Kole Tang - please read

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 15, 2017

Quick question. So people say 55g is the minimum tank for a Kole tang. I'm wondering why a 40 gallon isn't the minimum - I feel like it has better dimensions. According to live aquaria, the average Kole tang gets 7" long. A standard 55g is 12" wide, and a 40g breeder is 18x wide. Whereas the 55g has about 3 inches more height, I don't think that really matters. Is the issue the length? It's a foot shorter, but would the difference in width not make it better?

I'm asking because I can't afford a 55g tank, but I already have a 40 breeder. My LFS has a really nice 1.5" Kole, and if I got it I would quarantine in a 20g, considering its in a 10g at the store (understandable as it is a store). If you've seen my other posts you'd know I'm on a tight budget, so I can't get a to of fish or coral. I really wanna try out a Xenia tank (reasons being quick growth, awesome movement, and an interesting color. I've also never seen one in person and it'd be awesome) and I believe that a Kole Tang is an amazing show fish. I know I'm being repetitive, but a low budget also means I can't spend a ton on rocks. I have a 20g with about 20lbs of rock and that'd go right into the 40g. Considering the average reef tank has a reef, which mine will have half the average amount of rocks, do you think there will be ample swimming room? In addition to less scape, my budget means less fish. A large factor in fish stocking is compatibility, and with no other territories I believe the Kole will be stress free I the environment.

*Someone has also told me higher flow = less stress in a smaller tank. That's aside the fact if a 40 gallon will work - but if not does it make up for it?

This is all speculation - nothing has happened and if it's not a great idea (which I think it has the potential to be) then it won't happen. Please don't be rude, I'm a beginner and as I said before, this is all speculation.

* A Kole would be fine alone, right?

Sierra_Bravo · Nov 15, 2017

Length matters more than the width. At least to the tang - it is preferable to keep them in a longer tank.

Kole tangs are beautiful fish and one of the few tangs that you can put in a smaller sized tank, but I believe the consensus here will be that it will outgrow the tank. LiveAquaria.com lists the minimum recommended size as 70 gallons.

Baldguy · Nov 15, 2017

If you can provide 4ft of straight line swim you could get away with less than 70g.

eatbreakfast · Nov 15, 2017

The footprint of a standard 75g, 48"x18" is the minimum footprint I would recommend for a kole tang.

Tyler Caviness · Nov 15, 2017

Patience! I saw your other post asking the same question, and almost everyone has said that a 4 foot, 70-75g tank is minimum. If you’re just looking for someone to agree with you, you’ll find someone, but that doesn’t mean you should do it.
I’d love to have a hippo tang, and I hope to some day, but I’ve got an 80g, and have no room to upgrade for at least a couple years.
There are some great fish that you could put in a 40 breeder. If I were you, I’d stick to fish that are appropriate for your tank, and if you want a kole tang, save for your dream tank that is the right size for it.

Reef Monkie · Nov 15, 2017

Pittsford_Pets said:
Quick question. So people say 55g is the minimum tank for a Kole tang. I'm wondering why a 40 gallon isn't the minimum - I feel like it has better dimensions. According to live aquaria, the average Kole tang gets 7" long. A standard 55g is 12" wide, and a 40g breeder is 18x wide. Whereas the 55g has about 3 inches more height, I don't think that really matters. Is the issue the length? It's a foot shorter, but would the difference in width not make it better?

I think the question you should ask yourself is why would you even want to keep a creature in the minimum space recommended for it, or even less for that matter. You are certain to never see its natural behaviour that way. Think of a lion in a cage vs. a lion in a safari park, I stopped visiting the zoo when I was about 15 after seeing the animals pacing up and down in front of their cages because it made me unhappy. If one scaled up a 75 gallon tank to human dimensions would you be happy to live your whole life in there, or would you go crazy?

I have a 150 gallon fresh water tank with 5 inch (adult size) fish in there, they breed successfully so are comfortable enough but for me the scale still looks wrong and after having them for many years I can tell they could do with a much larger tank. They swim across the whole length of the tank in the blink of a eye. My budget simply doesn't allow me the tank that I feel these fish need so I am going to be moving them on when I can.

I know this isn't what you want to hear but I think you will be much happier in the long run if you give the animals in your care the space they deserve and not the absolute minimum to keep them alive. You have plenty of time to save and having a goal to be able to one day have a tank suitable for a Kole tang is something to work towards and look forward to?

FunWithFishes · Nov 15, 2017

A quick question. I don't mean to stir the pot, but I saw in an earlier thread of yours (about helping a sick blue tang), that you planned on building a 75 gallon soon. Why not just wait until you've built that?

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 15, 2017

FunWithFishes said:
A quick question. I don't mean to stir the pot, but I saw in an earlier thread of yours (about helping a sick blue tang), that you planned on building a 75 gallon soon. Why not just wait until you've built that?

I ended up not getting the blue tang, and the same equipment (other than lights) can go on a 40. It's $100 cheaper for the tank alone, and then I'd need a new stand, more rocks, more sand, and I'm not entirely sure my floor can support 75 gallons of water. 40 is the best option for me as I have one open and I'd just need to fill it up. Also, my heater killed my tank yesterday. I only have 2 clowns, 2 hammer heads, and 2 torch heads left. I want to trade them all in for the Kole.

