Question about adding w/a tang

[niko_rose]

hi, We have a 55 gal tank, Its about 4 months old now, and doing wonderful. I know what everyone things of *****, BUT.... My hubby and i were there getting salt and i always look at there fish, and what did i find .... a Red Sea Purple Tang for guess what $15.00 yep thats it just $15.00 Was for that day only, and was the last one they had so i HAD to get it for that price. We've had it for a month now, and its doing great in our tank. Just wondering, what can we add now? Or am i going to have to take that tang out of there to add new fish?
Right now the other things we have in there are 2 perc clowns, 2 cleaner shrimp, 2 camel shrimp, BTA, colt coral, thick finger coral, some mushrooms, 2 feather dusters, and blue leg hermits.
I'll try to attach a photo. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance.
ya i know we need more LR, but we got 38lbs in there.

 

[fishman830]

IMO you should honestly get rid of that purple tang, it just won't thrive in that tank.. just too small, i see oyu have a BTA what and oyu have what seems ot be PC lighting.. IMO scrap the BTA, i don't think it will thrive under PC.. but you hshould porb get a second opinion on that

 

[misty927]

I'm going to agree with the above posts. It just won't be efficient for the long term. I would either upgrade your tank size or get rid of the tang. And I also don't think your BTA will thrive under PCs...you should consider upgrading your lighting. Your anemone will slowly start to decline...and eventually die. Which might not bother you....but regardless it will probably happen. Most people don't heed that same advice and wonder why anemones are so hard to keep. Everyone wants an anemone for their cute little clowns to host in and put the anemones needs aside. Granted they will essentially not do as well in captivity to begin with...but they're not necessarily difficult...people just don't give them the proper care, i.e., sufficient lighting.

 

[niko_rose]

We are going to upgrade the tank. Just couldn't pass up the fish for $15. LOL, Were getting a 75 or 100 soon, not sure which yet.
And there are another set of lights behind that PC you see in front, you just cant see them. Both our reputable LFS (not *****) lol say we have enough light for the BTA, we've had it for about 3 months now. We got it a month after the tank was fully cycled. Its seems to be doing great and the clowns love it.
The only other fish i really want is the flame angel. I dont want to have alot of fish, as i want them to have ample room to roam. Im not even adding anymore tell we get the new tank, but was wondering how i would go about that, being that tangs are supposed to be one of the last fish you add. Should i add it to the QT while the new tank cycles, then or just add the new fish when i moveing stuff fromt he 55 to the new one? Thanks

 

[niko_rose]

Also, both the tanks we are looking at come with VHO, not sure of the wattage yet, but its got duel 48in bulbs in it, then were gunna also add the PC to that, so we can have more options for corals. With what we have on the back were getting 4 watts per gallon.

 

[thedraven]

These guys are right... purple tangs can grow up to nearly a foot, and require a 100 gal tank. Same for hippo tangs. Beautiful fish, but you shouldve shown some restraint until you had researched, despite the deal. Ive learned that the hard way...

 

[scoobydoo]

MissCrayon,
You've gone from a 55 to a 90 and now a 180 since January???
Do you have to buy all new equipment (filters, heaters, powerheads, etc) or are you able to use the same ones?

 

[scoobydoo]

Sorry, I forgot to ask, what did you do with your old stuff? Any pictures of your 90???

 

[billb]

just kidding...

 

[misty927]

haha...that's great Bill.

 

[scoobydoo]

bump for MissCrayon

 

[misscrayon]

Well ok somehow my accoutn got unregistered OH WELL... Anyways I dont have the 180 set-up yet that will require all new equipment it will be FOWLR. I transferred all the equipment from the 55 to the 90 (reef) filters, skimmer,powerheads, heater etc as they are all rated up to 100 gallon. I will get a pic as soon as I get everything put back together the ballasat on my VHOs went KaPoof so i had to order a new one. Thank Goodness I kept my PC lighting so my corals didnt die. IMO I would get the biggest tank you can afford and have room for. I wish I had skipped the 55 all together.
~Caron

 

[scoobydoo]

How long was your 55 gallon set up before you upgraded to 90? What did you do, move everything to the 90, add more water and go through a small cycle. What fish did you lose?

 

[misscrayon]

We set the 55 up in December started adding livestock in Feb switched it over this first part of this month. We put the fish in a rubbermaid with a heater and a powerhead. Put South down in the 90 then the water from the 55. Then added the pre made saltwater to that and moved all the filters over. Let the filters run for about 6 hours then acclimated the fish back into the tank. I lost 2 small TR Ocelleris Clown Fish. We went through a very small cycle I did small water changes and everything else did wonderful....

 

[scoobydoo]

Yeah, I know what you mean. I set up a 29 gallon in March. After only about a week, I was kicking myself in the ###. I knew I should have gone with a 55 but I figured I would save the money and I've had a 10 gallon FRESHwater for 2 years now and that was fine. I think I'm going to skip the 55 altogether and get a 90 or 120 next time, probably in 6 months or so.

 

[misscrayon]

I would get the biggest tank you can afford. I got my 180 tank pine stand and canopy plus an overflow box for $500...Its just the equipment thats gonna kill me...

 

[scoobydoo]

You've just set up the 90 and already have a 180. Great price, is it used? I'm hoping I find a good deal when I'm ready. My 29 gallon is an eclipse system, everything was included (heater, pump, lights, test kits, hydrometer, water conditioner, filter, salt, etc.) which I got at ***** for 200, then the stand was $90.00. Is it better to buy a whole kit or individual pieces if buying new? Is it better to buy used?
Anywho in Upstate New York (Syracuse) selling a tank?

 

[niko_rose]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the comments. They do have a 210 gal at the place were looking, but its not a reef ready tank, so no sump or anything like that, just the tank and stand.
Could go that route, just would take a bit longer, cause our filter and stuff is only rated for 100 gals. I should mention how ever, that we've got a freind that works at the best LFS here, salts only, and he said if we do happen to run into any problems that he could keep the fish tell we get the bigger tank. lol, and btw, i just love that tang police photo.
Thanks again all,