Enough room for a tang?
- Thread starter premilove
- Start date
I have the same tank setup as a nano reef. the short and the long answer...No you do not. For any tang. you might have alot of swimming room but they all need alot more to be healthy. your stuck to clown fish, gobys, dottybacks, and such my friend. And only about 4-5 fish at most in this tank.
Derbird
New member
I have a sailfin in a 6' tank and sometimes I think it could use a longer tank. With tangs its more important to have a longer tank. When he gets frisky he'll will zoom back and fourth, skreetch to a halt right before he hits the glass and do it the other way. Its pretty fun to watch. But even the smallest tangs really need a 48" tank and sails are not by any means small tangs.
You can still get some very colorful and active fish. A pygmy angle would most likely be happy in a 30 gallon, or many of the flasher and fairy wrasses would be happy, with a tight lid at least
Good luck with your fish hunt
You can still get some very colorful and active fish. A pygmy angle would most likely be happy in a 30 gallon, or many of the flasher and fairy wrasses would be happy, with a tight lid at least
Good luck with your fish hunt
fishman1069
New member
I agree with the above posts. A 30 is way to small for any Tangs
Dexters Reef
New member
I used to have a yellow tang and a powder blue tang in a 46g that was 36". I bought them as babies. Well within about a year they outgrew it, and I had to find them new homes. They became territorial, aggressive towards all my other peaceful fish, would harass and nearly kill any new addition, and most importantly they looked cramped and were not even full grown. The blue tang was about 7" and the yellow tang was about 6" by the time I found them new homes.
This was about 5-6 years ago when I was a newbie, and I have learned my lesson to research my fish purchases, and to listen to the advice of people on the forums with experience.
FYI I have a 75g now and still wouldn't put a tang in it. They are very fast swimmers that like to dart back and forth and go from one side of a 4' tank to the other in a split second. To put them in anything smaller will not be suitable for them long term.
This was about 5-6 years ago when I was a newbie, and I have learned my lesson to research my fish purchases, and to listen to the advice of people on the forums with experience.
FYI I have a 75g now and still wouldn't put a tang in it. They are very fast swimmers that like to dart back and forth and go from one side of a 4' tank to the other in a split second. To put them in anything smaller will not be suitable for them long term.
Alright ill stay away from tangs. I was thinking about wrasses however I'm against covering the tank. I have one pair of clowns hosting an anemone. Can I get away with another pair of clowns given they had their own anemone? What about a pair of helfrichi, pair of red, and a pair of purple firefish(the entire set)? Benggai cardinals?
Dexters Reef
New member
Firefish are also jumpers, and honestly I think a smaller wrasse could be a good choice. 2 or 3 benggai cardinals would probably be the best choice out of your list, they are peaceful and like to group together.
Also, you have a 30 g tank with a pair of clowns (which is fine). 2 clowns, 2-3 cardinals, and 1 wrasse (or a better choice would be a nice goby) would be a nice mix and would pretty much leave you maxed out for fish. I'm only recommending 5-6 fish because you have a sump with extra water volume, and I wouldn't recommend more than that amount in total.
If you like wrasses, I had a similar fish in my 14g biocube and it did very well for over a year...a twin spot hog fish. It is like a smaller, peaceful wrasse that is yellow with two spots. It was very active, and got along with my clown fish fine. I lost it unfortunately due to power outages from hurricane sandy =( I would definitely recommend one though
Best of luck!
Also, you have a 30 g tank with a pair of clowns (which is fine). 2 clowns, 2-3 cardinals, and 1 wrasse (or a better choice would be a nice goby) would be a nice mix and would pretty much leave you maxed out for fish. I'm only recommending 5-6 fish because you have a sump with extra water volume, and I wouldn't recommend more than that amount in total.
If you like wrasses, I had a similar fish in my 14g biocube and it did very well for over a year...a twin spot hog fish. It is like a smaller, peaceful wrasse that is yellow with two spots. It was very active, and got along with my clown fish fine. I lost it unfortunately due to power outages from hurricane sandy =( I would definitely recommend one though
Best of luck!
