Blue Hippo in 55g
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stanlalee
Active Member
they get to be a foot long eventually. if you know what your doing (as far as quarantine, diet, water condition) you can get away with it for a while (perhaps up to a year if you buy it the right size).
how much live rock? how big (gph) are the powerheads? one rule of tangdom is reef like flow and oxygenated water especially when attempting in an undersize tank. Unless they are at least 400gph plus each I'd add more.
how much live rock? how big (gph) are the powerheads? one rule of tangdom is reef like flow and oxygenated water especially when attempting in an undersize tank. Unless they are at least 400gph plus each I'd add more.
sepulatian
Moderator
Do NOT put a hippo in a 55. He will be completely stressed out. These are open water swimmers. It does not matter if he is the size of a quarter he will not have enough room! 6 foot minimum tank for a tang.
wattsupdoc
Active Member
My cousin had a beautiful yellow in the exact same 65 that I now have, for over 3 years. Obviuosley the statement of 125 only for any tang is not true. I swear you cant even get a correct answer on here when concerning tangs. I'm about to move over to the other message board. Stanalee gave a good answer.
1journeyman
Active Member
Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
My cousin had a beautiful yellow in the exact same 65 that I now have, for over 3 years. Obviuosley the statement of 125 only for any tang is not true. I swear you cant even get a correct answer on here when concerning tangs. I'm about to move over to the other message board. Stanalee gave a good answer.
There are exceptions to all rules, but in general Tangs need 6 foot tanks. In addition to their typically nervous nature, they are very active and graze all over the tank.
My cousin had a beautiful yellow in the exact same 65 that I now have, for over 3 years. Obviuosley the statement of 125 only for any tang is not true. I swear you cant even get a correct answer on here when concerning tangs. I'm about to move over to the other message board. Stanalee gave a good answer.
There are exceptions to all rules, but in general Tangs need 6 foot tanks. In addition to their typically nervous nature, they are very active and graze all over the tank.
stanlalee
Active Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
Do NOT put a hippo in a 55. He will be completely stressed out. These are open water swimmers. It does not matter if he is the size of a quarter he will not have enough room! 6 foot minimum tank for a tang.
I tend to disagree with these all or nothing statements. there's a difference between giving good advice and preaching things as fact. Keeping a hippo tang in a 6ft tank is good advice. Did my hippo tang do excellent in a 3ft 30 gallon for last 8 out of the 9 months it was in there before moving it to a 6ft tank. "he will be completely stressed out" you may be right with your advice but you cant say that with conviction of fact. there are other factors than simply tank size (like if its in the tank by itself, tankmates, rock layout and amount, daily consistancy of routine ect).
I also strongly disagree with simply "swimming room" and "open water swimmers" as the primary reasons for a 6ft or large tank. adequate grazing area, territorial boundaries and sheer size they grow not being the least of them. most tangs are reef outskirt grazers (the only place algae grows around a reef). they graze in the turbulent out skirt reef waters (in high current but not doing this heavy swimming often spoke of). they only open swim when there is a need to find a new patch to graze (picked it dry, pretator, whatever). a baracuda is an open water fish. if most tangs were a true open water fish how would a 6ft tank suffice? a lunare or bird wrasse are fish that need "swimming" room and a 30 second observation between those and a tang clearly show the difference. A 125g offers virtually none of the above to a show size hippo tang so if we (as a whole) are going to be anal about hippo tang tank size and a suitable life long home the recommendation should be 240 or 300g not a 125g minimum.
Do NOT put a hippo in a 55. He will be completely stressed out. These are open water swimmers. It does not matter if he is the size of a quarter he will not have enough room! 6 foot minimum tank for a tang.
I tend to disagree with these all or nothing statements. there's a difference between giving good advice and preaching things as fact. Keeping a hippo tang in a 6ft tank is good advice. Did my hippo tang do excellent in a 3ft 30 gallon for last 8 out of the 9 months it was in there before moving it to a 6ft tank. "he will be completely stressed out" you may be right with your advice but you cant say that with conviction of fact. there are other factors than simply tank size (like if its in the tank by itself, tankmates, rock layout and amount, daily consistancy of routine ect).
