Achilles Tang Primer
- Thread starter BrianD
- Start date
reefslugs
Active member
Wish I had him
Wish I had him
Wish I had him
Hey Mike love the picture of your fish. Are the five fish the only one's in 165g? I know it say's the tank was set up in May. Did you have the achillies in the old tank? My last question is, how much flow do you have in the tank? (main pump power heads). I do love you take a challenger with large angels.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15313548#post15313548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike de Leon
This is how I feed with Nori. Even the cleaner wrasse likes it!
Mike de Leon
New member
TC269:
Thanks for the compliments. Looks like you're having much success with a smaller tank! Congrats. Just don't crowd him too much. Keep your params stable and water pristine. You should see that orange spot get big! Keep us posted.
Reefslugs:
Thanks for the compliment as well.
I also have a Maroon Clown and a Mandarin and that's it!
I did have the Achilles in the old tank. And for flow I have two Vortechs one is MP40 and the other MP20. So that's about over five thousand Gal plus return of 1100 gal. I also have a large cone skimmer that keeps the water clean.
I was only able to keep mainly SPS with the Blueface. Which I have lost most of during the transition from the old to the new tank. So starting all over with the SPS. Cheers!
Thanks for the compliments. Looks like you're having much success with a smaller tank! Congrats. Just don't crowd him too much. Keep your params stable and water pristine. You should see that orange spot get big! Keep us posted.
Reefslugs:
Thanks for the compliment as well.
I also have a Maroon Clown and a Mandarin and that's it!
I did have the Achilles in the old tank. And for flow I have two Vortechs one is MP40 and the other MP20. So that's about over five thousand Gal plus return of 1100 gal. I also have a large cone skimmer that keeps the water clean.
I was only able to keep mainly SPS with the Blueface. Which I have lost most of during the transition from the old to the new tank. So starting all over with the SPS. Cheers!
Yes i am having good success with the smaller tank with him. He is nice and fat and still eats very agressively. Also no signs of stress nice dark color no blotchy spots. Ill have to post a pic of him up here fairly soon. I think the key to sucess is deff in the oversized skimmer.. cleaner water and also higher dissolved oxygen. Also lots of flow (2) koralia 4 and (2) koralia 3 oh and for anyone looking at my signature he is not in a 55 but a 90gl
returnofsid
New member
So I read all the recommendations for a 6' tank. Then I realize that most 6' tanks are 24" deep (front to back). It makes me wonder about a tank I'm setting up. I'm in the process of setting up a Marineland 200 deep dimension, which is 4' X 3' X 27" high. With the 3' depth, would this tank be appropriate for an Achilles? I wouldn't be getting one until the tank is very mature.
I've been considering a few different Tangs for this tank, that typically have the 6' recommendation, and am trying to decide which Tang or Tangs would be best.
I've been considering a few different Tangs for this tank, that typically have the 6' recommendation, and am trying to decide which Tang or Tangs would be best.
The key to Achilles, more than almost anything else, is WATER MOVEMENT. They love to play in the surf in the wild, so with the right scaping and use of (prefaerably timer'd) powerheads, you could create a really cool "surf" zone in the middle of the tank.
Just be sure to maintain what I call tang channels, which are high current channels of water that usually run the length of a tank. It usually requires locating a tank near the front, pointing to the other side of the tank.
I have a 4' tank myself and employ this tactic, very successfully. I recently moved a Blue tang I got as a tiny baby into my 75, as he is 2" now--and though it took him a month or so to figure it out, he is almost ALWAYS in the swim channel now.
I have 2 such channels on each side of the tank (along with several others, as it is a very high current sps tank), and they are on timers that recreate the changing of tidal currents. Personally, I like to recreate as many elements of nature as possible, and this particular element is also very beneficial for bacteria colonies as well. And, a total surprise--my mandarins actually love to play in the channels as well--which I've never seen before.
The surf zone can be created in 2' deep tanks as well, but it does put some space limitation on the fish to make sure it turns before being pushed into a tank wall, etc. IMO, 3' could be even better, as long as strong channels are additionally provided.
You can see lots of footage of Achilles swimming in surf/surge zones on you tube--very cool.
Just be sure to maintain what I call tang channels, which are high current channels of water that usually run the length of a tank. It usually requires locating a tank near the front, pointing to the other side of the tank.
I have a 4' tank myself and employ this tactic, very successfully. I recently moved a Blue tang I got as a tiny baby into my 75, as he is 2" now--and though it took him a month or so to figure it out, he is almost ALWAYS in the swim channel now.
I have 2 such channels on each side of the tank (along with several others, as it is a very high current sps tank), and they are on timers that recreate the changing of tidal currents. Personally, I like to recreate as many elements of nature as possible, and this particular element is also very beneficial for bacteria colonies as well. And, a total surprise--my mandarins actually love to play in the channels as well--which I've never seen before.
