Would a powder blue hate being in a 75G?

Wiskey · Mar 28, 2018

Hello all! I think I know the answer to this,.. BUT!

Years ago, back in the 2000's when I first got into this hobby many places would recommend a minimum of a 55 gallon for a powder blue. I had one in my 180 SPS reef for years, and it is my favorite fish ever.

These days I only have a 75G. It has a light fish load, and is well setup. When I look at the recommended tank size now they typically list 125, or 180.

So my question is,.. do you think the fish would hate being in this tank?

IMG_9723 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

Whiskey

Friday24 · Mar 28, 2018

Wiskey said:
Hello all! I think I know the answer to this,.. BUT!

Years ago, back in the 2000's when I first got into this hobby many places would recommend a minimum of a 55 gallon for a powder blue. I had one in my 180 SPS reef for years, and it is my favorite fish ever.

These days I only have a 75G. It has a light fish load, and is well setup. When I look at the recommended tank size now they typically list 125, or 180.

So my question is,.. do you think the fish would hate being in this tank?
IMG_9723 by Wiskey2727, on Flickr

Whiskey

75 is too small for any adult tang. May be ok for a little while if you get a small juvenile, but will out grow a 75 very quickly....IMO

Thomashtom · Mar 28, 2018

yes way too small!!!

Big G · Mar 28, 2018

It would be like putting Michael Phelps in a kiddie pool

SashimiTurtle · Mar 28, 2018

A small one might be ok for 6 months... but I've read they grow VERY quickly. I voted that it will die and haunt you forever.

Get a bristle tooth tang. Any of the Ctenochaetus genius.

Xanthurum · Mar 29, 2018

Short answer...yes. that being said if you got a really small one like say 3 inches it would be fine for at least a year. After that it's time to rehome or upgrade your tank to at least a 125. Here is where I get crazy. Would you consider a hybrid? I recently picked up a PB/ Whitecheek hybrid and to be honest I like it better than a PB. Plus it has some of the benefits of a Whitecheek like being less aggressive and requiring a smaller tank. This pic is crap compared to what the fish actually looks like, it is almost as purple as my purple tang.

Seanislav · Mar 29, 2018

Xanthurum said:
Short answer...yes. that being said if you got a really small one like say 3 inches it would be fine for at least a year. After that it's time to rehome or upgrade your tank to at least a 125. Here is where I get crazy. Would you consider a hybrid? I recently picked up a PB/ Whitecheek hybrid and to be honest I like it better than a PB. Plus it has some of the benefits of a Whitecheek like being less aggressive and requiring a smaller tank. This pic is crap compared to what the fish actually looks like, it is almost as purple as my purple tang.

Where do you find one of those? I've only seen PBs.

Friday24 · Mar 29, 2018

Xanthurum said:
Short answer...yes. that being said if you got a really small one like say 3 inches it would be fine for at least a year. After that it's time to rehome or upgrade your tank to at least a 125. Here is where I get crazy. Would you consider a hybrid? I recently picked up a PB/ Whitecheek hybrid and to be honest I like it better than a PB. Plus it has some of the benefits of a Whitecheek like being less aggressive and requiring a smaller tank. This pic is crap compared to what the fish actually looks like, it is almost as purple as my purple tang.

Not sure the logic in the Whitecheek requiring a smaller tank when it grows to the same size as a PB...

eatbreakfast · Mar 29, 2018

Powder blues get big, are active, fairly aggressive, and has a thinner slime coat, so has less margin for error in minimizing stress. So a 75g is not a good solution for any Acanthurus tang.

MIKE NY · Mar 29, 2018

However......it can be done given the proper husbandry. I had my PBT in a 90, which is only a couple of inches taller than a 75, for over 10 years before I transferred it into a 170 where it lived an additional 7 years. It only grew to about 6” .....

eatbreakfast · Mar 29, 2018

MIKE NY said:
However......it can be done given the proper husbandry. I had my PBT in a 90, which is only a couple of inches taller than a 75, for over 10 years before I transferred it into a 170 where it lived an additional 7 years. It only grew to about 6” .....