I also strongly disagree with simply "swimming room" and "open water swimmers" as the primary reasons for a 6ft or large tank. adequate grazing area, territorial boundaries and sheer size they grow not being the least of them. most tangs are reef outskirt grazers (the only place algae grows around a reef). they graze in the turbulent out skirt reef waters (in high current but not doing this heavy swimming often spoke of). they only open swim when there is a need to find a new patch to graze (picked it dry, pretator, whatever). a baracuda is an open water fish. if most tangs were a true open water fish how would a 6ft tank suffice? a lunare or bird wrasse are fish that need "swimming" room and a 30 second observation between those and a tang clearly show the difference. A 125g offers virtually none of the above to a show size hippo tang so if we (as a whole) are going to be anal about hippo tang tank size and a suitable life long home the recommendation should be 240 or 300g not a 125g minimum.
jfingers088
Member
I mean im not that experienced at all but there is alot of talk about tangs but to me if 4 feet is to small for a tang then im sure 6 feet isn't going to give them all the happiness in the world either. Im sure 2 feet more for a tang isn't going to give you the life or death on a tang. It matters on the depth of the tang also i mean in you put it in a 55g yes it is 4 feet but not deep enough so can't really swim around the tank.
saltfish123
Member
how would you like to be in a straight jacket your whole life then u know what a blue hippo tang feels like
saltfish123
Member
well sorry about the straight jacket i just wouldn't advise it
1journeyman
Active Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
..........
I also strongly disagree with simply "swimming room" and "open water swimmers" as the primary reasons for a 6ft or large tank. adequate grazing area, territorial boundaries and sheer size they grow not being the least of them. most tangs are reef outskirt grazers (the only place algae grows around a reef). they graze in the turbulent out skirt reef waters (in high current but not doing this heavy swimming often spoke of). .....
I'm a bit confused to what you meant here. Algae grows anywhere there is light and it can get a foothold. Whether that's on a wall, top of a bommie, pier, etc.
I've dove and viewed Tangs. They swim in long straight lines. When feeding they swim, stop, graze, and swim on. So I'm confused as to what you were saying in how they swim and feed. Maybe we're saying the same thing.
The difference between a 4 foot and a 6 foot tank is roughly 33%. That's why it makes a difference.
I do agree, however, that even 6 foot tanks probably aren't adequate. That is the size, however, that the experts seem to agree will allow the Tang to live a long life.
..........
I also strongly disagree with simply "swimming room" and "open water swimmers" as the primary reasons for a 6ft or large tank. adequate grazing area, territorial boundaries and sheer size they grow not being the least of them. most tangs are reef outskirt grazers (the only place algae grows around a reef). they graze in the turbulent out skirt reef waters (in high current but not doing this heavy swimming often spoke of). .....
I'm a bit confused to what you meant here. Algae grows anywhere there is light and it can get a foothold. Whether that's on a wall, top of a bommie, pier, etc.
I've dove and viewed Tangs. They swim in long straight lines. When feeding they swim, stop, graze, and swim on. So I'm confused as to what you were saying in how they swim and feed. Maybe we're saying the same thing.
The difference between a 4 foot and a 6 foot tank is roughly 33%. That's why it makes a difference.
I do agree, however, that even 6 foot tanks probably aren't adequate. That is the size, however, that the experts seem to agree will allow the Tang to live a long life.
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
My cousin had a beautiful yellow in the exact same 65 that I now have, for over 3 years. Obviuosley the statement of 125 only for any tang is not true. I swear you cant even get a correct answer on here when concerning tangs. I'm about to move over to the other message board. Stanalee gave a good answer.
You will find this is a hot topic on most boards, not just here.
