Kole Tang

[Josh]

Has anyone kept a Kole tang? I am thinking about grabbing a kole for my frag tank. 3ft x 3ft tank so its bordering on size for a tang. I was torn between yellow and kole and i was asking some questions and got basically shit on for even wanting to put a tang in this tank. Its roughly 70g with a fairly large fuge. Total water is close to 120-130g. I even have a home for him in my 150g if he outgrows the tank.

Anybody run tangs in their frag tanks? I see them in frag tanks at shops but thats not exactly an environment i look to mimic very often.

Never kept a tang before so this would be a new thing for me.

Current tank mates. 3 springeri damsels

 

[WiredWeasel]

Of all the tangs I have had they seem to be the most peacefule. They can be a bit skittish and hide alot though.

 

[Kman]

I have had mine for over 20 years. Very active fish and is the boss of the tank. It is a workhorse and always eating. It does need open sand, lots of swimming space and lots of rock to eat from. I would say a three foot tank just isn't long enough for it to be truly happy. I myself with how big they get and how active a fish it is wouldn't. Mine is constantly swimming around. It doesn't like hair algae as it gets caught in the bristles so the tank shouldn't have any. Mine prefers lots of open sand with a mixture of rock. As they like to eat detritus off the sand and rocks.

 

[Josh]

Not even if you had in house rehoming options? What do you suggest instead then?

 

[Copperkills]

Not even if you had in house rehoming options? What do you suggest instead then?

it’s on the smaller side of the tangs. I personally don’t see issues if you get it as a juvenile and re home it as it outgrows. Healthy=happy! Just monitor it’s behaviour.

 

[Josh]

Thanks for the opinions. I think im going to shy away from the Tang. I am sure i could manage the situation fine but im just not a fan of "uphill battles" if they can be avoided.

That being said the reason i was entertaining this was because i have some bubble algae and manual removal isnt going well. This is my first time dealing with bubble algae and i have to say its kind of frustrating.... Nutrient control does not seem to be doing jack shit.... I have no measureable phosphate / nitrate. I have 2 emerald crabs in the tank but they dont seem to be handling it very well. I think its hard for them to manage the egg crate properly. MOST of the bubble algae is on the substrate. Tank is going on ~7 months old now so i dont think the substrate is suddenly leeching phosphates.

Anybody have any tricks they care to share? I wish flucanazole worked for bubble algae too....

 

[Matt1997]

Try a product called vibrant. Good results over on RC with it and bubble algae. I had an issue in my tank last year. I did a 50% water change and manually removed as many as possible with toothbrush and syphon.

 

[Josh]

Yah i was reading about it earlier, vibrant will also nuke my fuge. Options are to remove all chaeto into my 55 holding tank for ~3 weeks. Theres also an option similar to flucanazole called reef flux.

Ive also read that hermits will eat it from time to time so i may try 5-6 scarlets for the bottom floor of the tank to see if they will do it. I have 2 hermits right now but no doubt if they were eating it they couldnt keep up

 

[TORX]

Bubble algae - get emerald crab.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

 

[Josh]

2 emeralds in there already that was my first try, you think i need more? or try and spotfeed them some spores with a syringe to train them? They dont appear to be controlling it

 

[Monnishan]

I have 7 emeralds in my 300. They're workhorses in mine

 

[cica]

My Kole tang doesn't touch the bubble algae.
The blue tang, sailfin tang and the foxface do eat it, whatever they can reach. These are about 6" big all 3 so I wouldn't recommend them for 3' tank. Mine is a 6', 125 g.
If you have enough hiding places in your tank, I would put in more emerald crabs. They usually do a pretty good job with bubble algae. They might fight with each other, that's why you need some hiding places for them (especially after molting they will hide).

 

[Josh]

yeah ive decided to go the route of more emeralds as well as some more hermits, also going to add more pvc under the racks for even more hiding spots, when they fought they just went into their caves and chilled out after

 

[Jewel]

I had a Vlamingi that loved the bubble Algea but they get pretty as well.