Need Help Tang Police

[JWHITESP88]

In a 12in depth, I would honestly avoid wrasses as well. Maybe a six line,maybe.

Watching wrasses, they hit the sand when spooked and hit the ceiling eventually. The quick vertical streak is part of the “dance. ”

I have always liked the Six Line but have never owned one. I have always been so hesitant with them because I have read nightmare stories of people completely breaking tanks down because the can be such a nuisance. Any one care to elaborate on there experience with the six line, maybe try to persuade me one way or the other? They are an attractive fish in my opinion.

 

[DSC reef]

Tank size is too small for a tang regardless of size. Heck, it is pushing the limits for a pygmy angel. I had a 40 breeder with a coral beauty and it was not enough room. Only reason why it was added was because I was upgrading it to a 210 gallon within a month. It isn't just the tank size but the rock and coral. Coral also grows which limits space. Smaller tanks just mean you have to align fish to meet the short and long term coral growth. Also factor in competing food. Blenny algae, bristletooth, algae, etc. You get the idea.

To those commenting on the wife comment. It is interesting that some jumped the gun thinking it was a serious question and not one of posting in jest. I guess sure, they could have left off wife and just said someone complain but sterotype that we are is it a male dominated hobby? I don't know but when I read it I just laughed and moved on. There are some hobbies that our other half may not like, or we of theirs, and tolerate it for happy equality and life. I really don't think there was any disrepsect - just more of a zinger or wise crack. Anyway - off my soap box.

Given his other posts in recent threads I personally think its rude to assume a wife issue when he knows nothing about them. Your entitled to your opinion as we are as well. Agree to disagree...

 

[User1]

Given his other posts in recent threads I personally think its rude to assume a wife issue when he knows nothing about them. Your entitled to your opinion as we are as well. Agree to disagree...

We do - no harm, no foul.

On the Six line - I've owned one and judging by how it foraged 24x7 I wouldn't add one to a tank the size that the OP is suggesting. They are small but packed full of energy. Constantly foraging for the next snack. If any other fish are competing for similar food then the aggression comes out to warp factor 10. I think a tank that size depending on how the aquascape and coral growth plan is I would look at something like:

Coral Beauty / similar sized pygmy angel (although usually they recommend 70 gallons)
Pygmy wrasse - white banded possum comes to mind
Starry Blenny
Trio of damsels like Talbots, Azures,
Starcki damsels - larger than your typical one - smaller than coral beauty - right in the middle and a trio would look nice
Firefish
Goby/pistol pair

I think for me the main thing, this is even what I'm doing with my 210 gallon, is has I add fish see what is competing for the same natural food. What I add is fair game but if they are going about their day to day routine and foraging is their stick, then I need to make sure Peter and Paul are not going after the same food or gal pal in the tank. This way I limit the aggression and no one has to have a time out.

EDIT: upon further reading it sounds like I'm saying these are all you can have, etc. Apologies if it came across that way because I sure didn't mean that. Just suggestions is all based on owning them over the years in a 40 breeder or 29 gallon bio cube.

 

[roberthu526]

A small yellow tang or purple tang can probably last you a year or two but after that you will need to think about rejoining them. Tangs just need a lot of room. If you go with a 75 G then you can probably House one of them forever.

 

[Sarah24!]

Hello,

Definitely not gonna get into the spouse part of this, but if one has to lie about fish and stuff, they may have larger issues at hand. (Glad the op is honest, shows care to his spouse).

In terms of the tank size and tangs, a small tommini tang or bristle tooth could work. But they are also active swimmers and I have both and they swim the whole tank. It would work, but I would definitely limit the stock level, just so there is more space.

 

[User]

@skimjim

I want to apologize for my past couple posts calling you out.

I went back to the ‘opinions’ thread and read your apology. I read it as sincere. That makes you a pretty decent dude in my book. You took a breather, re-evaluated your comments and acted with class and made apologies. That’s cool.

I’m sorry I let my hurt feelings come back at you days later. I apologize.

 

[Sarah24!]

Lol hey us females are catching up in this hobby, we are just a little more shy and quite is all

 

[JWHITESP88]

Haha just to clear the whole spouse thing up since it has somewhat become the center of the thread, my wife is 100% supportive of whatever I do in the hobby. She is a wonderful woman, I couldn't ask for more. It is my decision to build a smaller tank which is dictated by the schedule I work. All is well on the home front and neither of us have anything to hide from one another.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

We are currently building a house and I am already getting a list together for the new tank build. My old tank was a deep blue 57 and while I liked the tank, I hated the fact that I couldn't house a tang comfortably. I have been looking at new tanks and I keep coming back to the deep blue 45 gal rimless frag tank. I love the look and dimensions but am worried that I will be faced with the same dilemma as before, not enough space for a tang. the 45 gal is 48'' x 18'' x 12''. Will this tank be long enough to house a tang and the fish be happy? Any thoughts on this tank or something of similar size that would work for a tang would be awesome. I work shift work so I am trying not to go very big to keep my maintenance manageable working rotating shifts.

