4 foot tank for life? I’ve also done some reading and not a wild caught but a captive bred yellow tang I’ve heard averages out at a max of 5 inches would that be acceptable for the 55 instead? I just want to try and work in 1 bigger fish that would be okay with for life and build the rest of the tank around them any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

can we get the dimesnsions. I was taking standard 55 gallon size which is 3' x 18" x 18". If it has a 12"+ depth i think the foxface might be fine, however the tang is too active.

 

[Cell]

can we get the dimesnsions. I was taking standard 55 gallon size which is 3' x 18" x 18". If it has a 12"+ depth i think the foxface might be fine, however the tang is too active.

Standard 55" is 48"x12" footprint.

 

[fishywishy]

can we get the dimesnsions. I was taking standard 55 gallon size which is 3' x 18" x 18". If it has a 12"+ depth i think the foxface might be fine, however the tang is too active.

Standard 55 gallons are 4’ long not 3’

 

[fishywishy]

Okay well I will try to find a 75 it’s just in this area they are crazy. Expensive compared to a 55 and I’m just curious why exactly would they need a 75? I mean they only get 6 or 7 inches and the 55 is still a 4 foot tank?

They recently just had a sale at Petco for 75 gallon tanks, I think it’s over but I’m sure they will have another sale soon

 

[fishywishy]

Okay would you even say they would be okay in a 4 foot tank for life? I’ve also done some reading and not a wild caught but a captive bred yellow tang I’ve heard averages out at a max of 5 inches would that be acceptable for the 55 instead? I just want to try and work in 1 bigger fish that would be okay with for life and build the rest of the tank around them any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

Imo I think most fish you can have in a 75 gallon you can have in a 55 gallon. standard 75 gallons are the same size as standard 55 gallon besides the width, and I think fish need more space length wise than width wise.

 

[L0L_Z]

I know people are going to bash me for this but I think most fish you can have in a 75 gallon you can have in a 55 gallon. standard 75 gallons are the same size as standard 55 gallon besides the width, and I think fish need more space length wise than width wise.

fair enough, yet unless the fish grows longer than the depth of the tank

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

They are super active and seven inches is a big fish for a four footer.

7" is a big fish in a 10 foot tank

The tank will be the cheapest thing you buy... might want to think hard about this hobby.

 

[Reeflix]

55 is the worst footprint for a marine system. Get a 75. Ticks all the boxes.

yes definitly get a 75. ive learned that when you think you want a tank a certain size go 20g bigger

 

[Reeflix]

a sad mistake i made once

 

[fishywishy]

fair enough, yet unless the fish grows longer than the depth of the tank

Yeah

 

[Reeflix]

also a mandarin dragonet is very hard to feed so you might want to rethink that one... they need live copepods and you only get that in putting a lot in or a old tank