Naso and Blue Hippo and Nano Reef/Quarantine

[afm32607]

I just started a new tank (125 gal FOWLR) and at some point I wanted to and these fish (name) and I was wondering how they will fare and wether anyone has had any problems with either one of them. (I am aware that they need to be added at the same time and yes these are the only tangs I want to add).
A second question, I have a 30 gallon tank (really its a 29 gallon BioCube w/protein skimmer and UV Light) that I want to make into a nano reef (eventually.) Can I use it as my quarantine tank? If so can I clean it out and still use it as a reef tank in the future? The idea was to set the tank up use it as a quarantine tank for a bit then turn it into the reef tank allowing it a chance to mature without having to leave it empty (and when I get some more money I would buy another tank for quarantine). If that is a really bad idea please tell me.
thx

 

[afm32607]

Also if I wanted to get them at the same time (the tangs) would I need two separate QT tanks or would the one 29gal do it for a few weeks?

 

[mr. limpid]

If you only want to keep a Hippo and Naso they both are non-aggressive fish, you really don't need to add them at the same time. If you want other tangs it will depend on which ones. As for the QT good idea, practical, as long as you are not adding copper this will get into the sealant and will cause problems for your inverts. Also for a QT tank you don't want to have any substrate or LR basically it will be a bare tank with some PVC for the fish to hide in. If you hypo your fish then the tank will be fine to convert into a reef with no ill effects. Good luck tangs are also my favorite.

 

[globaldesigns]

With a Naso and a Blue Hippo, you will be pushing things with a 125 gallon. Just remember that the minimum tank size requirement for a Naso is 125 Gallons, it is 70 Gallons for the Blue Hippo. Also remember that the max size of the Naso can be 1'6", very very big... probably won't get that big for you, but gauranteed it will probably reach the 1 foot mark.
I have a Blue Hippo, Blonde Naso, Yellow and Sohal tang in my 300 gallon setup... If you do this, just keep things clean and you should be good.
I personally don't use quarantine, I am lucky and the guy I get my stuff from keeps all livestock from 2-4 weeks, he doesn't let anything go until they are healthy, eating, etc... I haven't had issues, others may disagree with my approach, but it works for me... So to answer you, why not! If you want a quarantine, what you have will work fine.

 

[mr. limpid]

That place sounds great, shops by us fish leave the stores the day they come in. I belive that is why the ick problem is where it is at today. When I first started out fish would sit at the stores for weeks before anyone would buy them.

 

[gwhunter]

Originally Posted by Mr. Limpid
http:///forum/post/3140610
If you only want to keep a Hippo and Naso they both are non-aggressive fish, you really don't need to add them at the same time. If you want other tangs it will depend on which ones. As for the QT good idea, practical, as long as you are not adding copper this will get into the sealant and will cause problems for your inverts. Also for a QT tank you don't want to have any substrate or LR basically it will be a bare tank with some PVC for the fish to hide in. If you hypo your fish then the tank will be fine to convert into a reef with no ill effects. Good luck tangs are also my favorite.
This line about adding copper and it getting into the sealant is an old school myth. I know plenty of folks who used copper (myself included) and had no issues removing it from the tank. The old schooler's always used to say that it absorbed into the sealant and objects in the tank and would always be present. If you use cuprisorb or even carbon the copper will be removed. I run inverts in my tank and I've used copper in the past. I agree with the rest of the statements.
Matt

 

[ophiura]

I would personally very strongly discourage keeping a naso in a 125. The tank is not suitable long term for such a large active fish. This is absolutely a fish to go to an aquarium to observe - they will 'pace" that tank in a second and it is not really fun to watch. I would leave that one for the 200+ gallon range...beautiful as they are, they can't fully be appreciated, IMO, in such a small tank.
Perhaps try a regal and some other type of tang - perhaps a yellow, scopas or yellow eye (Kole). But I definitely would not recommend the naso. In addition, will this be a fish only system or a reef?

 

[gwhunter]

Susan, I agree with your observation on the naso. But I think hippo's pace the tank even more. I don't think either fish should be housed in anything less than a 8' tank. Even then they go end to end in the blink of an eye.
Matt

 

[ophiura]

I would tend to agree but would be shouted off the board

LOL.