Minimum tank size differences?

cdfjr1975 · Jun 23, 2017

So I have a question about tank sizes for fish.

Blue Zoo says humu trigger fish needs 50 gallon minimum

https://www.bluezooaquatics.com/productDetail.asp?did=1&pid=901&cid=288

Live aquaria says humu trigger fish needs 180 gallons

http://m.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+1926+253&pcatid=253

Why the difference?

cdfjr1975 · Jun 23, 2017

Should have added I have a 100 gallon tank 60 x 16 (depth) x 24 and I like the trigger fish, or the porcupine puffer (wife loves this fish), and according to live aquaria I can't have them but per blue Zoo I can. Just trying to get an understanding which site I should believe.

Claus84 · Jun 23, 2017

In a nutshell, unscrupulous sellers/lfs. There's always a lot of conflicting opinions on tank size but Live Aquaria's estimations seem to be the gold standard for the most part. Not specifically saying this about Bluezoo as I have not had any experience with them but alot of places are more keen to sell fish than to ensure they are going to a suitable long-term environment. I would go with the 180 estimate, they get pretty big, are active and will produce a lot of waste.

Claus84 · Jun 23, 2017

I would see what others on here say re porci or humu in a 100g, I think tank depth may be an issue for you, would definitely be a bad idea in a 50 and doesn't seem right keeping an (eventually) foot long puffer in a 5ft tank but maybe someone with experience of either fish will chime in.

cdfjr1975 · Jun 23, 2017

Thank you for the input. Honestly I've been leaning towards live aquaria estimates and have given up on the puffer for sure. I convinced the wife to love the smaller puffer (forget the name now) but LA rated as 80 gallon (less than 100 but unsure now). But since she likes the corals I have informed her that puffers are not reef safe.

Claus84 · Jun 23, 2017

cdfjr1975 said:
Thank you for the input. Honestly I've been leaning towards live aquaria estimates and have given up on the puffer for sure. I convinced the wife to love the smaller puffer (forget the name now) but LA rated as 80 gallon (less than 100 but unsure now). But since she likes the corals I have informed her that puffers are not reef safe.

No problem, I don't think either fish are technically reef-safe, at least not with motile inverts but not sure how they would be with coral, wq may be an issue in a reef I guess. Have you looked at Xanthichthys triggers such as blue throat, I think these are supposed to be more trustworthy in a reef, you'd have to check re tank size though

Waters · Jun 23, 2017

IMO, as an outsider looking in, I would think that the 50g estimate is so the vendor sells more fish. Saying the fish needs a larger tank eliminates a lot of sales. I could be totally wrong though.

Reef2zach · Jun 23, 2017

Maybe get a box puffer. I think they stay smaller and look very similar to a pork. There are also really slow growing triggers that you could get. Blue throat or pinktail

reeferfoxx · Jun 23, 2017

I've seen this discrepancy between Blu Zoo and LA before. Although they seem different, I like to think they are similar but with different context. With your example, one site says 50 and the other says 180. In perspective, fish need territories and in other perspective they need space. I think LA posts the preferred or ideal environment requirements for a community tanks where as Blu Zoo provides information on recommended territorial requirements. Meaning Blu Zoo is stating that the minimum requirement for a small community tank and what this fish will be well suited in provided it's 50 gallons of space. LA assumes this fish will be added to a tank with similar sized fish and that aggression or stress will be limited with it's specified tank size. I think both sizes are suitable but 180 gallon insures a risk-free addition.