Red Sea Sailfin Tang

[RogersCG]

I am making a list of fish I would like to possibly have in my 110 XH when it is completed. The Red Sea (Desjardin) Sail Fin is one I like very much. After Julian mentioning this fish several times as a good possible algae control fish I think this is the top tang on my list now. Is a 48 x 18 x 30 inch tank sufficient for this species and, if so, what are other tangs that would possibly be compatible? Purple or Yellows?

Thanks!
Chris

[kvmn]

i got two yellow tang you can get one for 20 buck,,,here,,

[patent]

[QUOTE=RogersCG;34894] if so, what are other tangs that would possibly be compatible? Purple or Yellows? [QUOTE]

purples, yellows and sailfins are all in the same tang family, zebrasoma, and can tend to fight.

I would think a 110H would be big enough, but thats JMHO.

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[David Grigor]

For tangs, a longer tank is more advantageious than a tall tank. So a 72" tank would be much more suitable for most tangs.

[patent]

For tangs, a longer tank is more advantageious than a tall tank. So a 72" tank would be much more suitable for most tangs.

That is true, a longer tank would be better, so if you are still early enough in the process you might consider that if this is an important fish for you. You also might be better off with a smaller tang than a sailfin, as it would be rather tight with a sailfin when he gets big, esp. if you have lots of stuff in there. They like to pace back and forth rapidly. FWIW, I do think it would work, but as David notes, a longer tank is better.

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[David Grigor]

There are some tanks even a 72" tank is not really suitable, Achilles Tang & sohal tank for example, need even more swimming room.

Sailfins get really huge. While it may work for a 48" tank for a while, you will need to upgrade down the road.

If this were my decision, for a sailfin a 180g or 220g would be the minimum.

[oyam123]

Sailfins get really huge. While it may work for a 48" tank for a while, you will need to upgrade down the road.

Or eat the fish;)

They are very nice fish in a reef tank, not so much FOWLR (color).

[RogersCG]

There are some tanks even a 72" tank is not really suitable, Achilles Tang & sohal tank for example, need even more swimming room.

Sailfins get really huge. While it may work for a 48" tank for a while, you will need to upgrade down the road.

If this were my decision, for a sailfin a 180g or 220g would be the minimum.

There we go! Wife falls in love with fish, fish gets big, I get my 220g built in for the basement... Perfect plan... ;)

[David Grigor]

That plan could backfire just the same.....

Wife gets attached to fish, fish dies, wants the tank out of the house.

[David Grigor]

Also food for thought: Sprung also mentioned that it's the larger sailfin that's such a great algae eater. In that case, the time it is in the 110g before it outgrows it may not be as useful as a maintenance fish.

[patent]

Also food for thought: Sprung also mentioned that it's the larger sailfin that's such a great algae eater. In that case, the time it is in the 110g before it outgrows it may not be as useful as a maintenance fish.

In addition to the size thing, fish are often hit or miss on algae anyway. My small sailfin eats hair algae better than my rabbitfish does. I'd bet good money though that many small ones don't though. You can't even count on it eating the bad algaes as it gets bigger, depends on the fish and the system.

There we go! Wife falls in love with fish, fish gets big, I get my 220g built in for the basement... Perfect plan... ;)

Best laid plans of mice and men. Often things don't work out. I like these fish, but I'd hate to assume you will be able to put in a bigger tank for him when he gets big.


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[RogersCG]

There we go! Wife falls in love with fish, fish gets big, I get my 220g built in for the basement... Perfect plan... ;)

That was more of a joke than anything. The family will get the bigger house before this tank is upgraded and that will not happen for a couple of years...

So, point taken, thanks for the advice. The Sailfin will wait until we have a 6 ft tank that will house him/her properly... As far as tangs in this particular tank is there any others that stay relatively small and would be comfortable? I plan on doing a couple of islands of live rock and to try and keep the space around the live rock pretty open.

Thanks again,
Chris

[David Grigor]

If I had to pick 1 tang for your application I'd likely choose a Purple Tang. They don't typically pace that aquarium as others do and typically will be a better maintenance fish than say a yellow tang. Eventually though will likely outgrow a 4' tank but that pretty much true for any tang.

[patent]

A purple tang would be good, a yellow tang too.