QT and Achilles Tang(He is on the way)

Reefsi

Reefsi

New member
So I finally have my Achilles tang on order to go into my 240g DT. What do you recommend for QT of an Achilles Tang? I got a 29 gallon tank setup with HOB filter, Powerhead, Heater, and a 4" PVC for hiding. I plan on holding him in there for at 2-4 weeks. My questions are:

1. What do suggest I put in as far as quarantine goes(Copper, Hypo, or just monitor)?

2. For people that have held Achilles Tangs, What you suggest on healthy feeding routine? I have purple, green, and red seaveggies on hand. I also have mysis and brine shrimp. I was aiming for the seaveggies and shrimp to be the main diet.

3. How often do I need to perform water changes on my QT? I do 10% on my tank per week(sundays). I would like to use this or do it every Sunday, I have no porblem doing it as often as needed.

4. Any other suggestions will help, I have prepared myself for this fish and feel confident about it, But I have no first hand experience with one.
 
How large is the achilles you ordered? I quarantined my small one in a 29 with no issues, but definitely have a powerhead, flow is important to these fish. When he arrives, top priorities will be observing for disease and getting the fish eating. I use a longer qt period for achilles tangs (8+ weeks), and I always treat them with cupramine and prazipro. They can be finicky eaters so I always get them eating before medication unless they urgently need it. Mine love the NLS pellets and sea veggies.
 
He will be 3 5/8" according to the DD specs. I have no problem with QT'ing longer. What size powerhead do you suggest for the 29? Also how often did you perform water changes on yours? What do you think about waiting for 5-7 days before adding cupramine? I like your idea with not going right into medications, I want to allow him to eat comfortably for 5-7 days, then start adding cupramine.
 
I believe it was 600-800gph, aimed towards the surface for aeration. It's important to monitor ammonia, but weekly water changes should be minimum, and small water changes every couple of days are better. Waiting 5-7 days before beginning meds should be fine as long as he is eating well, but remember copper is an appetite suppressant so take it slowly if the fish seems to need extra time. I ramp up cu slowly over the course of 6 days to a concentration of .4mg/l, as I feel the dosing instructions on the bottle too harsh for most fish. Remember to dose new water with cupramine before adding it to the qt.
 
Rea17 said:
I believe it was 600-800gph, aimed towards the surface for aeration. It's important to monitor ammonia, but weekly water changes should be minimum, and small water changes every couple of days are better. Waiting 5-7 days before beginning meds should be fine as long as he is eating well, but remember copper is an appetite suppressant so take it slowly if the fish seems to need extra time. I ramp up cu slowly over the course of 6 days to a concentration of .4mg/l, as I feel the dosing instructions on the bottle too harsh for most fish. Remember to dose new water with cupramine before adding it to the qt.
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+1 as for a power head goes, the biggest one you have without literally throwing water out of the tank. I did the Tank Transfer method with the AT I had in 10g tanks with a hydor 14, so they claim 1400gph and the tang loved it. The more flow the better honestly. There is a video on YouTube where a guy has a 5g bucket on each end of his tank and the constantly fill up and then dump at either end of the tank and his AT would shoot to either side waiting for the bucket to dump to play in the turbulence. Getting them to eat and eat well is the 2nd biggest issue with AT, but once they do they are pigs. Good luck and congrats on the Achilles purchase
 
WOW! Thanks for all the postings!

Yeah I have 4 extra powerheads, 2 being 1200GPH and I have it in the tank now, but when I turned it on it moved a lot of water and wasnt sure if it was overkill. It didn't move anything out of the tank so by what you guys said that is what I am going to use! I was hoping Dmorty was going to post, I have read a lot of your postings concerning this species and am glad to have your input! I do plan on ramping up cupramine slowly. Also, newbie question I guess what is a TT and is due you guys suggest prazipro as a routine med for them? I'm all for insuring healthy species no matter how long or how much work is needed.
 
