Well i dont plan on keeping either the shark orrr the angel till full growth because i know both grow muchh to large for my tank i would like to get both of them when they are small and then later once they are too large i will sell them or donate them some where and yes i plan on adding much more rock as much as i can with out messing up swimming room and im going to add a ton to my sump alsoI do not plan to keep coral so im willing to feed the amount i will need to in order to to keep peace in the tank
Parker,
It is your tank, and you will do with it as you will, but I would put it to you that your plan is unreasonable and not good practice. The shark is a no-no. It is entirey incompatible with your fish list and take note that hrairguitar plans to have a 300gal tank in the very near future.
I am not a 'Tang Police' type of guy - some peoples assertions are a bit OTT, but that is their opinion; they are entitled to that opinion, and just as that is "their" opinion, this is mine.
1. When considering your stocking list,
most fish, under
typical conditions, with
reasonable care will attain approximately 65% the size as listed on fishbase.org
2. As a rule of thumb, the tank length should be
x8 times the length of the
expected adult size of the fish, as determined in step 1. The tank footprint should be have a minimum length to width ratio of 4:1 i.e. 48"x12"; 72"x18"; 96"x24"; and so on.
3. As a rule of thumb, one should us a 1" per 5 gallon stocking ratio (this assumes normal dimensioned tanks, in the range of 18"-24" water depth). Personally, I would apply this the bigger fish that will either have a territorial requirement or be subject to anothers i.e. whilst a foxface will not be territorial in the way that a powderblue tang will be, it will none-the-less be considered a "threat" by a powder blue. Smaller fish should be evaluated on a csae by case basis, and their bioload should be considered also.
If you apply this logic, it will tell you that:
1. You tank can accomodate a 9" fish. This a very big fish. Go to your LFS and look for a 9" tang or angel - it is bigger than you may think.
2. Your tank can accomodate 25" of " bigger" fish.
So, for example, you may choose to house:
- Majestic (Navarchus) Angel. Fishbase size: 11.5". Assume captive size
7.5"
- Regal (hippo) tang. Fishbase size: 12". Assume captive size
8"
- Kole tang. Fishbase size: 6". Assume captive size
4"
- Heniochus acuminatus. Fishbase size: 10". Assume captive size
6.5"
That is a
total of 26" and none of these exceed 8".
This is all based on rule of thumb; in some ways it is quite conservative and in other ways less so. It assumes that adequate filtration and water changes are maintained i.e. good husbandry. It is subject to the individual characters of the fish. Good, effective aquascaping is needed; the value of this cannot be under-estimated. Good water flow is a must for any such tank as it "keeps them busy" somewhat, and fish should be added at no more than 20-30% their maximum size (30-40% their expected captive size).
This all assumes typical fish choices, with resepct to disposition - a sohal tang or passer angel for example probably need to be doubled up when accounting for the territorial capacity.
If you genuinely intend a tank to be a grow-out tank for its inhabitants and plan to re-house them all to considerably bigger quarters then you should plan based on the size that the fish will attain within 2 years. For this, I would suggest that any fish should attain its maximum captive size winthin 3-5 years, from an initial 30% size starting point. Example.
Navarchus: Slow grower - say 5 years. Starting at2-3" it will grow at 1.5" per year (7.5" / 5 years = 1.5"/year). After 2 years you could expect a 2-3" fish to be 5-6".
Regal (Hippo) Tang: Fast grower - say 3 years. Starting with at 2-3" it will grow at 2.5" per year (8" / 3 years = 2.6"/year). After 2 years you could expect it to be 7-8" i.e. full grown.
Now, take for example a queen angel. Fishbase size 18" / captive size 12". Slow grower - say 5 years. Starting at 3-4" it will grow at 2.5" per year so after 2 years you could expect a 3-4" fish to be 8-9".
On this basis, I would say that if you really really really want a queen angel, then getting a small specimen you could keep it for about 2 years. BUT, consdier also that a 6" plus queen angel is a very aggressive and powerful fish and while the queen might be happy it's tankmates may not be.
A note aside on keeping fish for a short while then selling them on. The idea of getting small fish and growing them up together is that they grow into a heirarchy. This is a dynamic relationship, and by removing any of the key players you upset the balance with unpredictable consequences. Once one fish is removed, a power stuggle ensues - it can lead to the downfall of the community. This has happened to me more than once over the last 10-15 years or so.
I hope this reply gives you something to think about; hopefully it gives you some terms of reference from which to form your own opinion based on logic and reason. It of course requires some discretion - and it assumes that you share the same good intentions towards your live stock that I do; i.e. you aspire to a happy and healthy environment for your fish that allows them to grow and coexist in a peaceful and healthy way, disaplaying good colours and somewhat natural behaviours. If on the otherhand your end-goal is an asian style sardines-in-can set up, then I'm afraid that I nor many of the more experienced and sucessful aquarists at RC cannot advise you.
Good luck.
