I've been getting mixed reviews and opinions about Yellow Tangs being housed in a 55g tank. I'm only going to put about 10lbs of live rock so the fish I purchase having plenty of swimming room and put a 5-6in sand base to help me with my nitrate levels. It is possible to house a Yellow Tang in a 55g and if so can I have other fish as well besides anything that has the same shape and color as the YT?
Yellow Tang Debate.
- Thread starter Nano0424
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jedidad
Well-Known Member
Could you get away with it, yes. Is it the best ideal for the fish, probably not. I would be more concerned with the lack of rock for grazing than the lack of swimming room. I wouldn't beat you up about it but be aware the fish will outgrow the tank so you'll have to find some place for it to go eventually.
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icedearth15324
Active Member
When they say they are active swimmers, they mean they need open space, aka more than 2 feet in a straight line. You don't want to put one in a reef tank that is so overloaded with rocks/corals that they can't swim. But that doesn't mean you don't need rock. I'd still put in 30-40 pounds or more, and just stack it properly into scapes. Then just make sure to leave open spaces for the tang to swim. But yes, eventually the tank will be too small for a tang.
They are an active swim and rock grazer. Needing a 5' long tank, minimum. Now they do take time to grow, just like anything else, but moving a fish everytime he outgrows his home, is stressful, and not a good idea. You would need 75-100lbs of Rock in there for such a fish to be healthy, and such a small amount, you'd be mr clean with that mechanical filter your going to need to keep the tank somewhat livable.
Bao
Community Member
It will be okay and will live just fine if you give it enough flow and foods including SeaWeed and change water for it. Now the more important question is whether or not it will look good?
The answer is no, it will look cramp and not good at all. I have a Yellow Tang in my 75 gallons tank and it looks cramped. I went over to other reefer's home and watch the yellow tang in their 180 gallons tank, it swims back and forth more freely and more relaxing. I went and buy frags from another reefer and this guy have a 450 gallons. WOW, his tang are just swimming back and forth in his 8 feet tank so fast.
So the conclusion that I came up with was that fish just behave differently when they are in a large tank than they are in a small tank. They are more active, swim more freely and seem a lot more relaxing.
If you really love it and must have it, then go ahead but provide good flow, plenty of foods and clean water for it.
The answer is no, it will look cramp and not good at all. I have a Yellow Tang in my 75 gallons tank and it looks cramped. I went over to other reefer's home and watch the yellow tang in their 180 gallons tank, it swims back and forth more freely and more relaxing. I went and buy frags from another reefer and this guy have a 450 gallons. WOW, his tang are just swimming back and forth in his 8 feet tank so fast.
So the conclusion that I came up with was that fish just behave differently when they are in a large tank than they are in a small tank. They are more active, swim more freely and seem a lot more relaxing.
If you really love it and must have it, then go ahead but provide good flow, plenty of foods and clean water for it.
180galreef
Active Member
+1 I would find the smallest one you could. I had 2 in my 180gal for example.
jedimasterben
Bubble coral sting good
