? Ideal temperature for Acanthurus leucosternon & Acanthurus lineatus

[coralreefjunkie]

I hope you can help me. I have been studying up :reading: on power blue tang and clown tang. I read that powder blue tangs prefer warmer water, 80F-84F (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Surgeonfish/Powder-Blue-Tang.php). This recommended temperature range is a much higher than a typical reef tank and is not ideal for clown tangs, which prefer a colder environment, 72F-78F (http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Surgeonfish/Clown-Tang.php).

To compound the predicament:headwally:, I also have an infatuation with Xeniidae, which melts at temperature above 80F. Finally, after a year of experiments (lower temperature & iodine supplementation), my last couple of red sea pulsing xenia frags are able to survive (not growing; just not melting). :uzi:I am a xenia assassin! I swear I kill xenia as fast as Mark's (AZKASS) tank can produce.:facepalm:

Does anyone on here have success with keeping powder blue tang with clown tang? Better yet, does anyone here have powder blue tang, clown tang, and xenia in the same tank? Do you think I might be able to get by with keeping it at 79F.:idea:

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[zrogst]

I don't have any personal experience keeping the 3 long-term, but I don't see why you couldn't run at 79/80 and be fine. The minute change in the clown tang's metabolism shouldn't be noticeable.

 

[xanthurum]

I kept them together years ago with no problems but clowns get really big. Ocean Floor has both in the same tank right now and they are eating like pigs. The PBT is maybe 3 inches and the Clown maybe 4.