FunWithFishes · Nov 15, 2017

Pittsford_Pets said:
I ended up not getting the blue tang, and the same equipment (other than lights) can go on a 40. It's $100 cheaper for the tank alone, and then I'd need a new stand, more rocks, more sand, and I'm not entirely sure my floor can support 75 gallons of water. 40 is the best option for me as I have one open and I'd just need to fill it up. Also, my heater killed my tank yesterday. I only have 2 clowns, 2 hammer heads, and 2 torch heads left. I want to trade them all in for the Kole.

Sorry to here about the tank crash, it is tough losing all that work and all the poor animals.. But that also means you have a whole new cycle to undergo if you are restarting in the 40g. It can be risky trying to time up a tank cycle with a QT finish, and the whole thing seems a bit too risky to me.

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 15, 2017

FunWithFishes said:
Sorry to here about the tank crash, it is tough losing all that work and all the poor animals.. But that also means you have a whole new cycle to undergo if you are restarting in the 40g. It can be risky trying to time up a tank cycle with a QT finish, and the whole thing seems a bit too risky to me.

They don't sell their Kole tangs often so I have some time. Anyways, I had ich before, so now I qt for a month and a half. I caught it quickly and now I'm cycling my rocks and filter media again in a separate tank. I'll be ready by Christmas if I go through with it [emoji1]

eatbreakfast · Nov 15, 2017

Ich requires a 76 day fallow period to ensure no theronts continue in the display. Otherwise, it doesn't matter if you qt your fish if ich still exists in the tank.

FunWithFishes · Nov 15, 2017

So a 76 day fallow period would be around 2 and a half months. It's a long time to wait, but otherwise you risk the fish getting ich, which (disclaimer I have never owned a tang, partly because I want an easier going tank, and mine is only 55g) tangs seem to get more easily. Especially of he is stressed out by being in a smaller than minimum tank. (Again, I only go off what I hear, and 70g is listed on live Aquaria).

I hate being told I can't keep a fish. I got into this hobby wanting to do a trigger tank because I think they are one of the coolest and most interesting fish in the ocean. But I looked into it, and heard a majority say that 55g is too small. So I gave up the dream (for now) and settled on my current reef. I later discovered the melanurus wrasse and fell in love all over again, this time ecstatic that it could be okay in a 55g.

Point of the story, I know what it's like to really want a fish, and to be discouraged that everyone says you shouldn't. But typically everyone just wants other people to have sweet reefs with happy fish. I think you should look into fish that would better suit an xenia tank, and plan the kole tang tank for the future.

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 15, 2017

eatbreakfast said:
Ich requires a 76 day fallow period to ensure no theronts continue in the display. Otherwise, it doesn't matter if you qt your fish if ich still exists in the tank.

Whoops, I was in lunch at school when I wrote that. Meant to say I dealt with ich before (clowns may still have it but showing no signs and if they do I'll treat again) and all of my rocks are being cycled again cause of the heater fail crash. Separate things, just got caught up and it looks like I said I eradicated ich quickly which isn't the case

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 15, 2017

Another quick thing: I ended up tearing down my tank after the crash, I'm going to trade in my coral and reset. I'll treat my clowns with copper then just a standard QT for a month or until I see ich. Obviously I'd treat it.

The clowns are in a 10g and coral is being bagged for trade in. My old tank (20g) is in the basement cleaned out. Sand is in the garbage and rocks are outside until everything has died off - then I'll clean and cycle everything again. Maybe I won't get this Kole but I will get a small one at a later date - if you have read my other posts you'd know I also have a spare 55 with everything I need. My Chinese water dragon is in there for another month so I think I'll just clean that out and do a Kole tang w/ my two clowns in there once it's cycled

Pittsford_Pets · Nov 15, 2017

THIS WON'T HAPPEN:

Say I got it and put it in quarantine. It's only 1.5", how long would it be ok in a 20g? Obviously it's a small tank and I know they need swimming room, but I have a gourami in my 20g planted the same size. It's dwarfed by the tank, so how fast would a Kole grow?

A 20 is small so do you think it's too small for the qt

Deinonych · Nov 15, 2017

Pittsford_Pets said:
THIS WON'T HAPPEN:

Say I got it and put it in quarantine. It's only 1.5", how long would it be ok in a 20g? Obviously it's a small tank and I know they need swimming room, but I have a gourami in my 20g planted the same size. It's dwarfed by the tank, so how fast would a Kole grow?

A 20 is small so do you think it's too small for the qt

I quarantined my Kole in at 20g, no problem. He was about 3" when I got him and didn't have any problems in a tank that small. The key with Koles is getting them to eat. They feed on film algae primarily, so you have to either provide them with mature live rock or a food that they can pick at. Mine would never touch frozen or even an algae clip in QT, but went crazy for New Era grazing rings. Unfortunately, those rings aren't available any longer, as I believe New Era was purchased by another company.

For what it's worth, Koles are pretty slow-growing. I've had mine for 3 years and he's only about 4".

dmw913 · Nov 16, 2017

I would respectfully suggest examining the reason you want the Kole tang in the first place when you know your plans involve a tank underrated for the fish. While we all enjoy our fish and corals which is the reason we are in this hobby, we are also the stewards of our adopted creatures and should put their well being above our own desire for an awesome fish. If your goal of getting a Kole is paramount, perhaps surfing your local club boards, saving up and getting appropriate parts within your budget over time would be a better plan so you can enjoy the Kole and he can have the space he needs to thrive. If the goal is simply a sweet tank, I would suggest research to find the most bomber fish that is "rated" for the tank you are setting up. For instance, I happen to think the warty frogfish is amazing, would be an incredible focal point fish and would do beautifully in a 40.

Not trying to be the tang police, just some thoughts.