Yellow Tang

briandg

briandg

Member
I'm not ready to add fish yet, but I'm looking trying to decide what I will eventually add. I was on another well known site looking at Tangs and noticed that it stated at Yellow Tang could be kept in a tank 50g or more. It gave higher requirements for all if it's other Tangs. I have read on this board that a 55 g tank is not large enough for Tangs. Is a Yellow Tang an exception or would it still be too cramped for a 55g tank. Please don't flame, I am trying to get the best advice for a successful tank in the future. My tank is set up as follows:
55gal
70lbs lr
40 lbs ls
Filstar X2 canister filter
Prism skimmer
2 maxijet 600 powerheads
PC lighting (2 65 watts) I know I will need to upgrade this if I decide to add corals
Thanks in advance for the advice.
 
smoney

smoney

Active Member
Ok, well first off watch out for the TANG POLICE! I actually have a yellow tang in a 50 gallon, and you can put one in a 50 gallon, it isnt recommend, but I have researched and a ton of references said that they are fine in 50 gallon tanks. The one I have is just small 3" one and will do fine for the time being. Eventually I will have to give him to someone with a bigger tank, or I am starting to put in plans for a bigger tank, so hopefully by that time, I can put him in there. Mine is doing fine, very healthy, very bright yellow, they have tons of personality.
Tang Police- People who are concerned for the well being of Tangs health and happiness and hate on people that do not have tanks that fit the right requirements for Tangs.
 
nathanrr

nathanrr

Member
Yes, YT will be fine. I have a 7+in YT in my 55 and he's doing fine.
But be careful in putting him in a new tank
Because they doo-doo a LOT especially the big one's! :scared:
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
I have been to several other sites that have given a 50 gal min tank requirement for yellow tangs but I think a bigger tank would be better. Of course that is just my opinion but that is all I have to offer...
 
1journeyman

1journeyman

Active Member
Originally Posted by NATHANRR
Yes, YT will be fine. I have a 7+in YT in my 55 and he's doing fine.
But be careful in putting him in a new tank
Because they doo-doo a LOT especially the big one's! :scared:
That'a a great reason NOT to have one... a 7 inch fish in a 55?
Tangs swim A LOT.. they need room.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
A kole is probably a better choice. But many people have had healthy yellows for a long time in a 55.
 
mikeyjer

mikeyjer

Active Member
I would agree with the yellow tang part, but I do have to say as they grow larger, they do need a larger home like most large fish do. A 55 is too crampy for a 7"+ Yellow Tang!!! My Yellow Tang is around 5" in a 46 bow and I'm looking for a larger tank to put her in as she is growing larger by the day. I've had her for a while now, about 6 months or so and she have grown quite a bit already. She was sick when I first bought her, but I took care of that. She's healthy and eating well. You've got to remember if they get too crampy, they can stress easily! Hoping to have mine in a 75+ gallon by summer. :happyfish
 
nathanrr

nathanrr

Member
OOOOOOOOOOOOk stop right there!
My yellow tang is happy and doing JUST fine!
He's about this long...
.__________________________________________________________.
How ever long that is I'm not sher? All together I have 65+gall of water
{becuse of my sump}. I have a cinnamon and a clarke clown, a humahuma..
triger, a YT and a green carpet anemone! They are alllll happy! And they've
been all happy for 2-years! I'm NOT a beinger in the hobby and I
know that I will need to upgrad....or just get rid of my huma-huma.
BUT my YT Is going to be just fine.
Bye-the-way
All tang's like LOT'S of Oxygen in the water so get extra airstone's
if possible.
 
mikeyjer

mikeyjer

Active Member
Originally Posted by NATHANRR
OOOOOOOOOOOOk stop right there!
My yellow tang is happy and doing JUST fine!
He's about this long...
.__________________________________________________________.
How ever long that is I'm not sher? All together I have 65+gall of water
{becuse of my sump}. I have a cinnamon and a clarke clown, a humahuma..
triger, a YT and a green carpet anemone! They are alllll happy! And they've
been all happy for 2-years! I'm NOT a beinger in the hobby and I
know that I will need to upgrad....or just get rid of my huma-huma.
BUT my YT Is going to be just fine.
Bye-the-way
All tang's like LOT'S of Oxygen in the water so get extra airstone's
if possible.
You can whatever all you want, but it is recommanded for most sites that YT needs at least 55-75 gallons!!! That's NOT including your SUMP! A lot of us here are NOT beginners either!!! It's basic needs for movement, how do you feel if someone cramp you in a small room? Not being mean here, just making a comment! I'm sure your YT is quite happy, but there's been some recent post about someone's tang in a small tank stressed out and died. All the other inhabitants were fine. But he wasn't sure exactly what happened and all he could think of was stress in a small tank. I'm not a Tang police here nor am I telling you or anyone here what to do, just giving a little advice! It's either take it or leave it, no need to get nasty!!! JMO!
:happyfish
 
smoney

smoney

Active Member
Ok, I just got a 10 gallon refugium recently for my 50 gallon DT. Now, Do I say its a 60 gallon set up? And say that a Yellow Tang is in a 60 gallon tank? When I search for livestock to I look for what can go in a 50 gallon or a 60 gallon tank?
 
jerthunter

jerthunter

Active Member
For most any fish you go by the size of your display because swimming room is the important thing. Tangs need lots of swimming room so even more important then just tank gallons is tank length. Like most 55 gal and 75 gal tanks are 4 feet long so there isn't much of a difference for the tang. Having a big sump only helps with your bioload..
 
nathanrr

nathanrr

Member
Originally Posted by Mikeyjer
You can whatever all you want, but it is recommanded for most sites that YT needs at least 55-75 gallons!!! That's NOT including your SUMP! A lot of us here are NOT beginners either!!! It's basic needs for movement, how do you feel if someone cramp you in a small room? Not being mean here, just making a comment! I'm sure your YT is quite happy, but there's been some recent post about someone's tang in a small tank stressed out and died. All the other inhabitants were fine. But he wasn't sure exactly what happened and all he could think of was stress in a small tank. I'm not a Tang police here nor am I telling you or anyone here what to do, just giving a little advice! It's either take it or leave it, no need to get nasty!!! JMO!
:happyfish
I'm sorry if I got a little upset. I don't mean to sound like I know it all {becuse
I don't}I was just trying to give advice. So please don't get offended.
I'm sorry
 
mikeyjer

mikeyjer

Active Member
Originally Posted by NATHANRR
Bye-the-way
My aquarium is 4-ft so maybe that's the "trick"?
4ft is helping! I'm ok though! It's all good!!!!!!!!!
:happyfish
 
mikeyjer

mikeyjer

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jerthunter
For most any fish you go by the size of your display because swimming room is the important thing. Tangs need lots of swimming room so even more important then just tank gallons is tank length. Like most 55 gal and 75 gal tanks are 4 feet long so there isn't much of a difference for the tang. Having a big sump only helps with your bioload..
Eactly what I'm saying!!!
 
wilsonreef

wilsonreef

Member
Have you ever watched your TANG..(sorry 'bout that )swim? they are like marathon swimmers and speed is one of their strong points. Just another reason for a larger tank is they need room to move.....at the speeds they move a large tang can run into the sides of the tank, live rock, etc. They do stress easily and with stress usually comes ick. Any fish will last in a small tank, the question is for how long? Unfortunately not very long at all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top