Achilles tang

[Ryan15236]

I really love the Achilles tang. I want that fish that can really make my tank a little special. I will give you guys a little tank bio and you can let me know what you think. The LFS has a awesome healthy 3 inch specimen right now.
125 gallon DT 72x18
55 gallon sump
35x tank turnover
Mixed reef with LPS and softies right now.
Fish stocking. This would be my only medium to large fish and be the fish the tank is devoted too.
2 clowns
Royal gramma
Firefish
Flasher wrasse
And a group of 3 Anthias
If you guys don't see it working out for me maybe another fish recommendation. Really looking for something different than the typical yellow tang although I do like them.

 

[Picturesque Aquatics]

I have a small achilles hybrid for sale as well as achilles and goldrim tangs. Check them out at www.picturesqueaquatics.com

 

[robert]

I love my achelles...he loves flow and is quite active but doesn't pace the way a powder blue sometimes does...

He likes run length more than depth - so a 72" will work - nothing less than 60.

Great community fish but will mix it up with other tangs....

good choice. do it.

 

[Ryan15236]

Awesome. Well here is the thing. I would have to add the anthias after the achilles if I went ahead and got the achilles at LFS. Bad idea? should I wait to stock all other fish first then go for the achilles or will it leave some anthias alone as new additions?

 

[robert]

tangs establish a pecking order among themselves and will pick on each other a bit - but they leave everyone else in the tank alone. My achilles did chase one fish that was not a tang...a blue damsel. He hated it...but then so did all the other fish. Damsels can be jerks...

Anthias? not a poblem at all - either way - they'll get along.

 

[ca1ore]

Tangs unlikely to give anthias a second look.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Because of minimum size recommendations, I'd probably go with something like a Purple Tang rather than an Achilles. I'd suggest you check out www.liveaquaria.com as a good source of info on what might be good options for your tank.

 

[robert]

Because of minimum size recommendations, I'd probably go with something like a Purple Tang rather than an Achilles. I'd suggest you check out www.liveaquaria.com as a good source of info on what might be good options for your tank.

Tank size recommentations on that site are not very informative. 180 gallons (EVEN LARGER) can be many dimensions - not all of which would be suitable to this fish. For example, I've kept achilles in 90 gallons in which they were very happy and thrived (36x72x8). In my experience the dimensions are much more important than the gallonage for some species of fish - achilles tangs are one of them as they like surge zones and flow and love to race. No tank without a at least one dimension in excess of 60" is suitable for this fish. And thats cutting it.

72" is confortable, 18" is pinched - depth doesn't matter too much - they use it if its there but dont require it.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Yeah, without other tangs a 125 should work. They LOVE igh water flow. The higher the flow the happier the achilles.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Tank size recommentations on that site are not very informative. 180 gallons (EVEN LARGER) can be many dimensions - not all of which would be suitable to this fish. For example, I've kept achilles in 90 gallons in which they were very happy and thrived (36x72x8). In my experience the dimensions are much more important than the gallonage for some species of fish - achilles tangs are one of them as they like surge zones and flow and love to race. No tank without a at least one dimension in excess of 60" is suitable for this fish. And thats cutting it.

72" is confortable, 18" is pinched - depth doesn't matter too much - they use it if its there but dont require it.

I understand what you're saying. However, I'd say that the size recommendations at LA are usually based on standard tank dimensions, so if they're recommending a 180, that's going to be a 6' x 2' x 2' tank. Granted aquascape also comes into play, but trying to give a general guideline to something that specific/unique (scape is different in every tank) is going to be impossible. So, taking for granted that the size reference in the minimum recommendation is a standard sized tank, I'd say the recommendation is a good place to start. Now, it's s guideline and not a "law," so it's not hard and fast, but if you're going to defy the recommendation, it would probably be a good idea to know why you think you have a tank that's the exception rather than the rule. In this case, a 125 and a 180 (standard dimensions assumed) are the same length at 6' but not the same width (or height). The width is considerably less in a 125. I personally prefer to take those guidelines into consideration when making a decision about a fish, and I recommend them...if someone decides to disregard them, that's fine, but they should know WHY they're disregarding them.

 

[4FordFamily]

To reiterate https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...ears-of-experience-and-ich-management.206347/

 

[robert]

I understand what you're saying. However, I'd say that the size recommendations at LA are usually based on standard tank dimensions, so if they're recommending a 180, that's going to be a 6' x 2' x 2' tank. Granted aquascape also comes into play, but trying to give a general guideline to something that specific/unique (scape is different in every tank) is going to be impossible. So, taking for granted that the size reference in the minimum recommendation is a standard sized tank, I'd say the recommendation is a good place to start. Now, it's s guideline and not a "law," so it's not hard and fast, but if you're going to defy the recommendation, it would probably be a good idea to know why you think you have a tank that's the exception rather than the rule. In this case, a 125 and a 180 (standard dimensions assumed) are the same length at 6' but not the same width (or height). The width is considerably less in a 125. I personally prefer to take those guidelines into consideration when making a decision about a fish, and I recommend them...if someone decides to disregard them, that's fine, but they should know WHY they're disregarding them.

I think it is also fair to say that a gallonage recommendation (Live Aquaria) when there is a dimensional requirement can be less than helpful.

The OP states his tank dimemsion in his openeing post. I replied 72" was fine - 60" in my experience was the minimum possible. Depth matters little. If you've ever watched an achellis in a shallow tank with high flow and some wave makers going, you can see how much they love riding the current. They time it and use it - they almost surf it. Very fast agile fish.

