Big fish in little tanks?

[reeferfoxx]

What are your thoughts? Seeing a big trend of this lately. This isn't a flame thread but it does go against the grain.

 

[Mattsaddiction]

im curious to what people do with box fish because i see them all the time in small tanks.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I've seen that too. It's just strange to me with all the hoopla about the "dory fish" in small tanks. But when you start fishing through threads, you see tangs, rabbit fish and box fish in 30 - 60 gallon tanks. However a little bit of me wants a wrasse that would normally be rated for a 50+ gallon tank, in my 30 gallon lol

 

[Mattsaddiction]

what kind of wrasse? i have a friend who has a leopard wrasse in a 20 gallon and its doing great, but he doesnt have a lot of fish besides that.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I'm a big fan of fairy wrasses. I know there are some rated for 50+ but if I had my choice I really like the Lineatus Fairy Wrasse.

 

[Mattsaddiction]

it grows 5 inches which isnt crazy. if you have thoughts of upgrading in the future i would get a small one or not have a lot of fish. At my work we have a 900g with a fairy wrasse in it and it zips all around and flashes its colors its awesome

 

[Untamedrose]

I think....its not a black and white thing.

Its like everything else in reefing ...needs balance.

and then there is this...

 

[4FordFamily]

I guess big and small is all relative -- subjectively speaking I don't like cramping big fish in a small tank. By many people's standards I probably overstock and cramp my fish more than most

 

[reeferfoxx]

I think....its not a black and white thing.

Its like everything else in reefing ...needs balance.

and then there is this...

Arowana? lol

 

[Mattsaddiction]

I think....its not a black and white thing.

Its like everything else in reefing ...needs balance.

and then there is this...

LOL now that is definitely too big

 

[scardall]

I think....its not a black and white thing.

Its like everything else in reefing ...needs balance.

and then there is this...

While that fish is way too big for that tank. I doubt that is the reason the seams failed. You can have a fish that is over sized for the tank as long as the filtration etc. can keep up with the Bio-load. Still Not Fair to the fish relatively. nice vid.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I guess big and small is all relative -- subjectively speaking I don't like cramping big fish in a small tank. By many people's standards I probably overstock and cramp my fish more than most

Overstocking a tank is one thing, unless it gets out of hand. If you can maintain a small reef with X number of fish without any biological issues, I am ok with that. But pulling a fish from the ocean that needs to get its exercise on the daily and putting that fish in a 2' long tank, seems immoral, to me.

 

[atoll]

Personally, I think it is black and white but people just try to fudge and complicate the issue to justify their claims if they keep big fish in small tanks.

 

[mr11]

Personally, I think it is black and white but people just try to fudge and complicate the issue to justify their claims if they keep big fish in small tanks.

I definitely think there are certain fish that are too big or need too much room for smaller tanks but I don't know that I would call it black and white. There is absolutely zero research on how tank size effects long term and short term health of any species. That sounds like a lot of gray area, guess work, and personal anecdotes.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I definitely think there are certain fish that are too big or need too much room for smaller tanks but I don't know that I would call it black and white. There is absolutely zero research on how tank size effects long term and short term health of any species. That sounds like a lot of gray area, guess work, and personal anecdotes.

I think a lot of it depends on how you personally feel about putting a large fish in a small tank. There is things to be said about it, though. If you feel guilty about ruining the natural reef ecosystem and then feel it's okay to put a larger fish in your nano, you are left with not much room to speak.

 

[Tahoe61]

I think a lot of it depends on how you personally feel about putting a large fish in a small tank. There is things to be said about it, though. If you feel guilty about ruining the natural reef ecosystem and then feel it's okay to put a larger fish in your nano, you are left with not much room to speak.

Wow drama much???

You have no right to sit in judgement of how I have or have not saved or rescued animals in my life time. Trust me in the 30 years I have been an advocate of this hobby and the marine environment I have a lot of room to speak.
Trust me I have done more in my life time to save marine mammals and other marine life than you can even conceive of.

But before the grace of god go I is something you might want to think about.

 

[reeferfoxx]

Wow drama much???

You have no right to sit in judgement of how I have or have not saved or rescued animals in my life time. Trust me in the 30 years I have been an advocate of this hobby and the marine environment I have a lot of room to speak.
Trust me I have done more in my life time to save marine mammals and other marine life than you can even conceive of.

But before the grace of god go I is something you might want to think about.

I'm sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about? As far as drama goes, what did you just bring to the table?

 

[eatbreakfast]

I think it depends on the fish and it depends on the system.

To a degree, extra flow can compensate for some space, so a 120 with a lot of flow is better than a 180 with very little flow for some active species.

For species that pick on pods, a smaller r ank with a refugium is better than a tank that is larger without one.

For fish that will outgrow a tank, providing a good home and having an exit strategy, is better than having a larfe enough tank, but not meeting it's initial needs.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I think it depends on the fish and it depends on the system.

To a degree, extra flow can compensate for some space, so a 120 with a lot of flow is better than a 180 with very little flow for some active species.

For species that pick on pods, a smaller r ank with a refugium is better than a tank that is larger without one.

For fish that will outgrow a tank, providing a good home and having an exit strategy, is better than having a larfe enough tank, but not meeting it's initial needs.

I couldn't agree more.