Zebrasoma in a 36 X 36 X 24

[acroholicreefer]

Do you guys think a Zebrasoma Surgeonfish will do fine long term in a 36 X 36 X 24 aquarium?

The reason why I am asking is because I recently downsized to a 40b with the addition of twins this year. However, I know in a year or two I am going to look at another aquarium that will house my favorite fish, a purple tang. My eyes are set on a 36 X 36 X 24. Do you guys think this is large enough? Does anybody have any experience with this size tank? My goal to to keep the fish swimming in a circular motion, grazing off the live rock in the middle of the aquarium.

 

[MrTuskfish]

I sure wouldn't do it. The tank size argument with tangs generally applies to length, not water volume. Tangs are outer reef swimmers that really need a whole lot more length than just 3 feet. Most tangs are tough fish and can live under tough conditions, but they'll never thrive in a tank where they can't get proper exercise. IMO & IME; being cramped really increases their aggressiveness too.

I understand the "circular motion" idea; but hardly would expect tangs to follow the plan. Why not get a round tank and let them swim non-stop in a circle? You could even clip off a pectoral fin to determine which direction he'd have to swim.:lol2:

 

[HumbleFish]

I sure wouldn't do it. The tank size argument with tangs generally applies to length, not water volume. Tangs are outer reef swimmers that really need a whole lot more length than just 3 feet. Most tangs are tough fish and can live under tough conditions, but they'll never thrive in a tank where they can't get proper exercise. IMO & IME; being cramped really increases their aggressiveness too.

I understand the "circular motion" idea; but hardly would expect tangs to follow the plan. Why not get a round tank and let them swim non-stop in a circle? You could even clip off a pectoral fin to determine which direction he'd have to swim.:lol2:

+1 most Zebrasoma tangs become miserable even in a 4-foot tank after awhile. And when a tang becomes miserable; they ensure all the other :fish2: feel their pain. :thumbsup:

 

[acroholicreefer]

Thank you for the replies. Your advice is really appreciated. I should have mentioned that I have kept a yellow tang in a few different 6ft tanks and the same tang in a 4 x 4 shallow tank. Their swimming patterns were much different due

 

[wii64brawl]

Still, 3' is way too small. Some tangs can make it in a 4', but none in a 3' under ever.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thank you for the replies. Your advice is really appreciated. I should have mentioned that I have kept a yellow tang in a few different 6ft tanks and the same tang in a 4 x 4 shallow tank. Their swimming patterns were much different due

Keeping a YT alive is quite easy, they are very tough fish that can handle a lot of abuse. IMO, this is why so many LFS sell them to beginners. I've seen YTs that have spent considerable time in a smallish tank and they look totally different than a YT that has spent time in longer home. More erect fins, less aggression, and better color.

I think when most people respond to threads, they are thinking about what SHOULD be done, not what CAN be done. If the concept wasn't so offensive; I'd bet anyone $100 (to a favorite charity) that I could keep a YT alive for a year in a 20 gal tank.

 

[roni]

Do you guys think a Zebrasoma Surgeonfish will do fine long term in a 36 X 36 X 24 aquarium?

The reason why I am asking is because I recently downsized to a 40b with the addition of twins this year. However, I know in a year or two I am going to look at another aquarium that will house my favorite fish, a purple tang. My eyes are set on a 36 X 36 X 24. Do you guys think this is large enough? Does anybody have any experience with this size tank? My goal to to keep the fish swimming in a circular motion, grazing off the live rock in the middle of the aquarium.

I actually think you could be fine if you don't build your rock work up too high. 36" cube gives you a maximal straight distance of ~ 50 inches. If you build the standard rock wall, you'll have problems but with a cube with that footprint, it's definitely better then the 90 gallon with wall to wall rock that you see zebrasoma in.

 

[jaa1456]

Keeping a YT alive is quite easy, they are very tough fish that can handle a lot of abuse. IMO, this is why so many LFS sell them to beginners. I've seen YTs that have spent considerable time in a smallish tank and they look totally different than a YT that has spent time in longer home. More erect fins, less aggression, and better color.

