Achilles Tang Success Stories

[Irod72002]

He does now ;-) unfortunately it took almost two years until he figured out that he loved NLS. Now he goes crazy for it...I'm still working on him eating mysis, hopefully by year 3 we'll get that down. But as you can see, he's not lacking in the weight department...LOL

My Achilles has now started taking NLS! Eats anything I put in the tank now. However, he still gets ich but I'm hoping his immunity will overcome it. It comes and goes.

 

[LegitFish]

Mine is eating nori, brine, mysis, and spralina flakes

 

[zoanthid26]

I have never attempted an Achilles but one day I really want to, and this would be my ideal plan of action.

Flow: Since Achilles are naturally found in surge zones where the current is incredibly overpowering, in order to closly replicate their natural environment there should be so much flow that the only coral you will be able to keep are acros and the only other fish should be incredibly strong swimmers, i.e other large agressive tangs such as a clown or sohol. No gobies, blennies, or clownfish for this tank. I'm thinking 5-10 times more flow than you would find in the average reefers tank.

Diet: A varied diet consisting of calurpa (cultured naturally in a refugium), new era aegis pellets, new era marine grazers, larrys reef frenzy, larrys fish frenzy, larrys herbivore frenzy and new life spectrum pellets. Feed 2-4 times daily.

Tank Setup: I believe at least a 210 gallon is necessary to provide plenty of swimming room, lots of live rock for hiding/grazing, a UV sterilizer to help protect against ich and other parasitic infections, a refugium for nitrates, and GFO reactor for silicates and phosphates. Obviously there will be more equipment on this tank but these are a few things that many reefers overlook and I think is absolutely necessary for something as delicate as an Achilles. Maybe you can do without the GFO assuming your phosphates and silicates are in check.

Sound like a good plan? What do you other reefers think?

 

[Kworker]

I have never attempted an Achilles but one day I really want to, and this would be my ideal plan of action.

Flow: Since Achilles are naturally found in surge zones where the current is incredibly overpowering, in order to closly replicate their natural environment there should be so much flow that the only coral you will be able to keep are acros and the only other fish should be incredibly strong swimmers, i.e other large agressive tangs such as a clown or sohol. No gobies, blennies, or clownfish for this tank. I'm thinking 5-10 times more flow than you would find in the average reefers tank.

Diet: A varied diet consisting of calurpa (cultured naturally in a refugium), new era aegis pellets, new era marine grazers, larrys reef frenzy, larrys fish frenzy, larrys herbivore frenzy and new life spectrum pellets. Feed 2-4 times daily.

Tank Setup: I believe at least a 210 gallon is necessary to provide plenty of swimming room, lots of live rock for hiding/grazing, a UV sterilizer to help protect against ich and other parasitic infections, a refugium for nitrates, and GFO reactor for silicates and phosphates. Obviously there will be more equipment on this tank but these are a few things that many reefers overlook and I think is absolutely necessary for something as delicate as an Achilles. Maybe you can do without the GFO assuming your phosphates and silicates are in check.

Sound like a good plan? What do you other reefers think?

Flow: The flow is not as important as the level of oxygen present in the system, lots of flow just makes it easier to have the water oxygenated. So I do agree with this idea. However, if you know what you are doing you can provide sufficient flow and not only be limited to SPS.

Diet: Life seaweed is loved by them you are correct. However, provided a variety of seaweed sheets every day is a good alternative IMO.

Tank Setup: I rescued mine, I am unsure if you seen my thread from a month or so ago. I have a 180, same footprint as a 210 so for argument sake a 180 is its equal. I believe this is the absolute minimum. After seeing him swimming around I wish we were able to find the 8foot 240gal we were hoping to find.

If you have a footprint of 6x2x2 at a minimum, which is also the minimum advised by Liveaquaria who tends to be fairly accurate you should be fine. I have nearly 60x my system in GPH. If you have atleast 1 or two big powerheads, he will be playing in it all day like mine does.

For Tank mates: I feel it is best to have fish that can handle bullying, I would worry more about the Achilles pestering fish rather than the fish getting beat up by the flow. My Achilles enjoys chasing around chromis from time to time because he can.

 

[Kworker]

I have wanted an achilles for years now, but waited until I think I am ready. I have 5 different tangs in my 210 that get along great and have maintained good health, so I might be almost there. I here that the trick to avoiding the ich is having a good UV sterilizer.

Not a good idea, if you are getting a fish like an Achilles you must do your best to let him be the boss. I have the Achilles, a Tomini and a Yellow in my tank. They know to get out of his way and he has only been in there for about a week. 6 tangs are a lot unless you have a very large system.

Trust me, I wish it didnt matter. I brought home a 5-6" sick purple tang yesterday that I am QT'ing in my permanent setup because it looked like it was starving to death at the LFS. I wish I could add him to my system without any issues. But I know the chances are not worth it that it will disrupt my current system.

 

[Kworker]

 

[cumbeje]

I have had one for over a year. Feed tank once a day with frozen Mysis and Brine shrimp. Feed one sheet of purple seaweed every other day. Several tangs in tank. I bought mine from live aquaria. Very active fish. In A 720 gal SPS tank so plenty of flow.