Tangs

[Fishyz]

Is there any recommendations on a tang for a 90 gallon? Thanks

[Reefland]

For a 90 gallon, with no other large fish, any of the Zebrasoma spp. would be fine. Yellow, Purple, Sailfin, even a Regal would be fine.

[mistermikev]

I would avoid the blue hippo. Love the color and attitude but mine got ich right away and in retrospect I would have gone with a red sea sailfin or a chevron. JMO

[Fishyz]

Would my tank be big enough to do a sailfin?

[mistermikev]

Most would recommend a 125 but I have seen sailfins in smaller tanks w/o issues - just has to be a juvenile. They grow relatively slow so I would say it would probably be fine for 2-3yrs w a small one... If you are a tang policeman-I am just giving one opinion! This is not the bible... get a second and third opinion at least. good luck

[Ninong]

Would my tank be big enough to do a sailfin?

Not in my opinion but that's up to you. I wouldn't put a sailfin tang in anything less than a 135-gal, 6-ft long tank and even that is a bit too small in my opinion.

I think your best choice for a 90-gal tank would be a Yellow Tang. Second best is up for grabs but a Purple Tang would probably be a good second best. In any case, I wouldn't keep more than one tang in a 90-gal tank under any circumstances.

I had a 120-gal tank and I didn't keep any tangs because I didn't consider it large enough. I still feel that way but I realize that people with 90-gal tanks may want to keep a tang and it's sort of right at the breaking point as far as being barely adequate for something like a single Yellow Tang.

I did have a Foxface Rabbitfish (Siganus vulpinus) in my 120-gal tank. I really, really liked that fish a lot but he definitely needed larger quarters than my 120-gal tank once he grew up. They grow fast! I was beginning to feel guilty about having the Foxface in a 120-gal tank. I now think they need at least a 135-gal tank, too, in spite of what all the vendors' websites recommend.

If you really, really want a tang for your 90-gal tank, I would recommend a Yellow Tang.

[Fishyz]

My LFS also said that a 90g would be to small for a sailfin. I really like kole tangs, and I think that my tank would be big enough for it. My LFS had an atlantic blue tang, has anyone had any experince with one? thanks

[Minh Nguyen]

I would think a 90 g tank is too small for a Sailfin after a few years. With good care it will look normal, just won't get as large as they should in captivity. This is not a problem IMO. A friend of mine have a Yellow tang that acts and look normal, just that it is only about three inches including the snout and tail after 12 years. Neither the fish or him have any problem with that. All aquarium fish (tangs anyway) will never reach full potential size in the wild.

[Papa Doug]

My LFS also said that a 90g would be to small for a sailfin. I really like kole tangs, and I think that my tank would be big enough for it. My LFS had an atlantic blue tang, has anyone had any experince with one? thanks

Kole tangs, despite suggestions, love lots of swimming room. I think they almost need the larger space also. Along with the yellow suggestion, I also like a scopas for that size tank. And it has different appeal than a yellow. Thats what I may add to my 90. I agree with the scopas, yellow and purple as the 3 best. If your set on a kole, I would have it about 4th. best but definetely a better choice than any of the larger such as a sailfin or atlantic blue.

[Blennie]

what about a Tomini tang. they seem to stay small in the home aquarium.

Bristletooth Tomini Tang
(Ctenochaetus tominiensis)
StatsMaximum Length: 6.0 in.
Care Level: Moderate
Family: Acanthuridae
Reef Compatibility: Excellent
Minimum Aquarium Size: 70 gal.
Range: South Pacific
Diet: Herbivore- herbivore preparations, macro algae
Water Conditions: 74-80° F; sg 1.020-1.025; pH 8.1-8.4

[Fishyz]

I always thought that the purple tang needed more room than a 90g. Now I'm undecided between a kole, yellow, and purple. Which out of the 3 is the most peaceful and hardy?

[Minh Nguyen]

They are all hardy. Purple does not look great as he get older, color less intense and the black marking fade from his body. Yellow doesn't chage as they get older. Kole tang is beautiful and get more intense as they get older.
Flashy color, nothing beat the yellow tang. If the yellow tang is rarer, many people would pay an arm or a leg for one.