 

[robert]

To reiterate https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/i...ears-of-experience-and-ich-management.206347/

Geez...I read that thread.

Some of what we think are best practices in this hobby are just wrong in my opinion. Tangs especially the Acanthurus tangs are very susceptible to ich, but ich (and velvet) is also manageable - not through dips and medications but through filtration.

Diatomaceous earth filters take it out very effectively - I wouldn't keep a tang without one.

check out: http://aquarticles.com/articles/management/Lawler_Diatomfilters.html

 

[Ryan15236]

I feel like I am being reasonable here but also know that I am on a very thin line with the tank size. The tank would be devoted to the fish basically. A few other smaller tankmates and none of which would compete for the tangs food so the tang shouldn't see any of the fish as a threat. This would greatly reduce the stress on the tang. My tank has probably a little better than average flow right now. I just have 4 Koralia 1150s and a mag 18 running the system. Going to make the switch to the gyre or mp40 sometime sooner rather than later. Also my aquascape was designed for having ample swimming space with the tank real estate available. I have a two island aquascape and used about 90 lbs of rock in the DT. I don't see how the 6 inches of width in the tank could make or break success with the fish. Obviously it would be better and the fish would have some more room to turn around I suppose and water volume. However, I feel if the fish can't thrive in a 125 gallon then I am not sure if could in a 180 gallon. When referring to standard tank sizes I believe the reference of the tank size should be giving in length of the tank. Unless you have like some crazy 300 gallon DD that is 6x3x2.5

 

[robert]

Your fine in that tank size - just leave a long run. Tangs don't turn in large arcs...they pivot, flip agound almost inplace.
Give them runway...and stuff to fly around and over...lots of strong changing flows and they're happy.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I think the op is fine as well in this instance.

 

[Jeffys]

Yeah, without other tangs a 125 should work. They LOVE igh water flow. The higher the flow the happier the achilles.

Mine would swim right in front of the power head!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I feel like I am being reasonable here but also know that I am on a very thin line with the tank size. The tank would be devoted to the fish basically. A few other smaller tankmates and none of which would compete for the tangs food so the tang shouldn't see any of the fish as a threat. This would greatly reduce the stress on the tang. My tank has probably a little better than average flow right now. I just have 4 Koralia 1150s and a mag 18 running the system. Going to make the switch to the gyre or mp40 sometime sooner rather than later. Also my aquascape was designed for having ample swimming space with the tank real estate available. I have a two island aquascape and used about 90 lbs of rock in the DT. I don't see how the 6 inches of width in the tank could make or break success with the fish. Obviously it would be better and the fish would have some more room to turn around I suppose and water volume. However, I feel if the fish can't thrive in a 125 gallon then I am not sure if could in a 180 gallon. When referring to standard tank sizes I believe the reference of the tank size should be giving in length of the tank. Unless you have like some crazy 300 gallon DD that is 6x3x2.5

It sounds like you've taken the recommended tank size into consideration, and you've made adjustments in your aquascape to allow for extra swim room. I do tend to think width (just like aquascape) makes some difference, but again, it's a guideline not a law, so as long as you've thought about it, you make the decision that seems best to you. After all, it is YOUR tank! So none of us can tell you what you HAVE to do. You asked for recommendations, so I gave one...but in the end we all gather info and make the best decision we can. Best of luck with your tang! And please be sure to keep us posted and post pics! I love Achilles tangs!

 

[4FordFamily]

Geez...I read that thread.

Some of what we think are best practices in this hobby are just wrong in my opinion. Tangs especially the Acanthurus tangs are very susceptible to ich, but ich (and velvet) is also manageable - not through dips and medications but through filtration.

Diatomaceous earth filters take it out very effectively - I wouldn't keep a tang without one.

check out: http://aquarticles.com/articles/management/Lawler_Diatomfilters.html

Sorry,

That is absolutely incorrect with acanthurus tangs, particularly Achilles and powder blues/Browns and goldrim.

You're talking to someone that utilized ich management as you describe very well for over a decade. Because of the thinner slime coat of these fish, high stress tendencies in captivity, and the fact that unlike the ocean, they're captive to the parasite which can exponentially reproduce and the fish cannot swim away to another area to avoid the next generation and they become a sitting duck.

You didn't read the thread if you still feel that way. You may have read a few sentences and stopped because you dissent. That's fine but I've killed dozens of these fish trying to keep them the same way I've kept every other fish (ich management). Pristine water and high flow made zero difference.

Since proper qt methods, two Achilles, two powder blue, a powder brown and a goldrim have thrived. Two PBT died due to arriving emaciated. 85% vs 5% is quite an improvement.

Obviously you do what you want but I want to make sure people have the correct information from someone who has esperience doing things both ways to contrast, and actually owns several of these fish that are healthy and thriving and has several other expert level fish thriving such as moorish idol, regal angel, 8 leopard wrasse, copperband butterfly, among others.

 

[Ryan15236]

What do you think about ich management when the Achilles is the only fish competing for it's food with minimal other fish. Like 2 clowns a royal gramma, firefish, and fairy wrasse. I have read some other forum threads of people having very low fish stocking and the fish being in sps tanks, which normally are pristine water and high flow, and saying their Achilles would occasionally get a few spots but they just used garlic and selcon with lots nori and the tang always fought it off quickly. I have intentions of QTing the fish I am just saying what if I mess up and a little ich gets through and the fish does develop a few spots.