First Tang

[Alice]

I don't know that tangs really qualify as hardy since they can get stressed so easliy. Blue Hippo or Regal Tangs aren't big macro eaters and hide under the rocks most of the time, Powder Brown, Powder Blue and Achilles aren't very hardy in most cases and need more swimming room than a 90 gallon tank. You've really only got room for one tang; I think I'd go with either a yellow or a purple.

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Reefkeeping is my life; I can't afford a hobby too!

[horge]

Zebrasoma flavescens would be my choice. They don't seem as skittish as their other cousins, and Alice has already brought up the consideration of fish size. Having said that, if Caulerpa control is the only reason for getting a tang, you could just as easily pull out the stuff every two weeks --by hand.

There are far less delicate fish than tangs to keep --but if you're getting a tang because you just gotta have them, hey more power to you.

A tang spooks easily perhaps because as a reef tenant (juvenile and younger), the territory it patrols can reach several hundred square feet, and a typical cramped reef tank can drive some of them batty. Excessive stress of most sorts lowers fish resistance to germs or parasites in the tank.

Tangs as a group do include some of the most graceful, beautiful, and interesting fishes, though.

HTH and if you settle on one fish and have questions, don't hesitate to bother Alice.
Or Doug. Or Steven. Or...

[This message has been edited by horge (edited 08-13-2000).]

[Big Ed]

I have some grape caluerpa spreading through my tank like wild fire. What would you recommend for a hardy first tang? I have a 90 gallon reef tank. I've been in the hobby since feb.
Thanks,
Ed

[SJLord]

Yes, Please do ask, If we dont have the answer, usually we can find it. The other question I have to pose here is, what other fish do you have in the tank? I ask this because of the 'Stress Factor'. I will also state that if you are only getting it to control plant growth, there are other methods of controling this, but if you really want one, just be aware of the amount of stress these guys can be under. Are you running a UV Ster? I dont have experience with using that but had concidered getting one when I was thinking about keeping a tang. My tank is WAY to small to keep one, so I let that idea go out the window.

HTH
my2cents
Steven

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[asmith]

I have a Yellow Tang in my 90 gallon reef along with some grape caulurpa. The tang does not hardly even touch it. He prefers to eat the hair algae, and when it is gone, he will nibble on the feather caulerpa. If you want to control the grape caulurpa, pick it out by hand. The Yellow Tang is a beautiful fish, but it does not even begin to eat the macro algae at the same rate that it grows.

Andrew