keeping regal blue tang with clowns

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oceanix_
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:06 pm

keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by oceanix_ »

hi all, just a quick intro, im new to fish world and havent got any fish yet, but ive got a tank set up and its currently cycling, thinking of starting with somethin easy like a betta, but my long term goal is to move onto marine fish, i really wanna keep clown fish and a regal blue, would they be happy together?

i know its a big jump from a betta, but i wanna make sure i can provide the best environment for them, so if someone could give me a list of what i need for a tank that would be great, for example:

- bigger tank, prob around 50-60g
- good quality filter
- heater
- protein skimmer
- live rock
- uv sterilizer
- saltwater mix
- water test kits
- hydrometer
- etc

any help would be appreciated, thanks guys
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route4
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2022 9:02 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by route4 »

oceanix_ wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 12:25 pm hi all, just a quick intro, im new to fish world and havent got any fish yet, but ive got a tank set up and its currently cycling, thinking of starting with somethin easy like a betta, but my long term goal is to move onto marine fish, i really wanna keep clown fish and a regal blue, would they be happy together?

i know its a big jump from a betta, but i wanna make sure i can provide the best environment for them, so if someone could give me a list of what i need for a tank that would be great, for example:

- bigger tank, prob around 50-60g
- good quality filter
- heater
- protein skimmer
- live rock
- uv sterilizer
- saltwater mix
- water test kits
- hydrometer
- etc

any help would be appreciated, thanks guys
I think a regal tang would be way too big for a 30 gallon tank - they need a lot of space to swim. For a tank that size, you could have a pair of clown fish and a few small fish, maybe 2-4, depending on the type.

For equipment, you'll need:

Live rock is a must for filtration, especially for beginners like our new friend oceanix_.
You'll also need some power heads - I'd say around 600-800GPH.
Get some good quality salt - reef salt if you want to keep corals.
Coflake sand is another must-have.
A refractometer is also essential for measuring salinity.
If you want to keep corals, you'll need some good T5 lighting.
A sump can be useful, but it's not essential.
You'll also need some test kits - ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, PH and phosphate are the basics. If you want to keep corals, you'll also need to test for magnesium, calcium and alk/KH.
A good phosphate remover is a must.
You'll also need an RO unit or a good source of water from your LFS.
If you want to keep corals, you'll need to supplement with magnesium, calcium and alk.
And don't forget a separate bucket and heater for mixing salt water.

As for food, you'll need a variety of things, but I'll let someone else fill in the details on that one.

Anything else I've missed?
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rileyon
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:09 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by rileyon »

I wouldn't put a regal in anything less than a 5 foot tank. They get massive, eat a lot and produce a lot of waste. They're also constant swimmers, so need a lot of space to move around.
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rileyon
Posts: 144
Joined: Tue May 17, 2022 7:09 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by rileyon »

hey, check out blennies, reef-safe wrasses, and gobies - they're all pretty cool. also, dwarf angels could be a good choice. you can find some info on them at this site: liveaquaria.com, under aquarium supplies.
creekflow
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:13 pm

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by creekflow »

rileyon wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 3:21 pm I wouldn't put a regal in anything less than a 5 foot tank. They get massive, eat a lot and produce a lot of waste. They're also constant swimmers, so need a lot of space to move around.
"cheers guys, just keep learning, just keep learning, what do we do?.......we learn, learn, learn, lol, thanx for all the advice, keep it comin, ill be lookin into all the things youve listed, especially them blennys, reef safe wrasse, gobies, dwarf angels"
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route4
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2022 9:02 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by route4 »

rileyon wrote: Sun May 11, 2025 3:21 pm I wouldn't put a regal in anything less than a 5 foot tank. They get massive, eat a lot and produce a lot of waste. They're also constant swimmers, so need a lot of space to move around.
Just had a Finding Nemo marathon, watched it yesterday, that quote still cracks me up
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rustyfox9
Posts: 87
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:17 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by rustyfox9 »

Am I missin somethin here, what did you watch, mate?
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route4
Posts: 35
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2022 9:02 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by route4 »

rustyfox9 wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 2:07 am Am I missin somethin here, what did you watch, mate?
erm... nemo, it was on at my cousins and i thought why not, so we ended up watching it together, pretty cool film
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rustyfox9
Posts: 87
Joined: Wed Mar 02, 2022 1:17 am

Re: keeping regal blue tang with clowns

Post by rustyfox9 »

Nope, not seen it, my cousin watched it the other day and route4 watched it too apparently
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