Naso tang, rabbitfish or sea hare?

Alberta-newb · #1 04-09-2009, 05:30 PM

Not sure if this helps, but check out: http://saltcorner.com/sections/guest.../algaepage.htm

Great page for IDing algaes of all types and possible biological controls. The dictyota algaes are listed as #17, and according to the control section the rabbitfishes they list don't work (doliatus not listed though). The naso tangs are the only tangs cited for #17, as well as mithrax crabs and diadema urchin. Sea hare not cited for dictyota either.

Sounds like a tough one to control

Francis

Myka · #2 04-09-2009, 05:44 PM

I had Dictoyota and Sargassum real bad in my tank when I left it to the tank sitter once. I found with manual plucking (siphon it because those little pieces make new clumps!!), and getting the nutrients under control is wasn't an issue for very long.

fishytime · #3 04-09-2009, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the great link Francis. Sounds like the naso is the best option as it eats both of my problems.....but creates others....hmmmm.

fishytime · #4 04-09-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

I had Dictoyota and Sargassum real bad in my tank when I left it to the tank sitter once. I found with manual plucking (siphon it because those little pieces make new clumps!!), and getting the nutrients under control is wasn't an issue for very long.

As I admitted earlier I have a large fish load on the system and the only two fish I would be willing to remove are small and probably add very little to the bio-load(in the grand scheme of things). I have been manually pruning for a couple months now and just yesterday I siphoned out a small filter sock full of the stuff.

michika · #5 04-09-2009, 06:15 PM

Do that naso and I'll take it off your hands afterwards. Send you a PM.

Myka · #6 04-09-2009, 06:16 PM

If your tank is already overstocked (or pushing it), I don't think adding another large fish will solve your problems especially if (as you say) something like a Naso would only be semi-permanent. Selling one of your larger fish would probably be the best (and easiest) thing you could do. I know that's difficult to do, but I think in the end you would be happier. No one ever takes that kind of advice though. Sorry, I'm a really logical person, so to me the answer is simple. Or...upgrade!!!!

michika · #7 04-09-2009, 06:19 PM

I highly doubt that the bioload is contributing. I think the algae has just established itself due to overfeeding like Doug mentioned. Since he's got everything else under control now, its just a matter of cleaning up the left over algae. You have a couple of options, 1) manual removal - PITA, 2) letting it dissapate naturally - bad idea in the making 3) biological removal - sorta of simple.

I'd avoid the hare, they seem to be quite picky on what they want to eat, frequently eating some algae and leaving others. Same goes for rabbitfish.

Myka · #8 04-09-2009, 06:20 PM

You're biased though...you want the Naso after!!!

michika · #9 04-09-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Myka

You're biased though...you want the Naso after!!!

I also went through this type of experience before as well and it sucked and if I could go back in time and tell myself the following, life would be good; 1) urchins rock, 2) adding products is a waste of time and money, 3) grazing fish are your best friends!

Go with whatever works best for you Doug. Either way I'm heading to RC tonight, and I'm going to try and cherry pick those blond nasos (thanks for the heads up on them).

fishytime · #10 04-09-2009, 06:31 PM

If I added a naso it would definitely be temporary as my tank simply isnt big enough for anything but a juvi. At 3" a naso would be doable for a year or two maybe. My hopes would be that a naso would keep it trimmed back far enough that my recently online fuge will kick in and start sucking up what it supposed to. I have been running the lights on a reverse schedule as the display lights but may run them 24/7 to see if that helps. Catherines offer has me thinking "yes" again. Dang!