[kosys]

Hi Fishyz: been reading the posts on your thread I think they all have valid points, just wanted to let you know a little about my situation. I have a 90 gal tank with overflow and 100 lbs of live rock, in that tank I have a purple tang and a foxface, my two largest fish, there is also a coral beauty in the tank they all get along just fine fox and tang kinda bullied each other around for first couple of days but now they get along just fine. I've had them all for around a year now and they are very healthy. most fish will grow relative to thier enviroment. they all seemed to stop growing or at least slow down alot.

Right or wrong they seem to be one big happy family, with no evidence of stress maybe I just got lucky, this is not to say that sometime in the future I will have to upgrade to a bigger tank. will prob happen anyways lol I have the bug (always will want bigger).

Just a little insight to my situation.

Ken

[kosys]

P.S I have a thread up called some tank pics by kosys if you would like to see my tang and foxface, and the tank thier in.

Good luck with your choice
Ken

[Fishyz]

kosys: I love your tank pics, it looks really nice.

Would I be able to keep a kole, purple, or yellow tang from start to finish, or would I need to find it a bigger home in a couple of years? I really want to keep fish that won't out grow my tank.

[Papa Doug]

kosys: I love your tank pics, it looks really nice.

Would I be able to keep a kole, purple, or yellow tang from start to finish, or would I need to find it a bigger home in a couple of years? I really want to keep fish that won't out grow my tank.

No, any of those will be fine in the 90 as they get older, as long as the water parameters remain stable and their diet is good, {lots of greens, such as spirolina flakes and the various sheet algaes or nori}.

[kosys]

thanx Fishyz. I'm not sure about the Kole but I'm sure you would be fine with yellow, or purple tang, just get babies or juvies and let them grow into your tank. only one though tangs can be extremely aggresive and territorial. I think I got lucky that my tang and foxface get along in a 90 gal tank, you almost think they were buddies, always hangin out together as you can see in one of the pics.

I decided on the purple over yellow because I think its a beautifull fish I love the yellow tail and purple body and the yellows are so common you see them everywhere.

I also agree with doug diet very important I pay particular attention to thier diet. there is always sheet of seaweed on a clip for grazing I also feed them brine shrimp supplimented with selcon. oh yea I also use a premium flake.

[Fishyz]

I will definitely have greens as my tangs staple in its diet and I will keep a clip with nori on it.

I'm so confussed....kole..yellow...or purple. Which one would you pick?

[kosys]

purple, easy choice for me I have one and never regreted it looks awsome in tank yellow fins are a real nice contrast to purple body.

Its like best of both worlds yellow and purple and only need one fish lol.

Just make sure when your ready to get one that it is healthy. I searched for a bit before I found one in excellent shape. Then I Quarintined it for four weeks. I feel that is VERY IMPORTANT step, I learned that lesson the hard way.

[jkeithh1969]

Hi Fishyz: been reading the posts on your thread I think they all have valid points, just wanted to let you know a little about my situation. I have a 90 gal tank with overflow and 100 lbs of live rock, in that tank I have a purple tang and a foxface, my two largest fish, there is also a coral beauty in the tank they all get along just fine fox and tang kinda bullied each other around for first couple of days but now they get along just fine. I've had them all for around a year now and they are very healthy. most fish will grow relative to thier enviroment. they all seemed to stop growing or at least slow down alot.

Right or wrong they seem to be one big happy family, with no evidence of stress maybe I just got lucky, this is not to say that sometime in the future I will have to upgrade to a bigger tank. will prob happen anyways lol I have the bug (always will want bigger).

Just a little insight to my situation.

Ken

I had the same situation with a foxface and a purple tang in my aquarium prior to Hurricane Katrina...first few days they were together it was bad, but they settled down and became best buds. They were together for a little over a year when Katrina hit and everything in the tank died. I have to say that the purple tang I had was my most favorite of all the saltwater fish I have had over the years.

Damn Katrina.