Achilles in my tank possible?

[luntiz]

Hi all,

I have a 150g that's 5'x2'x2'x. I also have over 12,000gph of waterflow (see sig for other tank specs). I may add another 4200gph through two MJ1200 Sureflows.

Do you guys think I can keep an achilles happy and long term in my tank?

Currently inhabitants:

True Percula Clownfish
Regal Angel


Thanks guys.

 

[Untamed12]

As the only tang in that tank...my guess is that the achilles will be OK. I believe that every tank has a limit to how many tangs it will take before you stress them out. Once that happens, your achilles will be the first to go.

 

[luntiz]

Thanks, was planning on him/her being the sole tang of my tank.

 

[BangkokMatt]

I have the same tank dimensions as you and I can't see an Achilles being happy in there. There isn't that much swimming room for larger fish, particularly temperamental, delicate fish such as an Achilles.
Personally I would love to have one but don't due to the reasons I've just given.

 

[SlowCobra]

5ft is small for an Achilles. They require a 6ft minimum tank for swim room.

 

[luntiz]

Okay thanks

 

[luntiz]

I know they are of the same genus but would a Powder Blue Tang be okay then?

 

[SlowCobra]

Generally you can get a PBT in a much smaller size than you can an Achilles. They also are a bit easier to ship and care for so I would say as long as you get one on the smaller side to start with you should be fine. Be sure to QT it before putting it into the display tank. Acanthurus tangs are ich magnets, though unfortunately 85-90% of all tanks have ich even if none of the fish are showing signs of it.

 

[luntiz]

So a PBT should be okay, wonder if they love high flow and turbulence also.

 

[SlowCobra]

Not like an Achilles. They come from a different area that is generally calmer. Having constant unrelenting flow will wear on just about any fish. If you have the PH's on a timer alternating flow to get a wave effect then you will be fine.

 

[wilcalil]

I would say every tang like high flow and turbulence. Achilles and Clown tang just love it!

 

[luntiz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13287078#post13287078 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SlowCobra
Having constant unrelenting flow will wear on just about any fish.

Is this true because I have close to 13,000gph...thats over 85x turnover, excluding any flow from my skimmer, UV and phosphate reactor.

I need to keep that barebottom clean.

 

[SlowCobra]

The ocean is not a constant, that is the way you need to approach the situation. It has constant changing water conditions. Even SPS which like a lot of flow can die if the flow is beating directly on it for too long. It will actually shred the skin right off the skeleton. Making a fish have to constantly fight that type of flow is going to lead to problems.

 

[luntiz]

Well of the 13000gph, 6000gph is from my two Vortechs in reefcrest mode, so I guess I'm not overdoing it too much. Another 2400 is aimed at the surface for aggitation.

What types of problems are we talking about? In terms of fish, I know corals can get damaged.

 

[SlowCobra]

Again I site the actual water conditions in the ocean. Fish have tons of places to go to if they need a break from getting beat up from tons of flow. They have caves they can hide in or they can simply swim to another calmer location. In a glass cage they don't have that option. So basically an unchanging, unrelentingly violent environment can lead to stress which can lead to a much much shorter life expectancy due to factors such as sheer exhaustion from constantly fighting the flow, poor eating habits, etc.

Is this a given as to what is going to happen? No certainly not. More of a what could happen with some of your inhabitants. I try to do my best to simulate a real world environment when I set my tanks up. Sure there is always going to be sacrifices made especially when you have smaller fish with larger fish but I do my best to try to emulate a real world environment and make everyone happy.

 

[dcmander]

i wouldn't worry about it too much if you have a few deep caves that have low flow

 

[rob1991]

go with a clown tang with that much flow! ! !

 

[stunreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13287527#post13287527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luntiz
Well of the 13000gph, 6000gph is from my two Vortechs in reefcrest mode, so I guess I'm not overdoing it too much. Another 2400 is aimed at the surface for aggitation.

Based on flow alone most fish should be OK, particularly if your existing clownfish seems OK.

Natural reefs are very high flow compared to what most would think....however I do agree with SlowCobra in that no fish wants to be plastered up against the glass at all times.

Out of all the families of fish tangs will be the least susceptible to too much flow IMO. Its also hard to judge how much flow one really has just based off of numbers.....aquascape, bouncing flow off of walls, the way flow is produced (stream vs. broad flow - like you mentioned Vortechs) all will effect your water current in the reef.

 

[BangkokMatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13400340#post13400340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rob1991
go with a clown tang with that much flow! ! !

Flow is just one of the considerations to take into account when considering a clown tang. Other than that you have multiples of issues to deal with. Keeping a clown, imo, requires more luck than skill. Even if you have an appropriate tank to house them there is a VERY high risk of them not surviving. Definitely a fish which should be left in the ocean.