Reefsi said:
WOW! Thanks for all the postings!

Yeah I have 4 extra powerheads, 2 being 1200GPH and I have it in the tank now, but when I turned it on it moved a lot of water and wasnt sure if it was overkill. It didn't move anything out of the tank so by what you guys said that is what I am going to use! I was hoping Dmorty was going to post, I have read a lot of your postings concerning this species and am glad to have your input! I do plan on ramping up cupramine slowly. Also, newbie question I guess what is a TT and is due you guys suggest prazipro as a routine med for them? I'm all for insuring healthy species no matter how long or how much work is needed.
Click to expand...

I'm no expert on the Achilles, and ended up loosing mine because of inhabitants before the Achilles that weren't "properly" QTed. Listen to what Ami said about the cupramine, she knows what she is talking about, plus she has a extremely healthy one at that! (And a Trident tailed AT I believe). I have a special place in my heart for the AT and when I upgrade my tank this summer I will get another one when running everyone thru QT again. Prazipro all fish for sure, especially ones that were recently caught from the ocean. Internal issues don't effect fish in the ocean like they do in your tank
 
That is one thing I am sort of afraid of. I put in 12 chromis which I am in the process of taking out. I also have a pair frotstbite clowns in the tank that were tank bred. These fish were not QT'd which scare me, I know I should have but I wanted the the chromis to assist with the cycle of the tank and the clowns were a spare of the moment purchase before I had my QT up. I think I will be alright though, no other inhabitants in the tank.
 
If it's from the divers den, they have a pretty extensive qt procedure. I personally wouldn't look to over stress him, and maybe just hypo for a few weeks.
 
mets17127 said:
If it's from the divers den, they have a pretty extensive qt procedure. I personally wouldn't look to over stress him, and maybe just hypo for a few weeks.
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This is a good point... So without question do not do hypo, since it is by far the most stressful and least effective treatment for ich
 
Given how susceptible the AT is to ich I think even with a DD fish a full QT is warranted. Personally, I put mine in a 29 long with an MP40 for flow, treated with nitrofuracin green powder for 10 days, CP for 30 and then two rounds of prazi. NGP always helps to ease acclimation for me and gets him (or her) eating.
 
ca1ore said:
Given how susceptible the AT is to ich I think even with a DD fish a full QT is warranted. Personally, I put mine in a 29 long with an MP40 for flow, treated with nitrofuracin green powder for 10 days, CP for 30 and then two rounds of prazi. NGP always helps to ease acclimation for me and gets him (or her) eating.
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+1^ I haven't ever used NGP, but a good source of Chloroquine Phosphate that is pure is a great way to shorten QT time while still killing off the Ich life cycle :fun2:
 
What is NGP? for flow I have a 950GPH powerhead that is moving a lot of surface water. I also have a 4" PVC pipe and 3" for him to hide in. He comes in the morning and I'm definitely excited for this! I also have a marine betta on the way, what do you think set up a separate QT or?
 
Reefsi said:
What is NGP? for flow I have a 950GPH powerhead that is moving a lot of surface water. I also have a 4" PVC pipe and 3" for him to hide in. He comes in the morning and I'm definitely excited for this! I also have a marine betta on the way, what do you think set up a separate QT or?
Click to expand...

NGP = nitrofuracin green powder available from National fish Pharm. Has become my go-to initial med for all new fish except wrasses (which I just observe). I generally QT fish together if I get them at the same time - otherwise no.
 
Ya im going to put them both in the same QT and monitor them over the next couple days. If either of them seem stressed I'm going to set up another QT using my DT water. I hope this isn't the case but I want my AT to feel comfortable.
 
They will probably be fine sharing a qt, if possible place your pvcs so the insides aren't high flow. I don't know if the betta will be bothered, but either way it gives him the choice.

On a side note, I usually don't run the powerhead until the fish has time to settle in and explore the qt a little. I find it's less stressful that way... Usually turn it on the night of arrival or morning after.
 
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