QT sailfin tang dead after 2 days..

[CuzzA]

Here's the problem with that... Tangs grow pretty fast. Most tangs are large fish and require large tanks. I had a blue hippo go from an inch to 6 inches in one year. Everyone says they'll just trade them in, but it usually doesn't happen until it's too late. Why? Because catching fish in a mature tank stocked with expensive corals sucks!!! It's not easy, you risk damaging your corals, scratching your tank and killing other inhabitants. It's easy to put fish in a tank, not so much when you're trying to get them out. So what happens? It's put off and put off and it never happens until the fish dies or starts wrecking the tank with aggression.

So you have to ask yourself, why bother. Why not accept the fact you have a tank that can only support certain species and leave the big ones for those with big tanks. Or upgrade your tank. There's also the moral issue here. We don't breed most marine species like we do cats, dogs and even freshwater fish. There is not an unlimited supply like pigs, cows and chickens. So being a responsible hobbyist we all should make smart choices.

That's my take anyway. It's really none of my business what you do, you'll be the one that has to live with the decision down the road. There are plenty of excellent options for your size tank. Beautiful fish that will do very well, a tang isn't one of them.

 

[Mmfarm]

Here's the problem with that... Tangs grow pretty fast. Most tangs are large fish and require large tanks. I had a blue hippo go from an inch to 6 inches in one year. Everyone says they'll just trade them in, but it usually doesn't happen until it's too late. Why? Because catching fish in a mature tank stocked with expensive corals sucks!!! It's not easy, you risk damaging your corals, scratching your tank and killing other inhabitants. It's easy to put fish in a tank, not so much when you're trying to get them out. So what happens? It's put off and put off and it never happens until the fish dies or starts wrecking the tank with aggression.

So you have to ask yourself, why bother. Why not accept the fact you have a tank that can only support certain species and leave the big ones for those with big tanks. Or upgrade your tank. There's also the moral issue here. We don't breed most marine species like we do cats, dogs and even freshwater fish. There is not an unlimited supply like pigs, cows and chickens. So being a responsible hobbyist we all should make smart choices.

That's my take anyway. It's really none of my business what you do, you'll be the one that has to live with the decision down the road. There are plenty of excellent options for your size tank. Beautiful fish that will do very well, a tang isn't one of them.

Fair enough!

 

[Sk8r]

SUggest also---your own refractometer, your own test kits, incl. alkalinity. Always double-check salinity when about to move a fish. Rather than drip acclimate, you should pre-set the qt salinity to match that of the fish, so that you don't need to acclimate except a 15 minute float of the still-sealed bag to equalize temperature.

Test salinity, temperature, and alkalinity at least once weekly. If your salinity is changing, an Autotopoff is a must.

 

[kmbyrnes]

What do you think about keeping the sailfin in a 55 until it gets "too big" then give it back to lfs at a small buy back? Or is even a small sailfin not good for a 55g?

The problem with your thinking is this: Everyone else has the same thought.

As beautiful as these fish are, they are not suited to such a small tank. As a newbie I had a 3" sailfin in a 110. That lasted about 2 months. I was lucky enough to find him a home in a nice 600 gallon tank.
The LFS doesn't have room for large fish any more than you do, And the number of large tank owners that will buy full grown fish is small. After all, part of the fun is watching them grow.

Please be responsible and only buy fish whose adult size is compatible with your CURRENT tank, not the one you plan to upgrade to next year. Life happens.

 

[bat21]

Ignoring that it was the wrong fish for your tank, the takeaway for you is to be much more vigilant about salinity. Ask your LFS what level they keep their system, and match that with your QT. But test the bag water after you get home to make sure. Sometimes it isn't what you expect. I don't drip acclimate. I just make sure the salinity is within .001, and after floating the bag, just put the fish in. Works as well or better than drip acclimating. Acclimation or not, a fish going from 1.020 to 1.026 in a half hour is rough on their system.