Formula II
Hi,
I'd just like to echo the thoughts regarding the Formula II frozen cubes. These work like a charm and contain all the nutrients necessary to keep your tang alive and healthy.
I also think grazing is important - which is why I've always kept razor caulerpa in the main tank.
A few pinches of any reputable flake food make for a quick cheap snack as well. We used to do two cubes of Formula II every other night and supplement with other foods (community tank) in between.
Most people who keep tangs actually have them quite undernourished - a point along the lines of Orion girl's thoughts. Tangs in the wild are huge and fat. In our tanks they are quite gaunt by comparison. Many years ago people strived to put minimal amounts of food in the tanks. There was always this "issue" of polluting tanks and causing mass amounts of waste buildup. Tanks with sandbeds can process extremely efficiently, and we should never skimp on our fishes diets in order to "not pollute" the tanks.
Ideally, small gradual feedings throughout the day are better than one massive feeding per day since more of the food gets to the fish as opposed to the cleanup crews.
The old idea of feed your fish as much as they will eat in 5 minutes has always been a successful method - but I think the happiest fish are those that get this "meal" at least a couple of times a day. You can "mix" the foods up, but again I must recommend the Formula II frozen as a mainstay; it's worked superbly for me for years.
There is this really neat "device" which I think is appropriate to mention. It is this floating "rectangle" - basically a plastic rectangle surrounded with foam so it floats on the surface of your tank. You can then drop your pinches of flake in it, and they gradually "soak and sink" to the tank. This helps prevent food from disappearing instantly into the overflows.
It makes feeding much more convenient. These should be in the food area of bigger fish stores. Probably the neatest "tool" for feeding I've ever used.
Good luck with the tang - they shouldn't be picky eaters, but as mentioned - we need to be responsible and ensure they get a well-balanced diet.