40 long tank ideas

[tracereefer]

i’m setting up a 40 long. i went with the long so i could have a larger variety of fish to get b/c the tank is 48” long(lots of horizontal swimming room. my question is: can i keep something like a yellow tang in a tank this long? what other active fish can i keep in a 4 ft tank?

 

[welsher7]

I love that size, 48”x12”x16”, tank. Some people will disagree but I think you keep a smaller tang like a yellow, tomini, kole, or any other bristle tooth tang.
Other active fish you could put in are a dwarf angel, fairy wrasses( if you have a lid), chromis.

 

[tracereefer]

I love that size, 48”x12”x16”, tank. Some people will disagree but I think you keep a smaller tang like a yellow, tomini, kole, or any other bristle tooth tang.

i agree, i feel like tank length is much more important than gallons. if a fish has 4 feet to swim back and forth what’s the difference between a 40 gal and a 60 gal besides a couple inches depth, ya know?

 

[welsher7]

i agree, i feel like tank length is much more important than gallons. if a fish has 4 feet to swim back and forth what’s the difference between a 40 gal and a 60 gal besides a couple inches depth, ya know?

I agree, but keep in mind down the road you may have to upgrade to tank that is 48”x18”. You never know you may get one of those yellows that grows in to monster 8” fish.

 

[Jesterrace]

The Yellow tang gets too tall for a 40 long IMHO. If you are dead set on a tang stick with a tomini. Also I would get a wrasse or 2 for that tank.

 

[nereefpat]

Looks like that's basically a standard 55 gallon, but with 5" less height.
I would not recommend any tang for that size of tank.

A yellow wrasse (Halichoeres chrysus) would be a great yellow substitute.

Will the tank be a reef? Some of the smallest dwarf angels, like cherub or flameback, would be something to look into.

 

[Jesterrace]

I'd go cherub vs flameback personally. Less instances of aggression towards tank mates. A pygmy angel would be a much better fit than a Tang for sure. Also agree that if the Yellow Color is something he wants that the Yellow Wrasse would be a much better choice for that tank and it is very active and full of personality to boot. Much better tank mate IMHO than a Yellow Tang as well.

 

[Sam Cohen]

Do you have any photos of the tank? I’m looking to set one up too and can’t find any pictures!

 

[tracereefer]

Do you have any photos of the tank? I’m looking to set one up too and can’t find any pictures!

fish stocking list : 2 clowns, 2 blue chromis, i bangaii cardinal, 1 fairy wrasse, 1 six line wrasse

cleaner shrimp, 10 red legged hermits, 1 pencil urchin, 3 turbo snails

 

[mattzang]

sixline with a fairy wrasse will likely end poorly for the fairy wrasse

 

[tracereefer]

sixline with a fairy wrasse will likely end poorly for the fairy wrasse

so far the only one showing aggression is the fairy actually. and that was when i first introduced the 6 line... now they’re pretty peaceful with each other

 

[mattzang]

so far the only one showing aggression is the fairy actually. and that was when i first introduced the 6 line... now they’re pretty peaceful with each other

there are always exceptions, but..

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-you-have-had-kept-but-wouldnt-keep-again.598757/

 

[tracereefer]

there are always exceptions, but..

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/fish-you-have-had-kept-but-wouldnt-keep-again.598757/

i’m definitely keeping a close eye on them... if they start being little jerks i’ll remove one of them