55 gal upgrade

S

steveviv

New member
Have a 55 gal for about a year. Reef with YT, SFT, 6 line, couple clowns, MGoby and bi color goby... All small/growing and doing very well. Looking for input.. want to upgrade to a 90-100 gal, more room for tangs.. Is it best to get a longer tank say 72" vs. a 60" ?
 
Mine Tangs are both real small. By the time they grow that much I'll get a bigger tank. I'm thinking Kole or Bristletooth. Wish the Clowns and Naso didn't get huge. They are really great looking.
 
Your tangs will get big fast. They need a lot of swimming length, and a 100 g just isn't enough. Did the store you purchased the tangs from ask want size tank you have before they sold them?
 
Not an expert by any means but 6ft seems pretty descent for two tangs. I know several people that have tangs that are mature and are in <90 gal. I'll just have to upgrade in a year..
 
A 125 would be enough for bristletooth tangs (genus Ctenochaetus) such as kole tang and tomini tang in my opinion. They tend to stick to the rocks and pick all day and don't actively swim as much. Some people feel that Zebrasoma tangs such as the yellow, purple, scopas, gem, etc. are fine in a 125 and it's pretty common to keep them in a tank that size.

I can't in good faith recommend Acanthurus tangs like the clown, powder blue or powder brown. They are powerful swimmers and really need a long (8 to 10 foot) tank to be comfortable. Plus most of them get very large, a foot at least, and should have more than 1.5x their length to turn around in. A 125 is only 18" wide. Naso tangs like the naso, unicorn/vlamingii, etc. get massive and don't belong in anything but the most massive tanks.

I know you mentioned clown tangs - let me advise against it. They can be rampaging murderers.

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Clearly you love tangs. So why not get a tank that is great for tangs? 180 is the minimum you should be considering. Why get a 90 or 125 now when you will have to get a larger one when those tangs grow to full size (specifically the sailfin)? And you even want to add MORE tangs? There is nothing wrong with loving tangs, but just get a tank that allows you to love them properly.
 
I couldn't agree more. I like Tangs myself and will probably end up doing something similar at one point. To be honest if I were you I would look at a 250 or 300.
 
Last edited:
Built my stand today have to figure out how to make a door or two??? Cleaned up the tank. Man was it dirty! Some scratches but not bad. He also included a Berlin Haven't seen a lot of great feedback on them, any input would be appreciated. Hey for $80.00 not bad. Hopefully will be able to upgrade to 200+. Meanwhile instead of another tang maybe throw 4-5 Chromis in there..
This is what I have Bi-color blenny, 2x clowns, YT, SFT, 2x shrimp, Mand Goby and a 6 line. Need some more swimmers that stay out, ideas??? Door ideas would be great!
 
Instead of doors I made it so the whole front of my stand comes off. I used a metal rod used for hanging big pictures on the wall. It's designed to make the picture huge the wall. Says it's rated to hold 200LBs.
 
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