To put some perspective into this thread, I have a 46 gal, 3' x 1.5' x 1.5' tank.
I have a vlamingi, a yellow, & two blue tangs.

We are currently building a house and I am already getting a list together for the new tank build. My old tank was a deep blue 57 and while I liked the tank, I hated the fact that I couldn't house a tang comfortably. I have been looking at new tanks and I keep coming back to the deep blue 45 gal rimless frag tank. I love the look and dimensions but am worried that I will be faced with the same dilemma as before, not enough space for a tang. the 45 gal is 48'' x 18'' x 12''. Will this tank be long enough to house a tang and the fish be happy? Any thoughts on this tank or something of similar size that would work for a tang would be awesome. I work shift work so I am trying not to go very big to keep my maintenance manageable working rotating shifts.

Here are my Tangs

 

[Reefrookie220]

I don’t think I’ve ever had a tank without a six line. He’s like the Orkin man of the reef lol. Can keep bristle worms and other critters at bay.

I will also never add the six line first,or early in stocking, I feel that if they are added first, they get mean to each other addition after. Sometimes it goes away, other times it comes down to pulling one fish or the other.

 

[nereefpat]

To put some perspective into this thread, I have a 46 gal, 3' x 1.5' x 1.5' tank.
I have a vlamingi, a yellow, & two blue tangs.

Here are my Tangs

Good grief. Is there a way to dislike a post?

Do you realize how big that Naso gets?

 

[Scrubber_steve]

Good grief. Is there a way to dislike a post?

Do you realize how big that Naso gets?

Don't get self righteous & high moralising with me thanks, & your "dislike" reference just shows intolerance & arogance, & ignorance.

And its a Vlamingi, not a Naso
I got that Vlamingi 5 years ago. The petshop person didn't tell me they grow to 2 feet long >>in the wild<<.
And I'm glad he didn't because if he had I never would have bought it, & in hindsight, that would be sad.
He is a well fed, fat & healthy fish with a wonderful character and the joy of my tank.

He is nine inches long but hasn't grown at all in three years, and that fact has had no negative affect on him at all.
Two feet in the wild, not in a tank.

 

[GK3]

Don't get self righteous & high moralising with me thanks, & your "dislike" reference just shows intolerance & arogance, & ignorance.

And its a Vlamingi, not a Naso
I got that Vlamingi 5 years ago. The petshop person didn't tell me they grow to 2 feet long >>in the wild<<.
And I'm glad he didn't because if he had I never would have bought it, & in hindsight, that would be sad.
He is a well fed, fat & healthy fish with a wonderful character and the joy of my tank.

He is nine inches long but hasn't grown at all in three years, and that fact has had no negative affect on him at all.
Two feet in the wild, not in a tank.

<crowd goes silent and still> <rap battle has ended> <scrubber_Steve drops mic and walks away> <slowly turn camera towards the ocean, fade out scene, roll credits><end>

 

[User]

>> two feet in the wild, not in the tank.

The term you are looking for is ‘stunted’.

 

[Amoo]

I have a yellow and a Powder Blue in a 48x24x12 at the moment. I also don't tell my wife what I buy and she doesn't tell me what she buys. We must both be terrible people...

 

[nereefpat]

Don't get self righteous & high moralising with me thanks, & your "dislike" reference just shows intolerance & arogance, & ignorance.

And its a Vlamingi, not a Naso
I got that Vlamingi 5 years ago. The petshop person didn't tell me they grow to 2 feet long >>in the wild<<.
And I'm glad he didn't because if he had I never would have bought it, & in hindsight, that would be sad.
He is a well fed, fat & healthy fish with a wonderful character and the joy of my tank.

He is nine inches long but hasn't grown at all in three years, and that fact has had no negative affect on him at all.
Two feet in the wild, not in a tank.

It's intolerant, arrogant, and ignorant to suggest that a 2' fish doesn't belong in a 3' tank?

FYI, Naso vlamingii is a Naso....and I've seen them 2' long in public aquariums, where they can thrive.

...and then there's the blue tangs...

I know...The truth hurts.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

>> two feet in the wild, not in the tank.

The term you are looking for is ‘stunted’.

stunted happy & healthy

 

[Scrubber_steve]

It's intolerant, arrogant, and ignorant to suggest that a 2' fish doesn't belong in a 3' tank?

I know...The truth hurts.

Who has a 2' fish in a 3' tank???

I'm sure you know the truth hurts dear

 

[Sarah24!]

Oh good grief everyone hug and swap frags.

 

[Syed123]

To put some perspective into this thread, I have a 46 gal, 3' x 1.5' x 1.5' tank.
I have a vlamingi, a yellow, & two blue tangs.

Here are my Tangs

I'm conflicted. I should be a bit dissapointed that you have a vlamingii in a 3 foot tank. But you've had it for 5 years and it's healthy means you're doing something right.