advice on tangs

[krystal]

i would like to get one yellow tang for my 55gal tank i have 2 clowns 1 dotyback 1firefish 1cardnal 1 skunk cleener shrimp. i just started puting fish in my tank 2 weeks ago when the cycle was done. i pult 4 fish in at one and the amonia went up so i am wateing for everything to be stable and the ph is at 8.0 and i am using a ph buffer and it has bun going up i am wateing for it ti go to 8.4 then to add the tang enny advice? i dont want to feed the tang vedgie strips but i want to feed him the stuff that sticks on the rocks and i have a litle bit of algie groing so maby he can help me with that and i just got a proteen skimmer.

(ignore my bad spelling)

 

[Marshall O]

Could things; first as you found out, you added too many fish at once to a new tank. In the future, start with only one fish and space out new additions by at least 2 weeks. Second, you should not be using or needing pH buffer. What are you using to test it, and at what time of day? What do you have for sand and rock (both can help stabilize/maintain pH). Finally, IMO no Tang belongs in a 55. They are only ~12" wide. With rockwork, you are usually down to 6" or less. Even the smallest Tangs get to 6-8" (Yellow Tangs up to 8"), so you can see they will barely have room to turn around comfortably! I would look for a smaller fish that will help with algae instead. A Blenny may be a good choice, such as a Starry or Lawnmower. But make sure you witness either eating before purchasing. I had a Lawnmower Blenny starve to death in my 55 after it ate all of the hair algae in the tank.

Remember, nothing good happens fast in this hobby!