Length of time a Tang can be in Sump

TrampledByEwoks · Dec 4, 2023

Due to some aggression in my tank I am in need of rehoming a Scopas Tang. Huge bummer as it's a beautiful fish. I currently have the scopas in the empty refugium section of my sump where it can also enter into the skimmer section (skimmer is off) and uses the skimmer to hide behind. The tang is 3-4 inches long and seems to not be overly stressed as it is eating nori and looks calm. I only have the return pump running so there isn't a lot of noise running through the sump.

Life is crazy with the schedule of three kids and the earliest convenient time to bring him to my LFS is Friday (4 days from now). Am I good to keep it safely in there until then if it isn't showing signs of stress and is eating?

TX_REEF · Dec 4, 2023

4 days should be fine, especially if he's still eating normally I wouldn't worry

nereefpat · Dec 4, 2023

How big is the sump?

cdnco2004 · Dec 4, 2023

Yeah he will be fine in there until you can get him to the LFS. QT places will place single tangs in 10g QT for 30 days. So 4 days in your sump will not be an issue.

TrampledByEwoks · Dec 4, 2023

Thanks for the replies everyone. Refugium area is 7.75"x12.5" and being its a trigger sump it has the big triggerfish cutout between the skimmer section and the refugium so it has been meandering back and forth as it pleases

jepuskar · Dec 4, 2023

I think at a minimum you need a 8ft L x 6ft W sump with Radion lighting for this tang to be happy.

TrampledByEwoks · Dec 4, 2023

jepuskar said:
I think at a minimum you need a 8ft L x 6ft W sump with Radion lighting for this tang to be happy.

Tis the season for some irrational spending!

KrisReef · Dec 4, 2023

TrampledByEwoks said:
Due to some aggression in my tank I am in need of rehoming a Scopas Tang. Huge bummer as it's a beautiful fish. I currently have the scopas in the empty refugium section of my sump where it can also enter into the skimmer section (skimmer is off) and uses the skimmer to hide behind. The tang is 3-4 inches long and seems to not be overly stressed as it is eating nori and looks calm. I only have the return pump running so there isn't a lot of noise running through the sump.

Life is crazy with the schedule of three kids and the earliest convenient time to bring him to my LFS is Friday (4 days from now). Am I good to keep it safely in there until then if it isn't showing signs of stress and is eating?

Probably good in there until the after Christmas sales start!

SaltEpidemic · Dec 5, 2023

I'd keep an eye on him, like daily. I had to put one in my sump a couple days and he didn't do well at all. Stayed hidden and deteriorated. By the time I pulled him out he looked beat up. I know it wasn't ick or anything because he'd never been exposed, or if he had then it happened prior to him coming from the ocean at 1" in size. He healed up literally in a day or two after coming out, so he was beating himself up against the sump walls and rock I put in there for him to hide.

It was an atlantic blue, his colors also changed from a solid yelled with blue rim to a striped look, didn't look good. So just keep that eye out is my suggestion.

OctaviusBrine · Dec 5, 2023

SaltEpidemic said:
I'd keep an eye on him, like daily. I had to put one in my sump a couple days and he didn't do well at all. Stayed hidden and deteriorated. By the time I pulled him out he looked beat up. I know it wasn't ick or anything because he'd never been exposed, or if he had then it happened prior to him coming from the ocean at 1" in size. He healed up literally in a day or two after coming out, so he was beating himself up against the sump walls and rock I put in there for him to hide.

It was an atlantic blue, his colors also changed from a solid yelled with blue rim to a striped look, didn't look good. So just keep that eye out is my suggestion.

That’s one clean sump.