Thanks, I never knew that a drop in refugium existed and I think it would work perfectly. As for algae, I just bought a yellow tang, a purple tang, and a blue palette tang. They are all within 1 and 2 inches long and they were eating within the first few minutes I put them in. I think these voracious algae eaters should clean out the whole tank within a week or two.
Refugiums & Algae
- Thread starter mygreengoldfish
- Start date
I'm glad to hear they're clearing stuff out. Three tangs in a 65 gallon tank is a train wreck waiting to happen, though. One tang would have been more than enough.
...And the train might be a nastier wreck even than usual, because purple and yellow tangs both tend to attack other tangs that have the same shape. Zebrasomas tend to be very aggressive towards other Zebrasomas. 
Yellow tangs can take smaller tanks than most tangs, but you still want at least a 5' tank for them if at all possible. Other tangs should really be kept in 6' long tanks. Think bare minimum of 90-100 gallons for one tang besides a yellow. More like 125+ for tangs that are similar in color or shape, like purples and yellows. The Blue Regal/Palatte tang is the only tang that almost never attacks any other tangs, but it needs the 6' tank.
You can keep them in smaller tanks, but they will be stunted and more prone to illness. I really recommend researching every fish you think about buying before you put any money down.
Yellow tangs can take smaller tanks than most tangs, but you still want at least a 5' tank for them if at all possible. Other tangs should really be kept in 6' long tanks. Think bare minimum of 90-100 gallons for one tang besides a yellow. More like 125+ for tangs that are similar in color or shape, like purples and yellows. The Blue Regal/Palatte tang is the only tang that almost never attacks any other tangs, but it needs the 6' tank.
You can keep them in smaller tanks, but they will be stunted and more prone to illness. I really recommend researching every fish you think about buying before you put any money down.
The salesperson at the fish store said that as long as they are introduced all at the same time they are fine but if you add another tang, they will all attack it. Right now the tangs are all doing great together, the yellow and purple like swimming in all of the holes and spaces between the live rock. The blue tang is about an inch long and it just picks at the algae and swims up and down the tank following me. The tangs are all small now but in the futur when they get a little bigger they might start to compete.
Rule #1: Never believe the person at the fish store. They are selling stuff to you.
Even the good ones who aren't out to make a quick buck are often years behind the times on what does and doesn't work. Always do your own homework and find out if something will work from the experts.
There are exceptions (like when you have to take in a friend's fish due to some emergency, etc.) but generally doing your own research and finding out what the experts say will serve you better than believing the people at the fish store, who do have a vested interest in selling whatever they can.
Now, I agree that adding the tangs at the same time will decrease violence in the short run, but as they get bigger and want more territory, those Zebrasomas are going to look at each other as territory invaders. Fish seem, more often than not, to be less violent and territorial the younger they are. As they get older, these traits come out. The best comparison that comes to mind is keeping a kitten and a hamster together. The kitten doesn't look at the hamster and think, "Kill!" The cat the kitten turns into is much more likely to... Sometimes not, but often enough to be advised against unless you really know what you're watching for.
Rule #2: Don't always trust answers on a forum.
Posters believe certain things, sometimes from experience, sometimes not. However, they have no money to gain from misleading you into more expensive options. They may not always give the simplest answer due to issues of personal pride, predjudice, total lack of knowledge, etc. Your best bet is to actually double check whatever you are told if it's important.
Robert Fenner (probably the expert I trust most so far) is of the opinion that Zebrasomas can be kept together, but must be watched VERY closely. He also says 50 gallons is the dead minimum for the genus. However, that all comes after this quote: "Sailfins are better to keep just one individual of one species to a system. They can and will fight with their species and other tangs, seriously damaging other similar appearing fishes, even in tanks of hundreds of gallons." He also comments that they will allow the other Zebrasoma to retreat in a tank of sufficient size. 65 gallons isn't enough to let that really happen. You assume one wins and takes up maybe 50 gallons as territory and the other is left with the other 15.
Further checking shows that the Purple Tang is generally peaceful while under 3 inches in length, but not so afterwards.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zebrasom.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/YellowTang.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/z_xanthurum.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/paracant.htm
Make your own call, but people aren't warning you as an attack on you, but based on a lot of people having problems with scenarios somewhat like the one you describe.
Even the good ones who aren't out to make a quick buck are often years behind the times on what does and doesn't work. Always do your own homework and find out if something will work from the experts.