I think when most people respond to threads, they are thinking about what SHOULD be done, not what CAN be done. If the concept wasn't so offensive; I'd bet anyone $100 (to a favorite charity) that I could keep a YT alive for a year in a 20 gal tank.

I kept a black tang in a 18 gallon for over 2 years, so I would agree you could keep a yellow in a 20 for a year. I never planned for the 2 year housing situation. I did put it in the tank on purpose when it was the size of a quarter so I could observe it and let it get acclimated to aquarium life. I was ready to move it to the DT and it cracked the day before the move. That set me back almost another 6 months because I did some remodeling while the tank was down. After I got the new DT running for 3 months a heater failure wiped out a few fish, so I pretty much started over again and out of fear I waited awhile longer. For the last year of it sitting in the small tank I really wanted to sell the BT. Now things are good "knock on wood" and back to normal.

 

[wii64brawl]

This hobby is about keeping things so they thrive, not survive. A tang MAY survive in a 3' tank, but will definitely not thrive. There are many better fish to keep in a tank that small. A tang is just not one of them.

 

[acroholicreefer]

Thank you for all of the replies and please keep them coming. The more the better. I should have noted that I have kept a yellow tang in a few different 6ft tanks. I also kept the same tang in a 4 x 4 shallow tank. The swimming patterns were very different in both. The tang loved the shallow tank much more. It constantly swam around the whole tank and was not aggressive at all with the other fish.

Oh yeah, just ignore my double post above. I did not realize that it posted. I am on my phone and juggling two babies.

 

[acroholicreefer]

I actually think you could be fine if you don't build your rock work up too high. 36" cube gives you a maximal straight distance of ~ 50 inches. If you build the standard rock wall, you'll have problems but with a cube with that footprint, it's definitely better then the 90 gallon with wall to wall rock that you see zebrasoma in.

That is my thinking as well. From my experience, I have found that surface area is more important than the width, to a degree but I wanted to ask others to get their opinion.

 

[MrTuskfish]

That is my thinking as well. From my experience, I have found that surface area is more important than the width, to a degree but I wanted to ask others to get their opinion.

Surface area is great for gas exchange; but it does nothing to help the exercise needs of tangs and other larger fish that swim large distances on the reef.

 

[jjk_reef00]

Surface area is great for gas exchange; but it does nothing to help the exercise needs of tangs and other larger fish that swim large distances on the reef.

+1, you will get sick of watching your fish swim in circles. Which is what happens when you put an oversized fish in a cube.

 

[senne76]

What about a lot of small fish like gobies , blennies , jawfish , flasher wrasses, ...
That could also create a vibrant vieuw because there will be something to see in each corner of the tank. And than one big fish in it like a small angelfish?

 

[jaa1456]

You can go with a flasher wrasse no problem, look into cherub/Argi angels and Flameback angels. They stay small and I have never heard of one picking on Corals. In your size tank you can do more than one wrasse as well. Look into some of the fairy wrasses as well.

 

[anbosu]

The purple might be ok, although I have long term doubts - but you will have difficulty keeping anything else with the purple in that size of tank.

 

[greg1786]

Honestly, i would bet you could could keep it relatively happy for quite a while in that tank until it gets to about 5"+. Though I dont like the idea of getting a fish only to have to rehome it because a suitable environment cannot be made long term. About six months ago I would have probable said you will have no issue at all. Reason being is because I was keeping a lavender tang that was around 3" in a 55 gallon aquarium and it seemed very happy and content. I never understood why people on here always said "you cannot keep a tang happy in a tank under six feet." I truly thought it was hogwash. However after upgrading to a 6' 125 gallon aquarium and observing that same lavender( now at about 4.5") and a yellow (about 5") for about 5 months or so, i absolutely understand what everyone meant. The yellow didnt come along until after I set up the 125, but the lavender is a TOTALLY different fish in the larger tank. TONS more personality, much more active, and the vibrancy in its colors have been magnified ten fold. I always thought it was a cool looking fish but being color blind it sorta looked mostly brownish grey to me. Now that its absolutely thriving in the 125, its colors stand out so brightly even I can distinguish some of them! The yellow tang is zebramosa like the purple you want to keep and ive always heard that yellow tangs dont need near the amount of space most other tangs do and they can easily be kept in a 75 gallon aquarium. Well I dont know if mine is the exception to the rule but he needs every inch of that 125. Honestly id feel more comfortable keeping the lavender (acanthurus) in a smaller tank than I would the yellow. I personally dont think youd be being irresponsible by trying a purple tang in that size aquarium be ause its a decent sized tank but honestly I wouldnt do it or recommend it. Good luck with whatever decision you make I hope it works out good for you either way but I just wanted to share my experience with you since it was quite relateable. Btw sorry for one giant paragraph but I worked 14 hours today and dont have the brain power left to think about forming several paragraphs.

