Minimum tank size for a legit school of yellow tangs

[D5HP]

I got my 75g with plans of using it as a fuge in the 8' rimless FOWLR system I'm planning to setup after my move at the first of the year.

After reading a few plywood tank builds I think I can build a 12' (144"x36"x36") system and get it running for less than $10k. The 8' build was going to be about $6-8k but would have only been about 200g, where as this one will be closer to 800g.

Can you keep 7-9 yellow tangs in a tank this size all the way to maturity? I plan on stocking the tank with juvenile fish and allowing them to grow into the tank in an effort to minimize aggression..though it will be a very peaceful tank (hopefully).

Can you realistically have 10-15 tangs in a 12' tank or is that best left to a REAL aquarium.

 

[crvz]

I think it's credible. You won't want to have naso species in a tank that size (at least in numbers), but there are tang choices that would allow you to reasonably house 15 with success in a tank that's 12 feet long.

 

[mm949]

i dont care how big the tank is.....one yellow only....they dont care for each other unless they are in the ocean

 

[geaux xman]

you might've seen already, but i think theres a guy in the Large Reef Tank section that has 8 YT's. not sure how long hes had them together.

 

[D5HP]

I think it's credible. You won't want to have naso species in a tank that size (at least in numbers), but there are tang choices that would allow you to reasonably house 15 with success in a tank that's 12 feet long.

I was thinking a single naso pair.

i dont care how big the tank is.....one yellow only....they dont care for each other unless they are in the ocean

Thanks...do you think adding other zebrasoma tangs would help or exacerbate that situation?

Even if they were raised from <2" on?

you might've seen already, but i think theres a guy in the Large Reef Tank section that has 8 YT's. not sure how long hes had them together.

I haven't seen that I'll have to go searching that's about what I'm looking for.

I'd love to have a few hippos but they just get so huge I'm afraid it wouldn't work.

• 7 yellows
• hippo
• sohal or clown (this is real iffy...heard too many terrible stories)
• tomini
• purple
• black
• pair of naso
• vlamingi
• kole
• powder blue

That would be the ULTIMATE list and I'm sure some of those will not work together regardless of the situation. That isn't in order of desire but I do think the 7 yellow tangs together would be really something else.

Could I have more than one hippo in a tank that size? I don't see much on their aggression in numbers because they are so large.

 

[geaux xman]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1998873&highlight=zebrasoma

I think there are 2 guys in that thread with 8 YT's in a 1000g tank.

 

[geaux xman]

i guess you're just a big tang guy. it would be disheartening for a 600g+ FOWLR tank to not have an angel or two at minimum

 

[D5HP]

i guess you're just a big tang guy. it would be disheartening for a 600g+ FOWLR tank to not have an angel or two at minimum

Oh don't worry in a perfect world I'd have these two exact fish but I want to purchase them both as juveniles:

There's a handful of fish on the list that may get cut but I refuse to remove the blueface...that's my favorite BIG fish.

I think the most expensive part of the list will be the 4-6 borbonius anthias. I don't even know how I'll get a hold of those but that's my all time favorite fish.

I saw a few bandit angels around here that look really awesome but I haven't looked into it. I'd like a harem of lyretails and maybe one other species of anthias.

I want 10-15 cleaner shrimp and 10-15 fire shrimp. That's essentially the whole desired stock list right there.

Thank for you showing that link...much appreciated everyone.

Any other thoughts or opinions? Suggestions?

I am planning on having it setup with two separate sumps. I want to treat the tank as two 500g systems so if anything fails I have half the ability to handle the tank instead of none. The home with have a central natural gas generator for power outages. This is at least 6-8 months from commencing but I want to see what I'm planning for so I really appreciate the help.

 

[NyReefNoob]

friends marineland 300g dd and he has 2 yellows and 2 purples, with no issue's, when they first went in was a little chasing but putting a mirror on the end of the tank ended that, and size doesnt always make as much differance as having open space in the tank

 

[jjk_reef00]

I think your list looks good except for the sohal and clown. You could do 3 hippo tangs for sure. If it were me I would go 48" width.

 

[D5HP]

friends marineland 300g dd and he has 2 yellows and 2 purples, with no issue's, when they first went in was a little chasing but putting a mirror on the end of the tank ended that, and size doesnt always make as much differance as having open space in the tank

There will definitely be a lot of open space. I plan on having lots of spires, caves, and open space. There will essentially be a "pile of rocks" every few feet that I want to mold around small buckets so there are good hiding places for all the fish.

