Tangs and aquarium shapes

[ganjero]

Most people tell you what are the minimum aquarium sizes for certain tangs, but does the shape of the tank matters? i.e. Whats would be better for tangs to have a 150g that measures 56x26x24 or a 150g 36x36x27? or it doesn't really make a big difference?

ps Lets try to stick to realistic aquarium dimensions, I know it would probably not be good for a tang to be house in a tank that is 20x20x72

 

[Beblebe]

From what I've read and heard (from local store and reef central) tangs like to swim far very quickly. A 6 foot tank is minimum I've heard.

 

[nikon187]

longer is always better when refering to tangs.

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

Agree longer the better, my tangs swim end to end back and forth zig zagging through the rock structure. if it was a high tank with a short footprint, I don"t think my tangs would be happy. They race end to end playing chase with each other or follow the leader.

 

[Jacob D]

A shop near me has a cylindrical tank maybe 5 foot diameter. They have some big tangs in there that just go round and round. It's fun to watch for a few minutes then it just gets annoying.

 

[hybridazn]

agreed, longer is better for these guys

 

[snorvich]

longer is always better when refering to tangs.

Absolutely. The bigger the tang, the longer the tank required.

 

[Sardaukar]

From what I have seen, even if a tank is really long (8-10 feet or more), unless the tank is quite wide as well (more than the 2-3 feet common in big tanks), some tangs seem to get stuck in pattern swimming. Clown/Sohals seem like the most common tangs to fall into this pattern of swimming the same loop down the same channels in the tank non stop. I personally think some tangs need tanks that are both wide (4 feet+) and long to provide them with enoug channels to prevent this. It would actually be really interesting to do some experiments or surveys regarding tank wide/length, presence and configuration of rockwork and the swimming habits of different tangs in those tanks.

 

[jjk_reef00]

IMO, I think that you would still see pattern swimming in a 10' x 4' tank. Tangs are very powerful fish and adding live rock etc defines their swim space so the patterns are dictated by how the live rock is set up. Maybe a 10' x 4' with no rock would reduce the pattern swimming but I would still think you would see a pattern.
I would also like to see a study about this. Do they 'pattern swim' in nature?

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

Our tanks no matter how big is still not big enough for tangs regardless of size. In the wild the swim for many miles searching for food. Unfortunately no one has a sea or ocean in their home. Regardless the 100 to 5000 gal they will still swim in a pattern.
But us reefer love these animals and aquire them in our tanks.
Just like one of the local LFS buys black tip sharks 3-4 feet long for their showcase 1000 gal tank, they either die in the tank or jump out during the middle of the night when one is there.
I always talk to other customers in disgust, how would you like to live in the closet all you life. Comparing to the sharks miserable existence in that tank.

 

[ganjero]

Our tanks no matter how big is still not big enough for tangs regardless of size. In the wild the swim for many miles searching for food. Unfortunately no one has a sea or ocean in their home. Regardless the 100 to 5000 gal they will still swim in a pattern.
But us reefer love these animals and aquire them in our tanks.
Just like one of the local LFS buys black tip sharks 3-4 feet long for their showcase 1000 gal tank, they either die in the tank or jump out during the middle of the night when one is there.
I always talk to other customers in disgust, how would you like to live in the closet all you life. Comparing to the sharks miserable existence in that tank.

So if we really care about whats best for tangs, its better to stay away from them and stop promoting their collection.
From more research I think thats what I am going to do. I wish there was more selection of tank-breed saltwater fish.

 

[colgan10]

man when it comes down to it they are just fish, if they are in a sustainable environment with no ill side effects and appear to be healthy then i don't think it really matters. You could have this conversation for any wild animal in captivity. I'm sure gorillas would much prefer to live in the jungle than a zoo exhibit in kentucky, and these animals have a much higher intelligence than a fish. I'm sure many fish not only tangs would prefer to be in the ocean even if they have the ability to even know if they are in captivity. Now before people start harassing me, i'm not saying to put a tang in a 10g tank, i'm talking about something that can efficiently provide the tang with a healthy life.

 

[ganjero]

man when it comes down to it they are just fish, if they are in a sustainable environment with no ill side effects and appear to be healthy then i don't think it really matters. You could have this conversation for any wild animal in captivity. I'm sure gorillas would much prefer to live in the jungle than a zoo exhibit in kentucky, and these animals have a much higher intelligence than a fish. I'm sure many fish not only tangs would prefer to be in the ocean even if they have the ability to even know if they are in captivity. Now before people start harassing me, i'm not saying to put a tang in a 10g tank, i'm talking about something that can efficiently provide the tang with a healthy life.

I have to disagree with you. If we cannot think like that, fish are just fish or animals are just animals. That's why we (humans) are destroying this planet.

 

[colgan10]

My point is that this thread is about the size requirements for a tang, right? The point is that of course the ocean is it's optimal environment, but if you get one the shape of the tank is irrelevant because you can't truly recreate the ocean, but what you can do it try to give the animal/fish that you have in captivity what it needs to survive ex. space, flow, lighting, ext. If you have that stance on humans why are you even in this hobby, majority of reef fish are not breed in captivity.

 

[ganjero]

My point is that this thread is about the size requirements for a tang, right? The point is that of course the ocean is it's optimal environment, but if you get one the shape of the tank is irrelevant because you can't truly recreate the ocean, but what you can do it try to give the animal/fish that you have in captivity what it needs to survive ex. space, flow, lighting, ext. If you have that stance on humans why are you even in this hobby, majority of reef fish are not breed in captivity.

I try to be a responsible reef keeper, thats why I asked for more info. I dont believe in trying things and if the fish dies Ill buy something else.
I'm in this hobby because I like it and I try to get or use things that cause minimal impact in the real reefs. My corals are aquacultured (frags obtained from other reefer who have grown aquacultured corals). My fish are tank bred and my LR is man made.
I wanted to try keeping tangs but I dont think they are right for me.