A tang can be kept in this size tank for a time - I am not an all or nothing person - but in 3 years a healthy tang clearly should have outgrown that tank (I am assuming it is a standard 3' tank...yes, definitely it should have outgrown it)
Lack of growth, IMO, is a sign of a problem.
I am also not a "you need a 125" for that because footprint is really the important issue here...a 6 foot tank is a nice reasonable size for ANY particularly active fish, tang or otherwise.
BTW, there are no correct answers. There are only opinions, and majority opinions. Research, personal tolerance for fish being pets or decor is our individual responsibility. No one will come and remove your fish (though of course they will with dogs or cats etc kept in inappropriate enclosures). But you will get opinions.
Everyone is entitled to them. Some are useful. Some are useless. But everyone is entitled to their opinion, or argument.
You will find that everywhere. This just happens to be an issue people are actually really passionate about, which is a great thing, IMO, and for the most part people here will share those opinions and not just say "yeah, anything goes!" But if you want that, I am sure you can find it somewhere.
My cousin had a beautiful yellow in the exact same 65 that I now have, for over 3 years. Obviuosley the statement of 125 only for any tang is not true. I swear you cant even get a correct answer on here when concerning tangs. I'm about to move over to the other message board. Stanalee gave a good answer.
You will find this is a hot topic on most boards, not just here.
A tang can be kept in this size tank for a time - I am not an all or nothing person - but in 3 years a healthy tang clearly should have outgrown that tank (I am assuming it is a standard 3' tank...yes, definitely it should have outgrown it)
Lack of growth, IMO, is a sign of a problem.
I am also not a "you need a 125" for that because footprint is really the important issue here...a 6 foot tank is a nice reasonable size for ANY particularly active fish, tang or otherwise.
BTW, there are no correct answers. There are only opinions, and majority opinions. Research, personal tolerance for fish being pets or decor is our individual responsibility. No one will come and remove your fish (though of course they will with dogs or cats etc kept in inappropriate enclosures). But you will get opinions.
Everyone is entitled to them. Some are useful. Some are useless. But everyone is entitled to their opinion, or argument.
You will find that everywhere. This just happens to be an issue people are actually really passionate about, which is a great thing, IMO, and for the most part people here will share those opinions and not just say "yeah, anything goes!" But if you want that, I am sure you can find it somewhere.
stanlalee
Active Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
I'm a bit confused to what you meant here. Algae grows anywhere there is light and it can get a foothold. Whether that's on a wall, top of a bommie, pier, etc.
I've dove and viewed Tangs. They swim in long straight lines. When feeding they swim, stop, graze, and swim on. So I'm confused as to what you were saying in how they swim and feed. Maybe we're saying the same thing.
.
I agree but in a densely populated reef there isn't much of either to be had. its either the corals or the algae. outside densely populated coral area much more space and less light blocking by corals for algae and plants in general to grow. as far as swimming sounds like the same thing. I agree they need room to graze but that is different than "swimming room" to me such as a banana wrasse that swims mindlessly and quickly back and forth from tank end to tank end without any obvious purpose other than liking to swim. tangs need room to do what they do which is looking for algae more than it is an exercise in doing tank laps.
I'm a bit confused to what you meant here. Algae grows anywhere there is light and it can get a foothold. Whether that's on a wall, top of a bommie, pier, etc.
I've dove and viewed Tangs. They swim in long straight lines. When feeding they swim, stop, graze, and swim on. So I'm confused as to what you were saying in how they swim and feed. Maybe we're saying the same thing.
.
I agree but in a densely populated reef there isn't much of either to be had. its either the corals or the algae. outside densely populated coral area much more space and less light blocking by corals for algae and plants in general to grow. as far as swimming sounds like the same thing. I agree they need room to graze but that is different than "swimming room" to me such as a banana wrasse that swims mindlessly and quickly back and forth from tank end to tank end without any obvious purpose other than liking to swim. tangs need room to do what they do which is looking for algae more than it is an exercise in doing tank laps.