Dexters Reef
New member
Why dont you make a screen mesh cover for the tank? It allows gas exchange, doesnt get salt creep, keeps temps down, prevents jumpers from leaving, and looks nice! I ordered a kit from BRS for 45$
I looked up the size for your tank and its $35
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-1-4-netting.html
The kit comes with everything you need, mine took about 30 min to build for my 75g tank. They have videos on that page, but they kind of rush through building it and the mesh comes out a little wavy. I spent some time on mine to make sure all my mesh lines were straight and it came out much nicer.
I looked up the size for your tank and its $35
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-1-4-netting.html
The kit comes with everything you need, mine took about 30 min to build for my 75g tank. They have videos on that page, but they kind of rush through building it and the mesh comes out a little wavy. I spent some time on mine to make sure all my mesh lines were straight and it came out much nicer.
Dexters Reef
New member
The mesh lids do not affect the light at all, and look very nice. I used glass lids for years and the salt creep and scum would noticablely block my light. Not the case with these guys, they work great and are very nice. They sit inside the lip that holds the glass lids normally.
I have some wires that exit the rear, so I just let the back corner sit on top of them (so my back right corner isnt perfectly flush. Its not an eyesore. I read other people made them .5 - 1" shorter so wires can pass through, but to me this just leaves a small gap that a fish can still escape through. Up to you though
As for the wrasses, different types can get along, but I really am not a wrasse expert, and would defer to another for suggestions as to what would be appropriate for your tank.
My video is a few months old, but shows my lid (few seconds in the beginning and end) and tank with the lights on. bump up the quality for better detail with the lids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhjvhrQUtjc
I have some wires that exit the rear, so I just let the back corner sit on top of them (so my back right corner isnt perfectly flush. Its not an eyesore. I read other people made them .5 - 1" shorter so wires can pass through, but to me this just leaves a small gap that a fish can still escape through. Up to you though
As for the wrasses, different types can get along, but I really am not a wrasse expert, and would defer to another for suggestions as to what would be appropriate for your tank.
My video is a few months old, but shows my lid (few seconds in the beginning and end) and tank with the lights on. bump up the quality for better detail with the lids
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhjvhrQUtjc
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Tangs and wrasses are a no. Tangs need big tanks and wrasses need lots of swimming room. I wouldnt put a wrasse in anything less than 3 foot in length.
The only exception would be pygmy or possum wrasses. Thats it.
Other than that, stocking should be limited to gobies, blennies, firefish, darfish, small species of clowns, cardinals.
The only exception would be pygmy or possum wrasses. Thats it.
Other than that, stocking should be limited to gobies, blennies, firefish, darfish, small species of clowns, cardinals.
Holsteiner
New member
Tangs are a huge NO, in a tank that size...and be careful what wrasses you pick, stay with the smaller (1-2" or so), the bigger wrasses require way more swimming room then you can provide right now.
:deadhorse:
There is a post somewhere out in the net that actually lists some good "nano" fish to keep. By nano we are talking about 30 or so gallons and not much bigger. You could search nano reef fish or do some searching by Bob Fenner or a few of the other fish / reef vets.
More or less they will say what others already have.
No to tangs, sharks, rays, eels, elephants, lions, etc. Yes to small clowns, gobies, blennies, damsels, sea horse, etc. It depends on the water flow and other live stock of course. Clowns and firefish are nice. Starry blenny, bi-color blenny are also nice. Royal Grama, small cardinals, etc.
Go slow, ask questions. Research answers. You will be fine in the end and not get any feelings hurt by what people say or answer. Remember, there are no stupid questions. It is what you choose to do with the answers that count.
EllieSuz
Premium Member
Two pairs of clowns will fight to the death in that small a tank. Once they pair up, they do not allow another clown in their "territory". Only the very largest tank (300 gallons and up) can house more than one pair. As to the number of fish you can keep in a 30 gallon tank, I have six fish in my 60 and I think that's pushing the limit. Overstocking is a huge beginner mistake and can lead to all sorts of problems as the tank matures.
