Should I add a Zebrasoma tang to this 'clown-nem only' tank?

[sugartooth]

Hello,
I'm still struggling if I should eventually add a tang to this tank or not.
I seeded this tank with various macro algaes in addition to hitchhiker algaes.

I can't decide because of these reasons:

- tank not big enough (150 gal. 3 ft. cube) and tang will not do well

- defeats the purpose of having an anemone-clown only tank!


You can imaigine, having to prune all the algae is a pain and takes a bit of time.

What would you do, experts?
Here are pictures of what this currently looks like, about a few months after seeding the algaes. Anemones were transferred to the tank yesterday.

Thanks for your input!

 

[davocean]

Man would a tang love all the fresh greens, but you would probably lose some macro that you placed in there.
I see no reason to not have a small tang, several to choose from for that size tank.
A lawnmower blenny may handle it.
I'd have no prob putting a tominni, kole, tennenti, or convict in there.

 

[NaClCrocodile]

I'd say you could get away with ant tang that you'd put in a 4ft tank. The 150 cube is a great size. I'd keep it species specific, but add some sexy/anemone shrimp and some more inverts.

 

[shua71]

Use a small one temporarily until the algae problem is gone?

 

[Toddrtrex]

If you don't want to go the tang route, I think a couple of turbo snails and/or a tuxedo urchin would clear that up shortly.

But, I do think a yellow tang would be fine in there, or one of the bristletooth tangs -- which I think might do better. My "blue eye" ( Ctenochaetus binotatus ) bristle has done a great job.

BTW -- the tank looks really cool.

EDIT -- and if you want to go with the route of a temp tang, you can borrow mine.

 

[Winwood]

Manno I love that tank! Sooooooo coool looks very realistic except for the rediculously colored giganteas! I don't believe even nature gets that lucky! All that being said, it's hard to beat a good old fashioned sailfin tang. Espescially when they are kept pretty much by themselves. Either veliferum or desjardini would exhibit awesome colors in that display.

 

[sugartooth]

davocean, shua, NaClcroc, Tobby, and winwood: Thanks for the advice! I am shying away from any other kind of fish except for tang at this time because of the risk involved with all the carpets in there.
I don't want anything temporary unless the tang is incompatible. I only want a tang in the there to keep the macro from taking over the tank, I don't want to completely wipe it out. Most likely I would wait another month before putting one in to start munching.

NaClcroc: I definitely want to put one more gigantea in there if I ever come across a nice purple one. Some anemone shrimp sound cool too. I still need to add a little bit more rock in the back for shelter if I get a tang.

I just don't know why I'm struggling with this so much! I suppose if it was a bigger tank I wouldn't. It's only 3 ft. cube, so I feel bad putting anything too big in there......and Todd's suggestion of the yellow is at the top of the list. I think they are the smallest of the Zebrasoma's? The bristletooth would be second on the list.

Thanks Todd! I've been wondering how you were doing........

 

[a-T-m]

That's a sweet tank man. You should go for a biotope and add a tang native to the region of the percs and gigas

 

[davocean]

This is one of 2 tennenti's(lieutenant) I've had long term.
I think these guys are way under rated as tangs go.
They are great grazers, and very peaceful as tangs go, yet tough enough to deal w/ territorial clowns, and sharp enough to stay from nems.
This or any bristletooth would be just fine, I just think these guys are prettier, and they grow slow/stay fairly small.
This pic is a juvy.

 

[Toddrtrex]

...

Thanks Todd! I've been wondering how you were doing........

Hanging in there, thanks. Manage to take a mile+ walk today, so that is a good thing.

The tanks seem to be doing fairly well.

And you are more then welcome to borrow my tang and/or urchin to see if they work for ya.

 

[sugartooth]

Thanks a-T-m!
davocean: Thanks for the photo. I think I've only seen one of those in our area in the last couple of years. I will look it up and find out more about them.

Tobby: I'm impressed you are walking so much, and in good spirits too it seems! Thanks for your nice offer. Hopefully I can make a decision, this has been on my mind for a good 9 months now!

 

[Winwood]

Just a thought, a heptatus tang might nibble on the macros but I wouldn't think it would erradicate it.

 

[808Rob]

what kind of macro do u have in there?? It looks as if the reef is floating on clouds.. cool!!

 

[TheHotOne]

You can always contact the "Rent a Tang".

 

[sugartooth]

Winwood: I love the look of a hepatus, but I think they are too big for my tank. Also, I keep hearing how 'koo-koo' they are.

808Rob: I have no idea what kind those macro are that look 'fluffy'. It looks like minature red gracilaria and it super easy to pull. It just takes so much time and I'm getting lazy.

Hot one: Hahaha, well I think I wouldn't want to give one up once it's in my tank....so it would be more like rent to own.

 

[a-T-m]

Did you buy all that macro local or online? I'm trying to forest up my little mantis tank.

And i'm going to say it again, the more i look at your tank, i LOVE it!!!

Natural looking tanks filled with macro and coral, more sparse rocks, look just as amazing, if not more to me, than the sps filled crazy scaped tanks a lot of us have.

 

[Bluespot22]

Honestly, I would add one. Your tank looks so natural and great the way it is. I agree, your tank is so different from many other tanks, but it's simplicity makes it so unique and one of the coolest I have seen in a long time.

 

[Winwood]

Heptatus are definetely a breed apart form other surgeonfish. I think it is because they are more planktivorious than other species. They are not hardwired for extreme territory defense as are some of your Zebrasoma or Acanthurus species. If you've never kept one I highly suggest it, atleast once. Try a small one and quarantine it for sure because they are very prone to ich. I don't believe they will ravage what you have going on at all and will give some extra movement and personality to your set up (not that it really needs anymore).

 

[sugartooth]

a-T-m and bluespot: Thank you so much for your compliments! I hope it will mature nicely as the grasses grow in. I'm going to add some sponges too.

a-T-m, I buy some of my macro from local stores and I also bought from Gulf Coast Ecosystems and oceanrider. However, there is a site called Ocean Pro Aquatics that seem to have a nice variety. I have some Botryocladia that I LOVE LOVE LOVE and want to put in the tank too, but a tang will chow on that super quick. Right now, it's in my Haddoni tank. I am most likely going to have it in the Haddoni tank only.

Thanks Winwood for your suggestion. I would like to consider one, but I want the cube to be a permanent home for whatever I decide to go with, so I would like to stay with the smaller guys.

 

[Winwood]

No prob, good luck! Again loooooove that tank of yours. Quick question, how big are your percs now?