Purple Tang Care. Tangling With Tang Husbandry Issues!  - 04/20/07
Dear Crew
<Scott F. your Crew member tonight!>
I appreciate all the sage advice I have received over the years from the Crew and come to you once again for some guidance.
<We're glad to be here!>
I have perused the FAQs on WWM and other sites relating to the Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) and am still a little concerned about my ability to provide a suitable home for one of these gorgeous fish.
<I'm really happy that you are concerned...So important to consider many angles of husbandry when contemplating keeping any animal! Good for you!>
The concern relates to aquarium size.  Some of the posts regarding their care stated the specimen in question was being housed in a "46 Bowfront" or "in my 50 gallon reef tank".  Advice was proffered regarding nutritional needs, HLLE treatment, etc with no admonishment regarding the size of these aquariums.  I have seen recommended minimum aquarium sizes ranging for 20 gallons (which I would never consider!) to 100 gallons (which I am unable to provide).  I feel confident in identifying a healthy specimen;
am aware of, and can provide, their nutritional needs; prepared to treat HLLE should it ever come to that; and have the experience and motivation to provide the stable environment they need.  
<All good to hear>
The question (bet you thought I would never get there :-))  Do you feel I have a MORE than reasonable chance of providing a suitable environment in a 36x18x18 (50G) aquarium with approximately 75 lbs of live rock arranged with swimming room and hiding places?  
<Well, to be honest, I'd be hesitant to recommend any Tang, including Zebrasoma species, in anything less than a 6 foot long tank. These fishes, although certainly not the largest of the Tangs, require significant amounts of physical space. They are active fishes, that are accustomed to foraging over large areas in the wild. To "rat hole" a fish of this nature into a tank that doesn't afford a lot of room to maneuver is really a sort of cruel fate, IMO. Kind of like having to spend the rest of your life in your living room...sort of comfortable- for a while. Also, these active fishes consume a great deal of food, and larger water volumes also offer better dissolution of the copious amounts of metabolic waste products that these grazers produce. You sound like a very conscientious aquarist, so I know that you'll understand and appreciate my admonition about space and Tangs.>
His/her tank mates would be a couple of shrimp (Lysmata ...) and perhaps one of the Red Sea Dottybacks or flasher wrasses.  I have room for one more tank and it is definitely limited to a 36" footprint.  What do you think of the probability of providing a long term home for one of these fish given
this scenario?  Caveats?
Regards,
Barry
<Again, Barry- if anyone could provide great care for this fish, you'd be the one! It's just that the space requirement is so critical for long-term success with these fishes. Do consider continuing to work with smaller fishes, or those that have lesser space requirements. On the other hand, if you can bear to sacrifice some of your other aquariums (you do have several, right?), you might be able to create one larger system that could better accommodate such fishes...food for thought, anyways! Best of luck to you! Regards, Scott F.>

Australian Lunar Wrasse Compatible with a Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) in a 55 Gallon Tank?  NO!  2/7/07
Hi
<Hello!  Mich here!>
I have a 55 gallon FOWLR.
<OK.>
An Australian Lunar Wrasse has been the only fish in the tank for 3 weeks.
<OK.>
I am planning to add a purple tang. Is it do-able?
<No!>
I have heard that the wrasses and tangs shouldn't be mixed, is it always true?
<No.  The problem is trying to stick a Purple Tang (Zebrasoma xanthurum) in a 55 gallon tank.  These fish need a 100 gallon tank at a minimum.  This fish is an inappropriate choice for your tank.  Please consider something other than a tang.  Your tank is too small for any Surgeonfish.  There are many other beautiful options which would be appropriate.  To be successful in this hobby you will need to do quite a bit of research on your own.  When considering any fish it is important to research, learn about the captive care requirements and potential compatibility issues before making any selections.  The lives of all the animals in your tank are dependant on your care.  Please be aware of their requirements for health and happiness.>  
Thank You
<You're welcome.  -Mich>

Purple tang lighting and food   1/18/06
Hi guys. <Hello Sam> I sent you an email wondering whether my lighting was sufficient enough for my tank. I have a FOWLR, 1 Picasso, tusk, and a purple tang. the tang  
is new to the tank. I have 110watts of fluorescent lighting. I also tried to feed him sun dried algae and zucchini he wont eat either, even when it is in
the  lettuce clip. Any advice on some veggies for him, and is the lighting good  enough? <Your lighting is fine for a FOWLR.  I don't like zucchini either.  Try some of the freeze dried sea veggies that are available.  Might want to try putting some frozen brine in there and get him into a eating habit.  The trigger isn't what I'd consider a good tank mate for the tang, just a tad too aggressive, and you also don't mention the size of your tank.  In future queries please cap all your I's and the beginning of a sentence.  Does make our job easier if we don't have to edit.  James (Salty Dog)>
Thanks
Sam

Adding More Fish - 09/19/05
Hi everybody:
<<Greetings>>
I have a 90 gallon aquarium with 70 pounds of live rock. One Clownfish, one Orange-tailed Damsel, one Cleaner Goby, all about 2 to 3 inches.  Also I have a Kole Tang about four inches and last but not least about a 6 inch Purple Tang.
<<Mmm...>>
I was thinking about adding a Lemonpeel Angel and either five or six Chromis or a Foxface Rabbitfish but I was worried about the Rabbitfish since they are "kissing cousins" of the Tangs.  What would you recommend.
<<Glad you ask... I'm sure you're probably quite attached to the Purple Tang, but it is only going to get bigger (can grow to 10"), and probably meaner as well.  The tank is really too small to allow it to live out its full life comfortably, so why not think about trading it to your LFS for store credit.  Once the Purple Tang is out, then I think the addition of the Lemonpeel Angel/Chromis combo OR the Foxface would be fine.
Thanks, Dave
<<Regards, EricR>>

Re: Live Sand
Hi,
<HELLLLLLLLO!>   
I have a question about live sand.  I have a 58 gallon tank with 80lbs. of live rock and about a 2" sand bed in my tank.
In the deeper lighted areas of the sand, it has started to produce large amounts of bubbles.  It doesn't appear to do this in the shaded areas.  Is this normal?
<Yep...Just the natural processes going on in the sand>
Is this the nitrogen given off by denitrification processes?
<With a bed this shallow your are unlikely to get denitrification>
I was always under the assumption that nitrogen gas given off would be dissolved in the water.  All the water parameters are good:
NH4 = 0ppm, NO2 = 0ppm, NO3 = <10ppm, etc.  The fish and inverts appear healthy and happy.
<Nothing to worry about>
As a side question, is this tank big enough for either a Kole Tang or a Purple Tang?  I currently have the following:  Cirrhilabrus luteovittatus (Fairy Wrasse), Stonogobiops nematodes (Striped Shrimp Goby) with Alpheus randalli (Pistol shrimp), Opistognathus aurifrons (Yellowhead Jawfish), (incidentally, and not to get off topic, should I be worried about this pairing of the Jawfish and goby/shrimp pair?), Amphiprion ocellaris (False Percula Clown), Gobiodon oceanops (Neon Goby), Nemateleotris decora (Purple Firefish).
<I think your tank is at capacity. Besides...tangs, especially the purple (Zebrasoma xanthurum)...are very aggressive. This tendency is even worse when you have them confined in small tanks (like a 55) with lots of little fish. The tangs will terrorize this peaceful tank. Leave it out...Pleeeeeeease?>
Thank you for all your help,
<You're welcome! I'm glad to see that you are researching before spending a $100 or more on a fish. This habit WILL save you a lot of money and aggravation. David Dowless>
Erik Jorvig