I think your list looks good except for the sohal and clown. You could do 3 hippo tangs for sure. If it were me I would go 48" width.

So you don't think the clown or sohal would be calmer in the larger tank or that their aggression would be split amongst enough fish? What about the blueface with the emperor?

The worry with going 48" is that the water volume would be way higher. Do you think the advantages of the higher water volume are greater than the advantage of changing a larger percentage with each 200g change (that's about the size of the SW mixing container I'm thinking of)

Going 48" makes this tank 1000g...which is monster! Strangely, in my estimates it doesn't grossly change the cost of construction. Really, it's just a few hundred dollars difference to go to 4' wide as long as I have room...and let's face it...I can sledgehammer and drywall more room

The viewing panel will be 10' and 1/2" starphire glass. I plan on having two inches on the top and bottom and roughly 4" on the sides where the silicone is applied. I want the visible space to be 26" high so that the tank seems MUCH longer than it is.

Thanks everyone.

 

[MrTuskfish]

YTs, and other tangs of the Zebrasoma genus, don't do well in pairs. But in groups of 3 or more, usually do quite well. Its very common to see a lfs (or any tank) with a group of YTs, but never just two. Don't expect them to "school" in a home tank, though.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Get the clown or sohal only if you don't want any other tangs in the tank. Blueface with the emp should work.

 

[snorvich]

I think it's credible. You won't want to have naso species in a tank that size (at least in numbers), but there are tang choices that would allow you to reasonably house 15 with success in a tank that's 12 feet long.

I would think it is possible. And agree with crvz.

 

[snorvich]

I think your list looks good except for the sohal and clown. You could do 3 hippo tangs for sure. If it were me I would go 48" width.

I definitely agree with no Sohal and no Clown tang. I also agree with the 48 inch width (if you can do it) as the perceived depth adds great value. I don't think I would do 3 hippo tangs.

 

[snorvich]

YTs, and other tangs of the Zebrasoma genus, don't do well in pairs. But in groups of 3 or more, usually do quite well. Its very common to see a lfs (or any tank) with a group of YTs, but never just two. Don't expect them to "school" in a home tank, though.

I agree. Actually yellows don't really school in the wild either.

 

[collie man]

I service a 600 gallon f.o. tank and they have 3 tangs who thrive but when new ones are introduced they kill off the new arrival. i believe not only the sheer water volume is a given, but also the territory an adult tang can cover.

 

[TreyK]

They certainly look like they school everytime I see them grazing in a group!

 

[Ethan Music]

My lfs has a 1000g display with 5 yellows, 5 purples, 2 hippos,1 vlamingi for tangs. All seem to do great every know and than it becomes a crip vs blood fight between the yellows and purples but not to the point were they get injured mostly just chasing each other.

tank is 11x4x3 I think

yellow and purples are all about 5-7in
hippos are 8-9in maybe
vlamingi is atleast 14in

 

[D5HP]

YTs, and other tangs of the Zebrasoma genus, don't do well in pairs. But in groups of 3 or more, usually do quite well. Its very common to see a lfs (or any tank) with a group of YTs, but never just two. Don't expect them to "school" in a home tank, though.

I know they won't necessarily 'school' but they'll still look amazing when they swim around the tank.

Get the clown or sohal only if you don't want any other tangs in the tank. Blueface with the emp should work.

Yeah...it's looking like I can't have either but that's okay I don't want the aggression anyways.

Glad to hear the angels will be fine.

I would think it is possible. And agree with crvz.

I definitely agree with no Sohal and no Clown tang. I also agree with the 48 inch width (if you can do it) as the perceived depth adds great value. I don't think I would do 3 hippo tangs.

I agree. Actually yellows don't really school in the wild either.

I'd love to go 4' deep if I can but it's a difficult concept to fathom since I have a 4' long 75g. I'd essentially be making it taller and integrating it 12' along for a MASSIVE tank. That's so hard to think of...and I really mean awesome.

They certainly look like they school everytime I see them grazing in a group!

My lfs has a 1000g display with 5 yellows, 5 purples, 2 hippos,1 vlamingi for tangs. All seem to do great every know and than it becomes a crip vs blood fight between the yellows and purples but not to the point were they get injured mostly just chasing each other.

tank is 11x4x3 I think

yellow and purples are all about 5-7in
hippos are 8-9in maybe
vlamingi is atleast 14in

Hmm that's roughly the size I'm thinking I think I could probably go like 40" and that would be a pretty reasonable compromise. I actually like the longer looking tanks and I'll have PLENTY of room to scape the thing.

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Any issues with the angels and cleaner or fire shrimp?