What is the minimum tank height for larger acanthurus tangs?

[toi_ss]

Hi, what do you guys think would be the minimum swim room height for large tangs - specifically a dussumeri tang. The tank would be at least 9 feet long and 4 feet wide so lots of space for them to swim around. I just like the shallow look and I also love being able to view the tank from top down, as well as having not too much weight on a small spot on the floor. Would 14" of height be sufficient? The tank would be 16" high with about a 1.5-2" sandbed. I see people keep yellow tangs in 10" bare bottom frag tanks and they seem to be doing fine - see reef builders coral tables. @Jay Hemdal

 

[AetherealKnight]

I don't think a tank height of 16" for a fish that can grow more than a foot is going to cut it unfortunately :(. There's just not enough height space for the fish. I think the length and width are fine, but the height should be at least 2' if not more.

 

[toi_ss]

I don't think a tank height of 16" for a fish that can grow more than a foot is going to cut it unfortunately :(. There's just not enough height space for the fish. I think the length and width are fine, but the height should be at least 2' if not more.

The average length of a fully grown dussumeri tang in the wild is 35cm and they are about 15cm tall. Do you think 45cm would be enough?

 

[Duane family]

It think 16" is fine as long as you don't keep them passed adult size. As an example our plan is to trade out our tangs in around 5 years starting from small size. This should mean that a small 2 inch yellow tang reaches about 4½ inches before becoming to big for the tank. Some of the tangs grow a little faster but the plan remains the same.

I agree with you on the look of a shallower tank.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Hi, what do you guys think would be the minimum swim room height for large tangs - specifically a dussumeri tang. The tank would be at least 9 feet long and 4 feet wide so lots of space for them to swim around. I just like the shallow look and I also love being able to view the tank from top down, as well as having not too much weight on a small spot on the floor. Would 14" of height be sufficient? The tank would be 16" high with about a 1.5-2" sandbed. I see people keep yellow tangs in 10" bare bottom frag tanks and they seem to be doing fine - see reef builders coral tables. @Jay Hemdal

You’ve seen my fish swimming space article? In it, I hypothesize that tank depth is the least important swimming space criteria, and anything above about 14 to 16” doesn’t add much benefit to the fish.

 

[AetherealKnight]

You’ve seen my fish swimming space article? In it, I hypothesize that tank depth is the least important swimming space criteria, and anything above about 14 to 16” doesn’t add much benefit to the fish.

Now that's really interesting, I always wanted to have a 6' shallow tank but I was told that the height space isn't enough. Thanks for sharing Jay! Gives me a lot to consider about when I plan to upgrade :D

 

[toi_ss]

You’ve seen my fish swimming space article? In it, I hypothesize that tank depth is the least important swimming space criteria, and anything above about 14 to 16” doesn’t add much benefit to the fish.

So would a dussumeri tang be alright with 14" of swim room if you account for the sand bed?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

So would a dussumeri tang be alright with 14" of swim room if you account for the sand bed?

How large of one?

 

[toi_ss]

How large of one?

Probably juvenile size through to adulthood. The average length is 35cm and the average height is roughly 15cm for an adult

 

[toi_ss]

Tank dimensions will be 250x120x50cm (filled to 45cm/1350 litres)

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Probably juvenile size through to adulthood. The average length is 35cm and the average height is roughly 15cm for an adult

That's pushing things a bit, a 16" deep tank (not including sand layer) would be better. Also, the type of surgeonfish also comes into play - those that inhabit surge zones (convicts, PBT) can navigate shallower water than open water nasos can.

 

[toi_ss]

That's pushing things a bit, a 16" deep tank (not including sand layer) would be better. Also, the type of surgeonfish also comes into play - those that inhabit surge zones (convicts, PBT) can navigate shallower water than open water nasos can.

Okay I think i'm going to make the tank 50cm /20" tall (filled to 45cm/18") with around a 4cm/1.5" sandbed. So about 41cm/16.2"