Help me get a Tang

[Mark Waltermire]

Planning on trying to get the red sea 250 and start it up, hopefully around 5 months from now

If you really want a tang as soon as possible then the best recommendation I would give you is once you have the red sea 250 in your home with saltwater in it, then I would put a small tang in the 20 gallon. This way you can have it quarantine for at least a month while the 250 does its cycling. Then once you get a pair of clownfish or something to live in the 250 for a few weeks then add the tang into the tank.

Even better than that would be to go ahead and add the 2 clownfish or whatever you are going to add to your tank first into the 20 gallon now so that you can begin quarantining the fish. This way you can ensure that your tank is disease free from the very first fish.

 

[Kmsutows]

I dont like that article at all.
First. Oxygen content in the water is not a problem since we began with protein skimmers 50 years ago.
Fish are different. A freeswimming Anthias or Chromis has a much faster metabolism than a goby or blenny lying with only its head out of their burrow.
It would be much better to count how much food the tank can handle. Or better: Your care.

I'd agree it's not the best article but while I don't think oxygen is the most limiting factor not everyone uses a skimmer and if I were to make an assumption, I doubt one will be used on a 20gal. Also, a small fish that isn't and open water fish doesn't necessarily have a slower metabolism than a tang. Jawfish for example have a very fast metabolism. Like you said, all fish are different. There isn't a single tang I can think of anyway that will be ok in a 20gal for more than a few months even with excellent husbandry.

 

[shrimped]

And it's a 36in long display as well.

I wouldn't put a tang in mine. But I decided my stocking list before buying the tank, so I knew the fish I really wanted would be appropriately house..

I totally agree with you. Planning out everything before getting the tank may just be the simplest decision a hobbyist can make but also the best decision as it helps you and the inhabitants inside the tank.