Powder Blue or Achilles Tang?

Cherub · Sep 30, 2017

Hello and thanks for reading.

I have a 133 gallon set up currently and want to add a couple of tangs. I read about both these fish on live aquaria and the powder blue is rated for a minimum of 125 and the Achilles is rated for a minimum of 180 gallons. The powder blue gets larger so I was wondering if anyone with these fish could tell me why the smaller fish needs a larger tank? I've kept kole, naso and hippo tangs in the past. They seem to be jerks over all.

I have a purple tang in the QT too and want the most peaceful reef possible with these tangs. A local shop just text me offering a smaller baby achilles, about 3 inches so it would grow with the tank. I love the look of powder blues more though but they fade with age. Ugh...

Which would you go with?

bif24701 · Sep 30, 2017

I wouldn't do the Achilles just because they most of all really need that space for swimming. Of the Tangs of this size and size demand they most of need maximum swimming space and flow.

The PB could be ok, do you have other Tangs?

Cherub · Sep 30, 2017

my question was why do they need more room if they are smaller? I have plenty of flow and a 5 foot tank. I'm trying to figure out why a smaller fish needs more room then a bigger one

SashimiTurtle · Sep 30, 2017

It's the habbits of the fish that determine the tank size. If the fish needs lots of room for exercise and swimming to be happy, it needs a larger tank. Like how you can keep a 3' eel in a 120g tank and it's happy as long as it has a cave big enough. Or how a 10" Achilles needs a large open tank for room to swim.

Cherub · Sep 30, 2017

so Achilles tangs are more active then powder blues?

SashimiTurtle · Sep 30, 2017

Denvercherub said:
so Achilles tangs are more active then powder blues?

More active, more prone to aggression, more sensitive to water changes(PB is still sensitive), harder to get eating well... you could say they are "more tangy." lol It's why they are usually listed as expert only.

I don't have a PB or Achilles, I have a Caribbean blue and Lieutenant tang. Both are more hardy than an Achilles and the PB, esp. the blue. That guy is a tank. The Lt. I wouldn't call a tank, but hardy as tangs go. I got them both small(still are) and they get along fine, the plan is for them to grow up together, so there is no aggression between them later.

pdxmonkeyboy · Sep 30, 2017

i have seen powder blues ranked higher in aggression than most other surgeon fish. Also, the achilies is really really really sensitive. if your not going to QT them then don't even think about it. they get ich if you look at them sideways.

"peaceful tank" with a group of tangs.... that's a good one.

SashimiTurtle · Sep 30, 2017

With a 125, I'd look into the Ctenochaetus tangs. They don't get as large or aggressive as Acanthurus tangs do.

botheboss · Sep 30, 2017

If you want a somewhat peaceful tank powder blues are not the right fish. I have a hibrid blue/gold rim and it is most aggressive tang I've ever owned. Not only towards tangs but other fish as well.

bif24701 · Sep 30, 2017

Robin Haselden said:
More active, more prone to aggression, more sensitive to water changes(PB is still sensitive), harder to get eating well... you could say they are "more tangy." lol It's why they are usually listed as expert only.

I don't have a PB or Achilles, I have a Caribbean blue and Lieutenant tang. Both are more hardy than an Achilles and the PB, esp. the blue. That guy is a tank. The Lt. I wouldn't call a tank, but hardy as tangs go. I got them both small(still are) and they get along fine, the plan is for them to grow up together, so there is no aggression between them later.

I have a powder brown and is much like the PB. Swims all day, hard. Also aggressive to my blenny and foxface. He is only 3-4", I can only imagine how it will be when bigger. My adult Hawaiian Naso Tang is chill and graceful, Love this fish. Naso's get big, and still a better fit for a 133.

OceanL0ver · Sep 30, 2017

My PBT is the most aggressive fish I have ever owned. I have 2 yellow tangs and regal tang with him though and they co exist in a 110 gallon.

Cherub · Sep 30, 2017

bif24701 said:
I have a powder brown and is much like the PB. Swims all day, hard. Also aggressive to my blenny and foxface. He is only 3-4", I can only imagine how it will be when bigger. My adult Hawaiian Naso Tang is chill and graceful, Love this fish. Naso's get big, and still a better fit for a 133.

Great feedback thank you so much

GHsaltie · Sep 30, 2017

Perhaps this would be a good read for you

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.215698/
@4FordFamily

Cherub · Sep 30, 2017

GHsaltie said:
Perhaps this would be a good read for you https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tang-aggression-understanding-and-combating.215698/
@4FordFamily

that was a great red, thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. So no powder blue for me.

4FordFamily · Oct 1, 2017

Denvercherub said:
that was a great red, thanks! Exactly what I was looking for. So no powder blue for me.

Thank you! I personally say that both the Achilles and powder blue require 180 gallon minimum tanks long term. Both require lots of swimming room.

Larger tanks are less stressful for the fish, and Achilles stress more easily. I suspect that's one primary reason live aquaria says that the Achilles requires it.

ironeagle2006 · Oct 1, 2017

I had a PBT in the past in a 150 and the sucker would attack my hands in the tank every single time they came into there to do tank care. He killed multiple fish I tried to introduce it got to the point I gave him to my LFS to get him out of the tank as I was tired of seeing fish killed.

victorcan · Oct 1, 2017

I have a Achilles in my 220 display and he is a rapid swimmer, my understanding is that achilles tangs are found in surge zones and like to swim in surge-zone waters with speed while powder blues are in calmer reef waters and are more likely to wander and graze