Not enough algae and I want a flame angel.

zantho

zantho

Member
My 72g FOWLR has been up for 4 months now. There is a small smattering of diatoms, but no real algae to speak of. I've got about 80lbs of live rock, but it was pretty algae free when I purchased it. Eventually I want to add a flame angel once the tank is "mature". I do occasionally get a sprig of something green popping up, but the hermits get to it pretty fast. If flame angels like to graze, I'm not sure what would be in my tank to graze on.
What I'm getting at is, do I want to introduce a piece of LR with some hair algae? Or is that just a bad idea. Something for emerald crabs or a flame angel to pick at maybe? What does a mature tank need to look like for a flame angel. Would clipping sheets of algae to the side of the tank keep it happy?
 
nigerbang

nigerbang

Active Member
Please dont introduce hair algae..You will never get rid of it and hate life and yourself for doing it and want to destroy everything around to get rid of it...hmmm Sorry about that..No..Hair algae is bad..
 
zantho

zantho

Member
I saw a reef tank with some caulerpa in it, I didn't like the mixed look of it, but perhaps in my FOWLR it would be nice. Could I just add a bit and then expect a flame angel, some crabs, or maybe a kole tang to keep it under control (or finish it off)?
 
fishgeek01

fishgeek01

Active Member
putting hair algae in your tank would be the worst idea IMO. I would count my blessings with a tank that has little to no algae at all, even with the clean up crew i have and the tang, coral beauty angel, lawnmower blenny, i still have substainal algae growth. I would buy the algae in sheets. the green, red and purple all come in the sheets. As for the dwarf angels, i beleive that in order to have them your tank has to be mature so that there are enough little hitchhiker sponges in it, as well as your macro and micro algaes, and all of the other little mirco organisms that they eat. There is a frozen diet, and a flake diet especially made for these types of fish. Hope this helps.
 
zantho

zantho

Member
Thanks NigerBang. When I had the tank up several years ago, the LR I had was covered with it. The emerald crabs had a blast, my clean up crew kept it trimmed to the point where I couldn't see it anymore. Now my LR is mostly just coraline and the occasional feather duster and mini brittle star.
I'll keep the hair algae out, I figured that was a bad idea.
Thanks FishGeek. I don't think I have sponges, or any macro algae. My micro algae is just a bit of brown diatoms, nothing green. Should I add macro algae?
 
puffer32

puffer32

Active Member
my tank looks algaeless, but must have some cause my flame is always picking at something on it. Nori sheets are good also. I put a hunk in my tank twice a day and several of my fish eat it like crazy. I also put algae flakes in once a day. My tanks only been up 6 months, my flame has been in it for 3 months.
 
fishgeek01

fishgeek01

Active Member
if you add macro go with a feeding variety such as gracillas (sp) dont use caulerpa due to its ability to go sexual and crash your tank.
 
zantho

zantho

Member
Ok, algae sheets it is. Further reading shows calupera is a bad idea in the display tank too.
 
zantho

zantho

Member
Couldn't find info on gracillas... Do you just feed with it or is it something that would grow/float and be eaten?
 
N

nereef

Guest
soaking the seaweed in garlic might help the fish to accept it.
 
tankyou

tankyou

Member
Originally Posted by ZAntho
My 72g FOWLR has been up for 4 months now. There is a small smattering of diatoms, but no real algae to speak of. I've got about 80lbs of live rock, but it was pretty algae free when I purchased it. Eventually I want to add a flame angel once the tank is "mature". I do occasionally get a sprig of something green popping up, but the hermits get to it pretty fast. If flame angels like to graze, I'm not sure what would be in my tank to graze on.
What I'm getting at is, do I want to introduce a piece of LR with some hair algae? Or is that just a bad idea. Something for emerald crabs or a flame angel to pick at maybe? What does a mature tank need to look like for a flame angel. Would clipping sheets of algae to the side of the tank keep it happy?
I dunno, I've had a flame about three weeks, and haven't seen him eat anything I've fed him yet, including nori sheets and various veggies. That being said my LR is covered in lots of flora and fauna, which he is constantly grazing on and he seems none the worse for wear. His tankmates all of whom eat greedily what they are fed also ignore the (fresh) veggies so I kinda assume they prefer whats on the LR too.
I recycle the denuded LR into my fuge, but do so sparingly as I'm always introducing new hitchhikers with the replacements, mostly pistol shrimps which drive me nuts. My theory is, by hanging a filter sock on the return to my fuge, not too much food makes it down there forcing hitchhikers to prey on each other or starve to death so the fresh heavily forrested LR I bring up from there hasn't too many unwanted passengers.
 
murph

murph

Active Member
You should be fine adding the angel. You probably have more algae in the tank than your think. Formula one makes a frozen and pellet angel food also. An equal part of most angels diet in the wild is sponge but I don't think I would wait around for sponge to grow in your tank either

This is a relatively expensive angel and care should be taken when picking a specimen. This angel in particular is quite sensitive to copper exposure and or other common LFS additives to inhibit parasites. Unfortnatly you may have a hard time finding an LFS who is not running copper in there holding tanks. This is also a fish commonly cyanide caught. The symptoms of both are poor or non existent appetite so make sure the fish is eating before you purchase it.
If you can not find an LFS who is not running copper at least try to get a specimen that has not been at the LFS for long (under three days) or arrange to pick up the fish the day it arrives at the LFS before it goes into the copper. Of course with buying the fish right out of the bag you will probably get no guarantee and can not verify the fishes appetite but limiting copper exposure is more important with this species IMO.
Of course then QT in a well established QT tank. This fish can put out a lot of waste and ammonia levels in a small QT tank can get away from you pretty quick. Feed him up on Formula Ones angel prep while in QT.
This may sound like a lot to go through but it is well worth it. This is a spectacular fish and one of my favorites. I dare say that if I had one that was a coral muncher it would be a toss up as to which would come out of the tank.
 
maeistero

maeistero

Active Member
murph rocked out this thread!!!
i haven't had too many fish not eat finely ground brocolli and garlic. usually i put some fish food high in protien in the food processor to get them some vitamins. cheap pond catfish food is awesome also in short amounts.
valentini puffers are my nemesis when it comes to feeding :mad:
 
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