The surf zone can be created in 2' deep tanks as well, but it does put some space limitation on the fish to make sure it turns before being pushed into a tank wall, etc. IMO, 3' could be even better, as long as strong channels are additionally provided.
You can see lots of footage of Achilles swimming in surf/surge zones on you tube--very cool.
Mike--AMAZING TANGS!!! Seeing an Achilles and Naso looking like that proves healthy husbandry is possible for even the most sensitive of tangs. Wow.
HAVE to ask a few questions:
How big is your achilles?
How long have you had the wrasse in there with it?
How often do you see the wrasse cleaning the achilles (and Naso too, for that matter)?
What else does the wrasse eat?
May seem a bit off topic, but I've come to absolutely believe in the correlation between the thriving Achilles and the presence of a cleaner wrasse in its tank.
Thanks!!!
HAVE to ask a few questions:
How big is your achilles?
How long have you had the wrasse in there with it?
How often do you see the wrasse cleaning the achilles (and Naso too, for that matter)?
What else does the wrasse eat?
May seem a bit off topic, but I've come to absolutely believe in the correlation between the thriving Achilles and the presence of a cleaner wrasse in its tank.
Thanks!!!
Mike de Leon
New member
Mike de Leon
New member
You're absolutely right about maturity. Wait at least six months to one year.
My tank is only 5 ft long. I was almost certain i would have had to sell the Achilles when I changed the tank from the 6 footer. But he is doing well right now and he is a large specimen.
reefslugs
Active member
Wish I had him
Wish I had him
Wish I had him
Hey Mike, can you give us a full tank shot? Old tank and new. Maybe even show your full tank setup.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15313548#post15313548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike de Leon
This is how I feed with Nori. Even the cleaner wrasse likes it!
Mike de Leon
New member
Here's an old pic.
New Tank with all the corals gone!
.
I started with a couple of frags and they are doing well. Good to go again!
New Tank with all the corals gone!
.I started with a couple of frags and they are doing well. Good to go again!
Mike de Leon
New member
Here's the heart of the system!
reefslugs
Active member
achillies
achillies
Up date on my achillies. After eight months, I lost my most favorite fish. As you can see in the one photo he was getting skinny. He would only eat nori. I tried every type food out there but only would eat nori. I would feed the other fish in my tank pretty heavy then put sheets of nori in the tank. I even target feed him (hand feed) trying to him fattened up. I soaked the nori in Kent Zoe and sprinkled in some metrodenidizal. (not sure how to spell) I've got my LFS talking to the distributor to find me a nice healthy Achillies. Can't wait to have one!!!
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view¤t=DSC05215.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC05215.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view¤t=DSC05187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC05187.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
achillies
Up date on my achillies. After eight months, I lost my most favorite fish. As you can see in the one photo he was getting skinny. He would only eat nori. I tried every type food out there but only would eat nori. I would feed the other fish in my tank pretty heavy then put sheets of nori in the tank. I even target feed him (hand feed) trying to him fattened up. I soaked the nori in Kent Zoe and sprinkled in some metrodenidizal. (not sure how to spell) I've got my LFS talking to the distributor to find me a nice healthy Achillies. Can't wait to have one!!!
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view¤t=DSC05215.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC05215.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/?action=view¤t=DSC05187.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc160/reefsluge/DSC05187.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Acrophiliac
Member
He is a beutiful fish. I have been looking for 1 for 1 year now.
Mike de Leon
New member
Re: achillies
Re: achillies
Sorry about your fish. Try to find a healthy specimen. Most important part! Good luck on the search...
Re: achillies
Sorry about your fish. Try to find a healthy specimen. Most important part! Good luck on the search...
ryshark
Active member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15343311#post15343311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike de Leon
Here's the heart of the system!
[/QUOTE
Mike-
Do you attribute a big portion of your success with an achilles to having a high end skimmer to put lots of oxygen in the water?]
FiReBReTHa
Master Blaster!
w00t, got mine eating some rods food today!
I see him chewing at the glass too... Eating copepods!
he is a fat bastard eating two sheets of nori a day, 1x with kents garlic, 2x drops dried into it for 10 minutes.
I see him chewing at the glass too... Eating copepods!
he is a fat bastard eating two sheets of nori a day, 1x with kents garlic, 2x drops dried into it for 10 minutes.
Mike de Leon
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15374651#post15374651 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ryshark
Oxygen definitely helps but I really think I got a healthy specimen.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15343311#post15343311 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mike de Leon
Here's the heart of the system!
[/QUOTE
Mike-
Do you attribute a big portion of your success with an achilles to having a high end skimmer to put lots of oxygen in the water?]
