Achilles Tang decision support

[tdb320reef]

Looking to add one to my 320 SPS reef. I have 4 Yellow tang,s 3 blue hippos, 1 purple, 1 sailfin, 1 Flowari, 1 foxface, and tomaini a few wrasse, chromes, clowns. Tons of SPS, high flow and tons of caves.

Should I go with:

Large 5-6 " Achilles Tang Juvenile for 230 or Medium Adult 4-5" for 280 or none at all.

If Juvenile will it transition to its adult colors properly with a properly well fed diet?

Thanks!

 

[Dmorty217]

How big is the fowleri? That will have a lot to do with what size AT you should get

 

[tdb320reef]

it is about 5-6 inches but is very peaceful. I have not seen it chase a fish for the year I had it.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

320 is a big tank...but with 11 tangs and a foxface already in it I wouldn't recommend another tang much less an Achilles.

 

[tdb320reef]

320 is a big tank...but with 11 tangs and a foxface already in it I wouldn't recommend another tang much less an Achilles.

Great Point that is why I was thinking of removing my 7 inch blue hippo. All of the rest of the tangs other than the Floweri are 3-4 Inches or less.

 

[Dmorty217]

Great Point that is why I was thinking of removing my 7 inch blue hippo. All of the rest of the tangs other than the Floweri are 3-4 Inches or less.

I would get a small AT if you are going to do it. Whenever the AT gets close to the size of the fowleri you are more than likely going to have some issues arise

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Achilles Tang decision support

I would be more worried about your system as a whole instead of one particular fish. It seems to me that you have been able to achieve a decent balance among the inhabitants. You can try, as you suggested, removing the blue hippo but if your new tang fails on you one way or the other would you be upset about disturbing the balance?

 

[Dmorty217]

Also AT have more specialized needs than other tangs and can be a challenge. High water flow, pristine water that is highly oxygenated and a lot of free swimming area are the first three that come to mind. Also there is the whole getting the tang eating and eating well and proactively treating for ich, not just observing one in QT for 6 wks

 

[ca1ore]

I'd not put more than a single Acanthurus in any tank. Nothing but trouble IME. Multiple bristles, fine; multiple zebras, fine; multiple Acanthurus, bad.

 

[tdb320reef]

Thanks all, I netted out the Blue Hippo(Good fortune for it as the guy that bought it had a 600 Gallon) and kicked on the 57-Watt UV with a brand new bulb. It will be here Tuesday so shopping around for Macro Algae. What is the best Macro Algae that we can feed these guys?

Thanks.

 

[Arnel0387]

I'm assuming you won't be QTing him.. Good luck! And pls post some pics

 

[Triggerfish]

I'd not put more than a single Acanthurus in any tank. Nothing but trouble IME. Multiple bristles, fine; multiple zebras, fine; multiple Acanthurus, bad.

really? OP currently has many with no noted problems. in fact many large systems people post on here have multiple tangs.

 

[tdb320reef]

Hi All,

I got the fish and it came in at about 3.5" fat and healthy... thanks Live Aquaria. I drip acclimated it for 4 hours and then put it in a acclimation box for about 8 hours. For the first two days it was being harrased by the yellow tangs and more specifically the Chocolate tank which all are about an inch bigger.

It did something interesting. It hung out by the MP60 Power head and when ever a fish came near it it would swim in the path of the MP60 and the power-head would blow the other fish out of the way . It would out maneuver any other fish in the tank and has incredible agility. This went on for two days and by the third day the balance was restored.

Same day, it was eating surface algae, mysis shrimp rinsed and I would take nori soak it to where it is mushy and add two drops of garlic juice and it then inject it into the MP60 to blow all over the tank and it is eating this. I added a brand new bulb to my 57 watt UV and no signs of Ich.

It is an amazing fish for sure.

 

[glaukos]

Also AT have more specialized needs than other tangs and can be a challenge. High water flow, pristine water that is highly oxygenated and a lot of free swimming area are the first three that come to mind. Also there is the whole getting the tang eating and eating well and proactively treating for ich, not just observing one in QT for 6 wks

+1!
Good points Dmorty:beer:

tdp,mine eats like crazy ocean nutrition algea sheets(red ,green and brown)
Also for a reason i can't explain,all i achilles i've had,the first frozen food they ate was bloodworms.
Later on they ate everything.
As for macro they went nuts on red one,whenever i could have some in my hands

If you want my honest opinion(just saying what i think buddy,please don't take it as criticism) i would take out some more tangs(not only the blue one) before i'd go with the AT.

Good luck with him,so happy that you'll get one

 

[glaukos]

lol we were writing simultaneously!

Really glad you got him tdp:dance:

Interesting what he did with the power head!
So much personality in these fish!:inlove:

Hope everything will continue as smooth as up until now:thumbsup:

 

[jay13]

My AT came in with a hunger. Eats everything I put in the tank and skims the rocks till they are bare. I have a 180 and also have the tank going to the tangs. A kole, yellow, achilles and a clown. All eat well get along and are disease free (knock on wood) . The AT is the second favorite after the clown. I do have to feed three times a day. Two algae sheets and a mysis or other meaty food at lunch. Tangs rock.

 

[Triggerfish]

freakin awesome looking fish.
yeah, they like surge like no other fish. when i was in hawaii i would see them just hang in the surge area and swim right into it. pretty cool to watch.
think i might have some underwater pics of them doing this, ill have to see if i can dig them up.

 

[glaukos]

Please...please...please triggerfish dig them up!:beer:
It would be awesome to see them in their natural habitat

 

[igot2gats]

Got to see them when I was on my Honeymoon in Mexico in 2007. When we went snorkeling, the captain of the boat was throwing bread out to them, and groups of 7-8 of these would come up to the surface, and peek their heads out of the water when the food hit the water.

Was awesome to watch, and witness. Very awesome fish, and pickup!

 

[Allmost]

congrats, looks great.