There are exceptions (like when you have to take in a friend's fish due to some emergency, etc.) but generally doing your own research and finding out what the experts say will serve you better than believing the people at the fish store, who do have a vested interest in selling whatever they can.
Now, I agree that adding the tangs at the same time will decrease violence in the short run, but as they get bigger and want more territory, those Zebrasomas are going to look at each other as territory invaders. Fish seem, more often than not, to be less violent and territorial the younger they are. As they get older, these traits come out. The best comparison that comes to mind is keeping a kitten and a hamster together. The kitten doesn't look at the hamster and think, "Kill!" The cat the kitten turns into is much more likely to... Sometimes not, but often enough to be advised against unless you really know what you're watching for.
Rule #2: Don't always trust answers on a forum.
Posters believe certain things, sometimes from experience, sometimes not. However, they have no money to gain from misleading you into more expensive options. They may not always give the simplest answer due to issues of personal pride, predjudice, total lack of knowledge, etc. Your best bet is to actually double check whatever you are told if it's important.
Robert Fenner (probably the expert I trust most so far) is of the opinion that Zebrasomas can be kept together, but must be watched VERY closely. He also says 50 gallons is the dead minimum for the genus. However, that all comes after this quote: "Sailfins are better to keep just one individual of one species to a system. They can and will fight with their species and other tangs, seriously damaging other similar appearing fishes, even in tanks of hundreds of gallons." He also comments that they will allow the other Zebrasoma to retreat in a tank of sufficient size. 65 gallons isn't enough to let that really happen. You assume one wins and takes up maybe 50 gallons as territory and the other is left with the other 15.
Further checking shows that the Purple Tang is generally peaceful while under 3 inches in length, but not so afterwards.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/zebrasom.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/YellowTang.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/z_xanthurum.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/paracant.htm
Make your own call, but people aren't warning you as an attack on you, but based on a lot of people having problems with scenarios somewhat like the one you describe.
I'm definately with Ben...no more than 1 Tang per tank. For whatever reason, it seems like they're crazy territorial when it comes to other Tangs.
I've had a few friends that have had 2 Tangs in tanks ranging from 100 to 250 gallons, and one always ends up being killed by the other.
Try taking 2 of them back, and also punch the salesman in the face for flat out lying to you.
There are many, many really cool fish that you can have in the tank with a Tang. It sounds like you need to do ALOT more research on things. And, again, as Ben said...dont take that as a personal attack on you. I was the same way when I first started in salt tanks, and learned the hard way with many fish dying.
I've had a few friends that have had 2 Tangs in tanks ranging from 100 to 250 gallons, and one always ends up being killed by the other.
Try taking 2 of them back, and also punch the salesman in the face for flat out lying to you.
There are many, many really cool fish that you can have in the tank with a Tang. It sounds like you need to do ALOT more research on things. And, again, as Ben said...dont take that as a personal attack on you. I was the same way when I first started in salt tanks, and learned the hard way with many fish dying.I have been watching these tangs very closely and so far so good. The dealer at the LFS is very nice and would buy back the fish if there was a problem. He also said that with 3 or more they tend to show schooling behavior but with 2 they will compete until one is the winner. I hope I won't have to take any back because they are all so colorful and active unlike my algae blennie.
And I don't find any of the things you're saying a personal threat. I really like that you all are giving your opinions(in exception of punching the sales person in the face because he is my close friend I have known for 8 years) and discussing this because you could end up saving the life of one or all of my fish.
Currently my purple tang is 2.5 inches, my yellow tang 2 inches and my blue tang 1 inch. They all swim around not noticing eachother and the small blue tang likes to follow and graze with the other tangs and my goby. There is an abundance of algae so food is not an issue.
And I don't find any of the things you're saying a personal threat. I really like that you all are giving your opinions(in exception of punching the sales person in the face because he is my close friend I have known for 8 years) and discussing this because you could end up saving the life of one or all of my fish.
Currently my purple tang is 2.5 inches, my yellow tang 2 inches and my blue tang 1 inch. They all swim around not noticing eachother and the small blue tang likes to follow and graze with the other tangs and my goby. There is an abundance of algae so food is not an issue.
Now that the fish are bigger, the purple tang occasionally chases the yellow tang away when it gets too close. They are only little chases with no nipping or anything but I hope this doesn't get worse. And I no longer have to worry about my small blue tang because it got stuck on a powerhead and died last night.
