Powder Blues?

[luvtangs]

So, are they that difficult of fish to keep? Anyone have success with them. I'm reading that a minimum tank size for them is 50 gallons. I have a 60g. I'd really like this to be my last fish, but want to know more about it first. I have a friend who is going to get a few of my fish in the tank now, so that I can fit every fish I want. I have a baby yellow tang and a baby kole. So I would have 3 small tangs in the 60, with maybe my clown fish. What do you guys think?

 

[puffer32]

A 60 gal is really to small for any tang, with maybe the exception of the YT Tangs dp get big! You could keep your kole, they don't get quite as large as others, but not with a yellow. PB tangd need a large tank, they are prone to ich.

 

[luvtangs]

Why are you saying not to keep my yellow with my kole? Well, let me re-word you said keep kole but not with my yellow. They have been together for months! They are tight.
I wouldn't seperate them. And I thought 60 gallons was ok for tangs, meaning yellows, koles, and powder blues or browns?

 

[puffer32]

How long is your tank? YT need 4 ft of swimming room, if your 60 has that, you will be ok. I only say not to have 2 tangs because they get big, and will eventually start fighing in a small tank. You can keep both for now, but need to upgrade when they get bigger, especially if you want to add more tangs.

 

[jmick]

Humm, where exactly are you getting your information? Powder blues need an minimum of 100 gallons, this fish will grow to be around 1 foot in length. This fish also has a very high mortality rate and really needs to be put in QT before being added to main tank because they are notorious for carrying ich.
Also, 3 tangs in a 60 gal in not a good idea, you would need a tank much larger to house them. Luvtangs, do yourself a favor and check out Fenner’s site because the information you’re getting is really bad.

 

[angelsrock]

you got one too many tangs in the 60 gallon. to mix tangs you have to have a big tank. you could buy the blue tang but you would be wasting you're money and making a certain death for this fish. i'm sure you also have other fish in there besides those 2 tangs you already have which up's the bioload.

 

[jon321]

just throwing in the ballot for "I agree with all of the above"
Jon

 

[luvtangs]

NO, I have 1 perc clown. The rest of my fish I gave to my friend for his tank.
-1 yellow tang
-1 kole tang
- 1 perc clown.
This to me is not a whole lot of fish for a 60 gallon

 

[luvtangs]

Ok, I scratched the powder blue. I heard too many negative things about them. I got a baby hippo today. She's not even an inch, so by the time she gets too big, I'll have a bigger tank. I'm getting a 150 next year. Thanks for all you guys advice. These 3 tangs are getting along GREAT together. I upgraded to a stronger filter too. All I have is four fish in the 60 g.
Anywho, how often should I do a water change., I know there are many oppinions about this topic. Is a 20% every 3 weeks ok?

 

[jmick]

I hear people say that all too often and usually they do not end up getting a bigger tank and run into major problems down the road. If you are actually getting a 150, next year why not wait until that time then add the hippo? This is a bad hobby for folks that have no patience. Speaking of patience, I really hope you used a QT tank because Hippo tangs are Ich magnets.
Yes, I think 20% water change every three weeks is fine. Once those fish get bigger, you may want to do that every 2 weeks.

 

[luvtangs]

Ok cool about the water change. I'm good for my word when I say I will upgrade. I upgraded a 40 to 60 recently. He is so tiny right now though. I'm sure all my tangs would be fine for even a few years. I'm pretty patient with this hobby. I've been pretty succesful with everything. I appreciate all advice. What would yall recommend for a cleaner for parasites, just in case I run into that problem,are shrimp better than neon gobbies? My LFS says that the shrimp are good for cleaning a fish,but only if you have them in large numbers (meaning 3 or 4)?
ps. J, what do you have in your tank?
Cheers

 

[jmick]

I have a pair of Clarkii Clowns, a dusky jawfish, and a fairy wrasse (probably gonna add another one or possibly two more of these guys). I also have an assortment of corals, Xenia, Orange sroom, Galaxea, Green Star Polyps, Zoos and a rock anemone. Also have an assortment of hermits and snails.
I make sure to quarantine everything that goes into my tank for a minimum of 4-5 weeks. This is a far superior method then relying on cleaner shrimp to keep your tank parasite free.

 

[danedodger]

Yep, I agree with quarantine being way superior to adding a critter to take care of any outbreaks. It's much safer. But if you just wanted to add a cleaner shrimp I'd say why not just add one and see how he does? It's not like you have a LOT of fish or a huge tank so with one he and your fish may be perfectly happy with each other. When you get your larger tank if you like the one maybe put in one or two more to set up stations in different areas of the tank so that the fish don't have to look far to get a friendly "scrub down" when they want one.

 

[drea]

your fish will be fine for a long time, do 10% water changes every ten days/two weeks.... and when doing do make sure temp.salinty are almost exactly the same!
:happyfish

 

[i<3fish]

I was wondering the same thing. Would it be OK to put a baby Yellow Yang and a baby Hippo Tang in a 55 gallon? I am upgrading my tank sometime in the next year to a 125 gallon. Would it be better to just get the Hippo Tang? Because if I had to choose one, it would be the Hippo.

 

[jon123]

I would go with just the yellow tang. Hippos are too prone to ich if kept in improper tanks, even when small.
Jon

 

[ricks280]

hi guys,
sorry to desagree, any tank under 100gal. is to small for any tang! volume is the key in keeping tangs, angels and b/flies . not only because the swimming area but sudden changes in parameters = ph, temp,etc. yes they will be ok for a while in a small tank but imo , why gamble?(rick)

 

[dragonzim]

I have succesfully kept a yellow and a hippo tang in a 55 for well over a year. I've recently moved them to a 75, but they are doing great. No problems with parasites, their color is great and they get along nicely.

 

[madison]

I hope I am not misunderstood for what I am about to say...for all you tang polices out there...easy turbos! cool your jets! drink less coffee! it seems like that's all you guys are waiting for and give yourself a point everytime you jump down someone's throat!
There are more then one way to skin a cat, there's more the one way to get to where you need to go...there's more then one way to give advise on this board!
Give advises, opinions, share experiences...NOT take all threads with the word "tangs" in it and go off and badger other members!!!!
I am sorry...had to vent!

 

[saltn00b]

well the 'tang police ' act out of passion and their own experience. most people run into problems with tangs specifically because of inadequeate tank size and water quality. everyone is right these tangs will very shortly, if not already need an upgraded tank , larger then the 60g , regardless of how seemingly small they already are. also i have had ick outbreaks and it happens so fast there is no way a shrimp could possibly keep up with it. also the shrimp only eats the parasite when it is one of its various stages of its lifecycle, the stuff will just keep coming.