Need Some Ideas

Well I've decided to go with a 75gal tank and take it in stride. I'm making lists of everything from rock to skimmers to fish. Tank dimensions are 48Lx21Hx18W. I'm plannning on a rockscape utilizing structure on either side with swimming room in the middle. This is going to be mostly a coral tank with 4-6 fish total. I'm thinking a sandsifting goby, starry blenny (they're algae eaters right?), shrimp goby/pistol shrimp, maybe a mated pair of oscellaris, and some kind of tang. I was looking through the stickies and didn't find anything on my favorite tang - the achilles tang. My lfs had a guide to aquarium fish and said I could fit it. She also told me I can't have a clam under T5s though so I have to take it with a grain of salt. Need your opinions and such.

Cayman

 

achilles tang = 100gal pluss tank.. reason being they are very active and need lots of room to swimm... ALong with that they can be finiky "sp" eaters... So i would not recommend this fish for your tank..

Clam and t5's = you can grow SPS corals under them so why not a clam.. i think your LFs is tryin to make a sale on a bigger lighting system for you to buy.. But thats my $.02

Keep in mind just my $.02

BEst of luck...

 

The problem with tangs is not so much the volume of the tank but the length of a tank. The only way to really understand is to see one shoot across a 6ft tank faster than you can see. Most people think 6ft minimum tank length for tangs but with your stocking plan I think it could work for you.

 

Dr. Fragenstein would be the first to tell you that you CAN have a clam under t5 lighting. But I got to it first. Depending on the clam and your light setup, you might have to put him higher up in the tank.

Sorry, I can't offer any advice about the achilles tang.

 

Yeah, I had the clam refrence in there just to say that I can't completely trust what they say. Alright so achilles is a no go, that's kinda what I figured. So how about some suggestions as to what kind of tangs would work? If nothing else I would think a yellow tang could work. As an aside, why is it that black tangs are so expensive? Are they just super rare or something?

I'm really in it more for the fish and keeping them happy, if I could keep an achilles but it would be stressed, I'd much rather not and know my fish are happy.

 

A yellow should be fine in there. Black tangs are rare.

 

It really depends on what T5 lighting system. You get a little Nova unit then probably no clam. Get a nice Tek or ATI then yes to a clam But yes, clams can be kept under T5.
A 75 would be pushing it with the achilles. But the problem I see is that achilles are probably one of the hardest fish to keep, period. I would leave that one to the experts. They are neat though.

 

Ah, I didn't know that they were up there in difficulty. Yes, I plan on a 6 bulb Tek light. I'm actually extremely excited about getting it.

So what about a white cheek or a powder brown tang?

Also how would I supply it's algae needs? Is there a simple way of aquaculturing it or buying the packaged easier?

 

I love tangs from the genus zebrasoma, particularly the purple tang. This family includes the yellow, purple, and desjardinii as well as a few other tangs. They are supposed to be the hardiest of tangs, but in my experience all tangs are parasite magnets. I would strongly suggest quarantine for any tang going into a coral tank. Tangs should be added last, the most peaceful of tangs is still semi-aggressive.

Might I also suggest attempting to get two picasso clowns? From what I've read, they have a higher chance of breeding to create more picassos, snowflakes, and misbars. That's if you can get them to breed, but it can be quite profitable. Here is a link to a thread full of info. Although there was no conclusion to the thread, there was some good discussion.

Good luck in whatever you end up doing.

 

Thanks. Thanks so much for introducing me to a new and expensive morph of clown. Thanks for now making me want this new and expensive morph of clown. My wallet hates you though. In all seriousness though, those are some wicked clowns and I can already tell you that I'll have one if not a pair.
Cayman