Tang in a 48

2. Tangs are medium to large, active fish that need plenty of space. On the question of tank sizes, we defer to Scott W. Michael, who recommends the following minimum sizes in Marine Fishes, 500+ Essential-To-Know Aquarium Species, Microcosm Ltd., 1999:


1. Acanthurus achilles, Achilles Surgeonfish, 100 gal (380l).
2. Acanthurus coeruleus, Atlantic Blue Tang, 75 gal (285l).
3. Acanthurus japonicus, Powder Brown Tang, 75 gal (285l).
4. Acanthurus leucosternon, Powder Blue Tang, 100 gal (380l).
5. Acanthurus lineatus, Lined or Clown Surgeonfish, 180 gal (680l).
6. Acanthurus nigricans, Whitecheek Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
7. Acanthurus olivaceus, Orangeshoulder Surgeonfish, 135 gal (510l).
8. Acanthurus pyroferus, Mimic Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
9. Acanthurus sohal, Sohal Surgeonfish, 180 gal (680l).
10. Acanthurus tristegus, Convict Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
11. Acanthurus tristis, Indian Mimic Surgeonfish, 75 gal (285l).
12. Ctenochaetus hawaiiensis, Chevron Tang, 100 gal (380l).
13. Ctenochaetus strigosus, Kole's Tang, 75 gal (285l).
14. Naso brevirostris, Spotted Unicornfish, 180 gal (685l).
15. Naso lituratus, Orangespine Unicornfish or Naso Tang, 135 gal (510l).
16. Naso unicornis, Bluespine Unicornfish, 200 gal (760l).
17. Paracanthurus hepatus, Pacific Blue Tang, 100 gal (380l).
18. Zebrasoma desjardinii, Indian Ocean or Red Sea Sailfin Tang, 135 gal (510l).
19. Zebrasoma flavescens, Yellow Tang, 75 gal (285l).
20. Zebrasoma scopas, Brown Tang, 75 gal (285l).
21. Zebrasoma veliferum, Sailfin Tang, 135 gal (510l).
22. Zebrasoma xanthurum, Purple Tang, 100 gal (380l).


You will note that none of these minimum sizes are less than 75 gallons. If you have a tang in a smaller tank, you should expect that some people will give you a hard time about it. Expressing outrage about that could result in suspension of your posting privileges. We are not, BTW, giving a free pass to the self-styled "Tang Police" to be abusive.
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Please see the sticky at the top of this forum; What Tang for my 30G?
 
The Ctenochaetus family which is the Kole type tang will work in a tank that size but it's a small fit as te tank is only 3' long. How long are you planning on keeping it in that tank.
 
He said a year or so, I think one of the smaller ones like a kole or yellow would be fine for a year, probably even more if you get them small.
 
BTW, before I get flamed, when I said "probably even more" I meant a different species than the ones I listed, not more than 1 tang. Just thought I'd clear that up, wouldn't want the "tang police" on my @$$. lmao
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7062456#post7062456 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DJOfir
But wouldn't a 48g be better than the 1g holding cells they have them in at the LFS?
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LFS are just holding fish until they sell them, or they die in some case. The 1gal holding cells aren't going to be their homes for any length of time, or shouldn't be.
 
I will be moving the tang into a bigger tank after a year or two. I know a 48G would be too small for a full grown tang. I was just thinking of getting a small power blue 1" or 2". How fast do they grow? (still just thinking) I have had a yellow before and he did not grow at all in the 4 months we had him (I gave him to a friend with a 90G).

Thanks for the help,
 
IMO, if you start with a small specimen, the powder blue would be fine for a year or so, but remember the shorter the better! So try not to put the upgrade off.
 
Why do you need it now? Why not wait till you have the proper tank.

I would not put a powder blue in a tank that small. Powder Blue's are one of the more sensitive tangs. They just need a lot of space to not stress out and to make sure the water quality stays stable.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7069458#post7069458 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ObscurityKnocks
Why do you need it now? Why not wait till you have the proper tank.

I would not put a powder blue in a tank that small. Powder Blue's are one of the more sensitive tangs. They just need a lot of space to not stress out and to make sure the water quality stays stable.
Click to expand...

I looking for a nice fish for my tank I have a puffer so I have to chose a bigger fish (like a Tang) or a small trigger. I am still thinking a small trigger might be the best.

Thanks,

Eric
 
If any tang, Id go with a Kole or bristle tooth tang. they are least aggressive. I had a yellow tang in my tank for about 10 months and in that time it almost doubled in size and became extremly aggressive. Sadly I had to trade him in. Ive had a small bluethroat trigger in my 55g aswell. Ive had her since July and now as she has grown to about 3.5 inches she is showing some aggression towards otehr fish. I plan on upgrading for my birthday in June to a 90 or 110 or I would find her a better home. if you are going to go with a trigger...get the smallest you can and do not overstock the tank. good luck...
 
A POWDER BLUE TANG WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR A 48G FISH TANK REGARDLESS POWDER BLUES ARE HARDY FISH TO KEEP NEED ALOT OF ROOM TO SWIM AROUND AND ARE VERY ACTIVE FISH A 48G WILL JUST STRESS IT OUT AND KILL IT MAYBE IN A MONTH OR TWO AND THEN IT WILL DIE
 
You also need to think about how much room the fish would really have to swim, I mean with your rock formations and such. I would have to agree with manriquez about the Powder Blue Tang. Why chance it? The yellow tang is a hardy fish and will survive and is agressive enough to live with the puffer. But you will have to find a really small one. Even then they are very active and grow extremely fast, I would say about six months before you will have to move him. It would live but just won't be a happy fish. :(
 
They're also easier to misidentify, my spouse bought a 1" 'mimic tang' who turned out to actually be an Orange Shoulder ... 9 months later he's a good 6.5" long.
 
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