Used tank with Tangs

Andrew_3896 · Jul 20, 2020

Hi,

I am looking to but a used all in system that is currently up and running with livestock, including 2 tangs.

I would really like to take all the rock and sand out and cook and kill anything in it and do a new cycle.
I have a Biocube 29 siting around. Could the two tangs survive in there for the time the cycle takes?

DSEKULA · Jul 20, 2020

I'd say it depends on the type and size of the tangs a longer tank is better but if their babies you may be able to get away with it for a few weeks etc.

Andrew_3896 · Jul 20, 2020

They are not babies. I would say at least a year old.

Fishyfish22 · Jul 20, 2020

How long are they nose tip to tail?

benscorals · Jul 20, 2020

It depends on their size- if they are both bigger than 2 inches I wouldn’t do it. You might be able to ask you lfs if they could keep them for you until it cycles.

DSEKULA · Jul 20, 2020

If it's temporary and their too large you could always use a rubbermaid tote or something similar with a rock or two from the current dt to seed a sponge filter. doesn't have to be a tank in the normal sense.

Reesj · Jul 20, 2020

People keep fish in QT for months on end and in aclamation boxes for weeks. If they don't kill each other off(Highly unlikely if you feed them well) you should be ok. This is considering they have atleast 2-3x their body distance in tank length and can turn around inside your tank.

DSEKULA · Jul 20, 2020

Agreed, just hard to make a suggestion without knowing the size.... A one year old tang size is very dependent on species.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 20, 2020

If temporary it should be ok, BUT ,,,, you can take contents from new tank (water, pump, heater, etc) and place them in a large rubbermaid tub as temporary housing while you reset the new tank

jeffrey750750 · Jul 20, 2020

I personally would do the rubbermaid tote idea

Reesj · Jul 20, 2020

I just checked the dimensions for the bio 29 cube. Considering you tangs are not larger than 8 inches (Highly unlikely) you should be fine. Feed them well..

Andrew_3896 · Jul 20, 2020

Yeah, I could do either the Biocube or the tote. I am trying to get the size of the tangs but it don’t think they are much bigger then 5 inch, just estimating from the pictures.

Andrew_3896 · Jul 20, 2020

Ok so just found out. They are both about 4”.

Andrew_3896 · Jul 20, 2020

Thanks for all the help.

Andrew_3896 · Jul 21, 2020

Assuming the bio load could handle it, could I temporarily keep the tangs in my existing Biocube 29. It has 4 other fish currently?

Reesj · Jul 21, 2020

Seems fine as they just 4 inches. Assuming they are healthy and won't kill off your other fish..

jda · Jul 21, 2020

I would not kill off the rock or tank. You will just create a sterile breeding ground for fish diseases.

Replace the sand if you want, but a quick vacuum or wash will do fine. Just a surface clean of the rock is probably good.

Killing all of that bacteria, fauna and diversity would be a waste, IMO.

Andrew_3896 · Jul 21, 2020

jda said:
I would not kill off the rock or tank. You will just create a sterile breeding ground for fish diseases.

Replace the sand if you want, but a quick vacuum or wash will do fine. Just a surface clean of the rock is probably good.

Killing all of that bacteria, fauna and diversity would be a waste, IMO.

I am just afraid there will be some bad stuff in the tank I am buying, like bristle worms and such.

jda · Jul 21, 2020

When did bristle worms become bad? They are wonderful detrivores and good for a healthy tank. I would caution you that you could do more harm and invite things that you will hate more than a typical clean up crew or algae. Dinos, cyano, algae issues, ich, etc. Choose wisely for your situation.