Originally Posted by conix67 (Post 445898)

I've heard this story over and over, and the term "ick-magent" seems a little misleading.

I've had ick breakout, and read more than enough articled written about it to understand it better. What it boils down to is that if your system does not have the Marine Ick present, these ick-magnet fishes will not get icks, ever, as long as the system is kept ick-free.

UV sterilizer allows you to control icks, but not eliminate them, so the fact that your tang getting ick time to time means ick is not eliminated, and attacks the fishes when they are weak.

I don't have a UV sterilizer, and I had an ick breakout when I added my first powder brown tang. I tried known possible in-tank treatment method such as garlic extract and PolypLab Medic, but few fishes including the powder brown died.

Now I have my second powder brown in a QT, observing its health conditions. Probably not enough to prevent reoccurrence of ick, but all I can try without out-of-display-tank treatment (copper,hyposalinity) for the time being.

It's a beautiful fish, and I prefer PBT over Kole tang for the looks.

By the way, A. Japonicus is known as "White face surgeon" while A. Nigricans is known as "White cheek surgeon" or "gold rim powder brown", and the A. Nigricans is considered hardier and easier to keep than A. Japonicus.

Originally Posted by conix67 (Post 445898)

the A. Nigricans is considered hardier and easier to keep than A. Japonicus.

Originally Posted by Coleus (Post 445925)

I think i have the A. Japonicus and the person at my LFS said it is a very easy to keep. I had him 2 days now and he is eating pellets and pick ing on algae. It is funny to see he competes with my fat hippo tang during feeding. I hope everything goes well because i really like him.

Originally Posted by Starry (Post 446046)

decided to go with the kole, and added a tailspot blenny to my order. so in all i will have: 2 black clowns, 1 six line, 1 banded goby, 3 blue chromis, 1 neon goby, 1 kole tang, and 1 tailspot blenny. all under 3" exept for the tang so my bioload shouldnt be 2 bad.

Originally Posted by naesco (Post 446049)

Great decision Starry

Remember he needs film algae. You will observe that he will be sucking film algae off the glass.
Because he is a tang and will be prone to ich also feed him garlic extreme (or garlic extract soaked) nori (dried seaweed which you can buy in the asian section of safeway or similar store.