 

[robs.mark]

Its all about the individual fish imo. I personally cant see you having a problem, any aggression you see could equally as well happen in another tank. Ive seen 6ft tanks with so much lr in them the fish may as well be in a tank your size thats correctly aquascaped.
Im not trying to start any arguments, just protraying my point of view. I recently closed down an in wall 187g as my wife and i are looking to rent our house and and buy another. There were a few corals and a couple of fish including a pair of occi clowns and a hybrid yellow scopas that i just couldnt bear to part with, so i have set up a 24g nano wich these fish currently reside in. Now im aware that this tank is too small, and in no way am i encouraging anyone to do this. I have had this tank set up for about 4 or 5 months now and i have seen zero agressin from any of the inhabitants. This fish has always been super placid, he has retained weight, gets fed well and is very personable. I would rather keep this fish in this tank for however long it may be until i set up a larger system for him, ive had him for a couple of years, he is healthy and very well cared for, I think ive been doing this long enough to know whats best for this particular fish, if it were another and he wasnt getting on as well id probably move him on. If i were to trade him off and some one were to kill him or have him harrassed by other fish i would feel awful, so i feel hes better off with me. This is my story and my personal experience. Im totally totally sick of reading and participating in debates regarding tangs and tank sizes, expecially with inexperienced reefers who are just repeating what they have just read. This isnt aimed at anyone in this thread, just saying not everythings black and white.

Cheers, Mark.

 

[brad]

I moved from a standard 120 to a 48"x48"x27", both tanks are 4'. I noticed a huge difference in aggression between fish (almost none, versus a big problem in the 120), but I don't know if there is a big difference in how big a fish I can keep, as I've probably never had a fish that was too big for either tank. I'd would stick with purple and yellow tangs, and avoid the sailfins. I wouldn't try any tang in a 40 gallon anything.

 

[greg1786]

Its all about the individual fish imo. I personally cant see you having a problem, any aggression you see could equally as well happen in another tank. Ive seen 6ft tanks with so much lr in them the fish may as well be in a tank your size thats correctly aquascaped.
Im not trying to start any arguments, just protraying my point of view. I recently closed down an in wall 187g as my wife and i are looking to rent our house and and buy another. There were a few corals and a couple of fish including a pair of occi clowns and a hybrid yellow scopas that i just couldnt bear to part with, so i have set up a 24g nano wich these fish currently reside in. Now im aware that this tank is too small, and in no way am i encouraging anyone to do this. I have had this tank set up for about 4 or 5 months now and i have seen zero agressin from any of the inhabitants. This fish has always been super placid, he has retained weight, gets fed well and is very personable. I would rather keep this fish in this tank for however long it may be until i set up a larger system for him, ive had him for a couple of years, he is healthy and very well cared for, I think ive been doing this long enough to know whats best for this particular fish, if it were another and he wasnt getting on as well id probably move him on. If i were to trade him off and some one were to kill him or have him harrassed by other fish i would feel awful, so i feel hes better off with me. This is my story and my personal experience. Im totally totally sick of reading and participating in debates regarding tangs and tank sizes, expecially with inexperienced reefers who are just repeating what they have just read. This isnt aimed at anyone in this thread, just saying not everythings black and white.

Cheers, Mark.

I couldnt agree more with the last few lines in your response!! Also what type of tang is in your avatar? That thing is so cool looking