Tang Consult Needed

[jeremyjoslin]

I'm currently designing a large mixed reef tank, and have been going back and forth on tank dimensions and sizes as I get my new home finished and realize what footprints will and will not work.

I've gone from a 500g (96"x48") plan to a 300DD (72"x36") to wondering about a 48"x48" cube design at 32" high or so (about 300g).

My main desire is to sustain a small army of tangs and other reef fishes (including a pair of anemonefish and a pair of "reef safe" triggerfish.)

I know a 300DD would be more than large enough for what I want, but I'm having second thoughts about "just" a 48" tank. The fact that the tank will still be 300g or so should make up for that, as well as the larger area to swim than a more standard 48" rectangular tank.

Anyone have concerns about a 48" x 48" 300g tank being too small?

(FYI don't worry about biomass since total water column will be around 500g total with sump and other tanks in system).

 

[nonstopfishies]

I wouldn't put "a small army" of tangs in a 48" tank, even one as large as that. Otherwise you may see red and blue lights in your rearview.

 

[geaux xman]

i'd rather not have an 8-12" tang in a 48" cube tank no matter the volume. a big blue tang or naso will swim the 48" length in a quick blink.

72x36x27" is the way to go IMO. or even better 96x36x27

 

[jeremyjoslin]

maybe I should define small army as somewhere around 5-6 full size tangs...

2 yellow
1 purple
1 blue naso
1 sailfin
1 wildcard

 

[nikon187]

I wouldnt put a naso in a 48" tank period, they really need a tank that has an 8 foot length. Gallons have nothing to do with it, space and territory is much more important. Purple and yellows will be fine, I would go with them and possibly a convict tang or other bristletooth tang.

 

[snorvich]

An 8 foot or longer tank would be best. Gallonage is less important than tank length.

 

[Daniel Reef]

Book 'em Dano!!

 

[jeremyjoslin]

Thanks for all the input. I'm not married to the Naso, so if that's the only one that wouldn't fit, then should I feel better?

 

[Toddrtrex]

In addition, I would skip the sailfin wouldn't want a large plate sized fish in that sized tank.

 

[CHSUB]

2 yellows will likely fight; i would do 3 or 4; or better yet 5 and skip the purple and sailfin; IME 2 never works..

 

[jeremyjoslin]

2 yellows will likely fight; i would do 3 or 4; or better yet 5 and skip the purple and sailfin; IME 2 never works..

Hmmm. Interesting observation. I'm also not married to the sailfin but think it's a nice species to look at. I like the idea of 3 or 4 yellows, but the variation of different species is attractive to me. Thus the purple. Why did you say to skip the purple?

Any other recommended species?

I'm starting to wonder if I should re-consider a modded 300dd by Marineland like I was thinking last month...

 

[CHSUB]

i'm building a 280 planning on 3 yellows, 1 hippo, 1 chevron, and last a clown or pbt....i wanted a purple too but that would be to many in both cases; yours and mine

 

[jeremyjoslin]

i'm building a 280 planning on 3 yellows, 1 hippo, 1 chevron, and last a clown or pbt....i wanted a purple too but that would be to many in both cases; yours and mine

How so? Like I said, don't judge me on biomass for the system... I'm merely interested in making sure the swimming room is appropriate. While you can certainly pack too many fish into a tank, the more important question is on specific animal size vs tank size... as far as I can tell.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

i'm building a 280 planning on 3 yellows, 1 hippo, 1 chevron, and last a clown or pbt....i wanted a purple too but that would be to many in both cases; yours and mine

BTW, chevron tang... good call!

 

[CHSUB]

I was giving you my preference, you might be fine with a purple, in terms of biomass and compatibility...you could also do 1 purple and 1 yellow along with others, but not 2 yellows IME!

 

[nonstopfishies]

i'm building a 280 planning on 3 yellows, 1 hippo, 1 chevron, and last a clown or pbt....i wanted a purple too but that would be to many in both cases; yours and mine

He's mean too many for aggression issues more than "space" I believe and I agree with him. Personally I would only go with 1 yellow, 1 purple, 1 hippo, 1 chevy, 1 pbt. Clown gets real big and aggressive. I think even in keeping multiples of yellows it rarely works long term. They will definitely pick on each other.

 

[one clownfish]

72 x 36 is the way to go if your going to have that many tangs, you won't have any problems at all. I have 2 purples (one rescue) black spot, a sohal (rescue) sailfin, naso and a hippo for the last 3 years without any aggression problems in a 72 x 24 x 30. One purple has to go because he can't compete for food. They were all small when I added them, less than 3"s. As long as you add them at the same time and are willing to make some changes a few years down the line, I say go for it.

 

[jeremyjoslin]

He's mean too many for aggression issues more than "space" I believe and I agree with him. Personally I would only go with 1 yellow, 1 purple, 1 hippo, 1 chevy, 1 pbt. Clown gets real big and aggressive. I think even in keeping multiples of yellows it rarely works long term. They will definitely pick on each other.

Gotcha. I appreciate all the opinions.

 

[sandwi54]

Tank length is much more important than the total amount of water. Long tanks allow more room for tangs to do straight-through swimming as well as the ability to have more territories. Cube tanks, while good looking, are not really the best choice for fish that swim all day long, like tangs. I would stick with the Marineland 300DD. This way you can keep all of the tangs on your list except for naso and salfin, who both require 8-foot tanks.

 

[Stupidhatmatt]

I have 7 tangs in my 55 gallon so you should be able to fit at least 30.