Ah, but given the proper husbandry it will reach it's full size. If it doesn't reach it's full size then it's growth was stunted. And growth being stunted is due to negative factors, not positive ones.

Pmj · Mar 29, 2018

Seems no one has mentioned you already have a YT. I would think two in that size tank might cause it's own problems. @4FordFamily

HB AL · Mar 29, 2018

In all reality a small pbt will probably be fine in a 75 for many years. 75, 125, 200, etc. It's not like it even compares to its original habitat. If you keep water quality perfect and feed the fish regularly with a variety of frozen food the pbt will be just fine.
I'm not gonna mention the fish load I have in my 92g right now because a lot of you will say it won't work, they will all die from stress and disease, but they have all been healthy for 2+ years now.

Syed123 · Mar 29, 2018

I think a 75 gallon will be fine, provided it's the only Tang in the tank and the aquascape is open so it maximizes swim space. However, take into consideration it may need to be removed if it starts pacing, becoming overly aggressive etc.

drawman · Mar 29, 2018

I agree with the others unless you plan to buy small and upgrade big in the very near future. Some fish are just not meant for our smaller tanks

NeuroticAquatics · Mar 29, 2018

My PBT was in a 240g and it was all over the place most of the time. I can’t imagine it would be as okay in something 1/3 the size. Could it live? Probably. Would it be as healthy? Probably not.

Some kind of bristletooth, that aren’t as aggressive and that don’t seem to swim longer lengths would be my choice in a smaller tank.

4FordFamily · Mar 29, 2018

eatbreakfast said:
Ah, but given the proper husbandry it will reach it's full size. If it doesn't reach it's full size then it's growth was stunted. And growth being stunted is due to negative factors, not positive ones.

Couldn't agree more. a 75 gal is not an ethical home for a powder blue tang, or any acanthurus tang.

HB AL said:
In all reality a small pbt will probably be fine in a 75 for many years. 75, 125, 200, etc. It's not like it even compares to its original habitat. If you keep water quality perfect and feed the fish regularly with a variety of frozen food the pbt will be just fine.
I'm not gonna mention the fish load I have in my 92g right now because a lot of you will say it won't work, they will all die from stress and disease, but they have all been healthy for 2+ years now.

I couldn't disagree with this statement any more. Just because you COULD do something, doesn't mean you should. I could hopscotch in traffic, but I am not going to do that. Sorry I know I am being blunt, but I disagree. I overstock my tanks pretty heavily, I might add.

Jesterrace · Mar 29, 2018

Friday24 said:
75 is too small for any adult tang. May be ok for a little while if you get a small juvenile, but will out grow a 75 very quickly....IMO

I would disagree with that. The smaller bristletooths would be fine (ie Tomini, White Tail, Kole, Squaretail). Now that said, a 75 gallon is way too small for a Powder Blue and given their reputation for being super prone to ich (even compared to other Tangs) and their aggressive nature, putting one in a 75 would be akin to putting a captive bred Clownfish in a Goldfish Bowl

HB AL · Mar 29, 2018

4FordFamily said:
Couldn't agree more. a 75 gal is not an ethical home for a powder blue tang, or any acanthurus tang.

I couldn't disagree with this statement any more. Just because you COULD do something, doesn't mean you should. I could hopscotch in traffic, but I am not going to do that. Sorry I know I am being blunt, but I disagree. I overstock my tanks pretty heavily, I might add.

That's what's great about forums, everyone can voice there own opinions, read through them and draw your own conclusions.

botheboss · Mar 29, 2018

I had my powder blue in a 40 breeder for a couple months while my 180 was cycling. He beat the tar everything in the tank. Not much has changed toward other tangs but he’s not as aggressive towards other fish in the big tank. Yes I believe he would die for being in a 75 but I’m sure he wouldn’t be happy about it. Mine also swims end to end constantly at only about 4”