Help On Tangs

[grubsnaek]

need some info on tangs. i have a 125 gal. tank. currently i have a couple of damsels, two percula clowns, scooter blenny. i am thinking of getting tangs. posibly some yellow tangs, a blue hippo, a naso tang, or a powder brown tang. i know tangs have a likely hood of outbreak of ich. but the UV sterilizer will help against that. these are what i am interested. there is 200 lbs of live rock in the tank. are these combos possible. any info before the big plunge will be greatly appreciated.

 

[sly]

I added 3 yellow tangs a few months ago and I love them. I tried to keep a yellow tang a few years ago but he eventually quit eating and died. I read that they like to school and so I got three of them. They couldn't be happier. They aren't nearly as shy as the single one I used to have and they eat like pigs. They have good personalities and because there are 3 of them, they don't get picked on by my lunar wrasse who can be agressive sometimes. As for the others I have found that blue hippo tangs can be very timid. You can practically say boo and they will fall over dead. That's just my experience...

 

[dirkdaplr]

I think tangs are a good choice for a tank lots of color choices and the are very animated if cared for properly. I have three in my 180 a purple, blue hippo, and a chevron. Depending on you dimensions you may want to avoid the naso as it will grow to the largest of those you mentioned. The purple is good if added last as mine is very teritorial and will pick on newly added tangs and other smaller fish. Contrary to what the other reefer stated about blue hippos I have had mine for over a year, caution should just be exercised if you are trying to purchase a tiny one as they are very sensitive. The UV unit is good for ich but if your are planning on a reef they can sometimes kill the essential free floating organizims that your corals depend on.

 

[grubsnaek]

the UV lite will only be on for about 3 hours a day just long enough to kill anything. will be shut off way before and after any feeding that goes on for the filter feeders. thank you.

 

[sly]

From what I've seen, UV has to be on all the time. I have run UV for 2 years and have had no disease outbreaks of any kind.

 

[1journeyman]

Skip the UV and QT the fish... must better success rate that way.

 

[sly]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Skip the UV and QT the fish... must better success rate that way.
UV is not a substitute for QT'ing a tank... No one ever said it was. You should still QT the fish. Using UV is just added insurance.

 

[1journeyman]

Originally Posted by Sly
UV is not a substitute for QT'ing a tank... No one ever said it was. You should still QT the fish. Using UV is just added insurance.
My mistake. I assumed you were using it for that.
What benefits do you see with using a UV?

 

[sly]

Originally Posted by 1journeyman
My mistake. I assumed you were using it for that.
What benefits do you see with using a UV?
I've never had an ICH outbreak or any other illness since I've been using the UV filter. When I first started the hobby 6 years ago I did get some sick fish ocassionally but I haven't since I put on the UV light. There are some drawbacks but I haven't really seen the effects of them. It is said that a UV light can destroy beneficial bacteria but I have not had a problem with this that I've noticed. From what I've seen, most bacteria live in the substrate and in the rocks anyway so I don't know how viable that argument is. Maybe the biggest benefit is feeling safe knowing that it's there killing organisms which could hurt my fish. I still quarantine my fish but I'll admit, not for as long as I should. Maybe I'm flirting with disaster or maybe the UV light is letting me slide but all my fish stay healthy.

 

[grubsnaek]

i am very new to this saltwater journey and honestly i do not have a QT'ing tank. but by the sounds of it i should invest in one. the reason i posted only a few hours is because i was under the impression that the UV lite will kill the food for the filter feeders.

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by grubsnaek
i am very new to this saltwater journey and honestly i do not have a QT'ing tank. but by the sounds of it i should invest in one. the reason i posted only a few hours is because i was under the impression that the UV lite will kill the food for the filter feeders.
I run a qt just about 12 months a year. It is in a room that it is not in the way, and is always ready. I do water changes with the water from the 125g. Change out the filter media monthly...sounds like over kill, but you never know when you will run into a sweet deal that you can't walk away from.

As far as the uv light, I run mine pretty much 24/7 and I have corals. Haven't lost a coral to not being able to feed. Really depends on the corals you have.
I do turn off the uv light for 1 week out of the month to get the algae growth on the rocks for the hermits, snails, etc. I can definitely see the difference in the tank when the uv is off. It just kills me, I have to walk away from the tank.

Especially the sand bed. I personally like a very clean tank, and the uv does just that.
If you are attentive to the corals and the inhabitants you will be fine with running the uv.
This is not a hobby to start and hope the tank takes care of itself. It is very much hands on.

 

[grubsnaek]

what size tank is needed for QT.

 

[anonome]

Originally Posted by grubsnaek
what size tank is needed for QT.
Mine is a 20 gallon. This really depends on the type and size of the fish you have or would buy. Many people say that a 30 gallon tanks is a good size. I just happened to have the 20 g laying around from my freshwater days.