Tank Stocking (Unicorn Tang?)

[corey.nolta]

I know it's a loaded question (so many variables), but what's a good stopping point when it comes to adding fish? I'd like to add more, but not sure if I should / if I'm getting close to being maxed.

Set up:
250 deep w/ 50 gallon sump. 30 Gallon water change every Sunday-ish. Bare bottom with open rock work.
Current Stocking...
1-French Angel
1-Juvie Emperor
1-Purple Tang
1-Yellow Tang
1-Hippo Tang
1-Sailfin Tang
2-Clowns
2-Neon Damsels (thinking about taking out)
1-Yellow Tail Damsel (also thinking about taking out)

My LFS has a 4-5" unicorn tank that I really like. I know they get huge, but will a 250deep be a good home for a while? Or would it outgrow the tank too fast?

Am I close to being maxed out for fish? What are some other suggestions?

 

[sfin52]

Scheels a sporting good store/department store has a 16000gal tank and 2 5,000gal sumps. The unicorn Tang is massive in that tank. I want to say it's close to 2ft. I would skip it since you are close to maxing out your tank.

 

[lagatbezan]

They tend to grow really fast and need lots of swimming room. Also keep in kind that as they grow the harder it gets to find someone who can adopt it that has an appropriate size tank to house them.

 

[Rakie]

That's a HARD no...

A vendor buddy of mine has an outdoor prop tank that is 20' long, 4' wide, and 2' tall. His unicorn tang will outgrow this 1300g tank in another year. Unicorn tangs are the largest tangs by a lot. Body can hit over 24" -- This fish needs about a 5,000g tank to be happy.

And yes.. I'm dead serious. This fish will absolutely seriously outgrow a 20' long 1,300g tank. Here are pics of his BABY 14" Unicorn tang

Right Side of the Tank

Center of the Tank

Left Side of the Tank

The best wet dog in the world -- You can hand feed him nori and he'll let you pet him because he's too big to feel threatened LOL (I don't advise petting your fish, I just couldn't help it once)

For those wondering, I pet him and giggled like a child. He seemed as amused as I was. My buddy couldn't even help but laughing... I'm sure this isn't deterring you from wanting one.. But this tank is gigantic, he's had it for a few years only and got him around 3"... He grew 11-12" in two years. And he will need to be moved in a year, or two at most.

I can't stress enough.. A 250g tank sounds big. It's not. It's a teeny baby tank for a fish like this. It's like putting a yellow tang in a 5 gallon pico. Even this massive 1,300g 20'x4'x2' tank is completely inadequate for more than a few years, and this friend absolutely knows and has plans for him to be moved to a significantly larger system.

It's an awesome fish, unique, cool, friendly, intelligent. This guys eyes are the size of a nickel. And when you look in their eyes you can tell there's a lot going on behind them, and they're thinking and processing things (like if you're gonna throw Nori at him).

And I'm sad to say they just aren't suited to home aquariums. Even a massive tank like this won't do the job. Please keep all that in mind. I know, I wish I could have a shoal of them. Just isn't in the cards my friend