Reccommended tang tank size for newbie

[J. H.]

I am thinking of setting up a tang tank sometime in the near future. My experience with cichlids = angels and their aggression makes me nuts I have kept sunfish, so it's not like I've never seen an aggressive fish. Anyway, I want a tang tank. I like Cyprochromis Leptosoma and Neolomprogus Leleupi and the shellies I don't go for the shellies' color, just the shell stuff. What size tank should I look for?

 

[paulW]

The bigger the better. I would say 55 gallon minimum for Cyps. Sure, they can be kept in a smaller tank, but they are more fun when they have swimming room.

All the fish you listed are non-aggressive.

 

[J. H.]

Non aggressive means I can throw some of my mollies/guppies in with them?
I have a 90. I was thinking of partitioning 1/3 of it with a diy 3D background for an in tank sump and using about 60g of it for the fish. Is that good?
How much filter gph would I need?

 

[DJRansome]

I would go at least 48" for non-jumbo cyps and I would stock at least 12. Leleupi will eat shellies so I would choose one or the other. No idea what would happen with mollies and guppies...

 

[J. H.]

If they'll eat shellies, I don't want the leleupi. Are there any other tangs with the same small size and a nice, solid color? those leleupi look like saltwater tangs. These three fish are why I want tangs and not malawi

 

[stempy]

Why limit their room? Makes no sense, just use a trickle or canister filter to leave as much room for the fish as possible.

 

[DJRansome]

As many of us have discovered...leleupi are one of the only Tangs with that bright overall color. In general, Tangs have more of a black and white theme, will some colorful fins here and there.

 

[J. H.]

I want to keep the 90 in a closet and need to still be able t hang clothe over it. Maybe I'll find somewhere else to put it and then I'll build it a planted refugium filter for it - I've always wanted one of those.

 

[J. H.]

...leleupi are one of the only Tangs with that bright overall color. In general, Tangs have more of a black and white theme, will some colorful fins here and there.

Maybe I'll set up a 10g for the shellies on my desk and put shellies in there. What else can I keep with leulupi that look as nice as cryps? can I keep plants with them? Agaon, how much gph do I need?

 

[J. H.]

Leleupi will eat shellies so I would choose one or the other.

I see a lot of people keeping shellies with leleupi. Is this your experience?