J
jstdv8
Guest
I figured that is what the sheets were for.
QT Tank Levels... Yay or Nay?
- Thread starter sparty059
- Start date
florida joe
Well-Known Member
That’s force feeding as opposed to natural grazing
J
jstdv8
Guest
wouldnt be the same for my Lion for instance that naturally eats live fisha nd I feed it frozen silversides?
Are you saying we shouldnt keep tangs if we can't allow algae to grow wild?
Are you saying we shouldnt keep tangs if we can't allow algae to grow wild?
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Are you saying we shouldnt keep tangs if we can't allow algae to grow wild?
I am not saying that at all. What I am saying is that as a hobbyist one needs to attempt to provide as natural an environment as they can for the species of fish they keep.
Tangs are natural constant grazers. If possible we should provide them with enough live rock to satisfy there need for constant picking.
FYI I have never seen an aquarium that housed tangs that had algae growing wild (
If by that statement you mean unmanageable overgrowth)
other than hair algae
Are you saying we shouldnt keep tangs if we can't allow algae to grow wild?
I am not saying that at all. What I am saying is that as a hobbyist one needs to attempt to provide as natural an environment as they can for the species of fish they keep.
Tangs are natural constant grazers. If possible we should provide them with enough live rock to satisfy there need for constant picking.
FYI I have never seen an aquarium that housed tangs that had algae growing wild (
If by that statement you mean unmanageable overgrowth)
other than hair algae
sparty059
Active Member
So this whole discussion of algae has made me wonder exactly what I need. My tank is approx 4 months old now. I have green hair algae that I have trimmed down to small little patches so the fish or snails or whatever it may be can eat it. However, I was under the impression algae is algae. What is the difference between green hair algae, and well... algae?
I've been reading on all these forums and web pages and this and that. I've been speaking with people, I've been doing quite possibly the most research I've done on GHA than I've done based on anything SW related.
Everyone says if you want to remove your GHA you can get a tang. They'll go to town on your GHA... that is, as long as it's not out of control. When they say that they mean it can't be to the point where the invert/fish can't enough get its mouth around a patch without being buried in the whole GHA.
What am I misunderstanding about all of this? My impression of all of this was GHA = Tangs most pleasurable meal. Maybe not all tangs, but I was understanding the Yellow Tang would love to feast on my GHA when I get him and the Hippo wouldn't mind eating it as well.
Again, this is a process I'm working on controlling. On a weekly basis I grab a toothbrush and pull at the patches of GHA. One rock is my most troublesome rock that being it is almost a carpet of GHA. A few other rocks I have I've remove all GHA from it and haven't had a problem of growth since removing it.
What's the misunderstanding?
I've been reading on all these forums and web pages and this and that. I've been speaking with people, I've been doing quite possibly the most research I've done on GHA than I've done based on anything SW related.
Everyone says if you want to remove your GHA you can get a tang. They'll go to town on your GHA... that is, as long as it's not out of control. When they say that they mean it can't be to the point where the invert/fish can't enough get its mouth around a patch without being buried in the whole GHA.
What am I misunderstanding about all of this? My impression of all of this was GHA = Tangs most pleasurable meal. Maybe not all tangs, but I was understanding the Yellow Tang would love to feast on my GHA when I get him and the Hippo wouldn't mind eating it as well.
Again, this is a process I'm working on controlling. On a weekly basis I grab a toothbrush and pull at the patches of GHA. One rock is my most troublesome rock that being it is almost a carpet of GHA. A few other rocks I have I've remove all GHA from it and haven't had a problem of growth since removing it.
What's the misunderstanding?
btldreef
Moderator
Have you considered removing your one troublesome rock? Keep in mind that as you remove GHA, if you're doing so in the tank, you could be releasing more spores for it to grow again. You might want to remove the worst rock and scrub in a bucket, them add back to the tank.
I will say this as a word of caution: Rocks that are infested with GHA usually stay that way and need to be boiled, etc. This is when the infestation is really bad. I haven't seen yours so I can't say one way or the other.
Some tangs will eat green hair algae, some won't and IME, most won't. I'm not a believer in adding fish for CUC purposes. How many and what types of snails and hermits do you have in this tank?
The difference between GHA and some other algaes is nuisance vs food source (at least this is the best way I can describe it). GHA is a nuisance algae, sort of like having crab grass is a "weed" even though it's still a type of grass or having a dandelion in your lawn, they're both "plants" but one is just not as desirable as the other.
Just curious, are you using tap water to fill your tank?
What and how much are you feeding the fish already in this tank?
I will say this as a word of caution: Rocks that are infested with GHA usually stay that way and need to be boiled, etc. This is when the infestation is really bad. I haven't seen yours so I can't say one way or the other.
Some tangs will eat green hair algae, some won't and IME, most won't. I'm not a believer in adding fish for CUC purposes. How many and what types of snails and hermits do you have in this tank?
The difference between GHA and some other algaes is nuisance vs food source (at least this is the best way I can describe it). GHA is a nuisance algae, sort of like having crab grass is a "weed" even though it's still a type of grass or having a dandelion in your lawn, they're both "plants" but one is just not as desirable as the other.
Just curious, are you using tap water to fill your tank?
What and how much are you feeding the fish already in this tank?
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Some tangs will eat algae, some won't and IME, most won't.
This is sooo not true.
Tangs are herbivores and their diet in the open ocean consists mainly of zooplankton and algae even in an aquarium their diet needs to be mainly algae
Some tangs will eat algae, some won't and IME, most won't.
This is sooo not true.
Tangs are herbivores and their diet in the open ocean consists mainly of zooplankton and algae even in an aquarium their diet needs to be mainly algae
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355349
Quote:
Some tangs will eat algae, some won't and IME, most won't.
This is sooo not true.
Tangs are herbivores and their diet in the open ocean consists mainly of zooplankton and algae even in an aquarium their diet needs to be mainly algae
I was referring the his GHA issue, not all algaes.
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355349
Quote:
Some tangs will eat algae, some won't and IME, most won't.
This is sooo not true.
Tangs are herbivores and their diet in the open ocean consists mainly of zooplankton and algae even in an aquarium their diet needs to be mainly algae
I was referring the his GHA issue, not all algaes.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355351
Fixed it, It should have said "green hair algae" not just "algae" STUPID PHONE!
an i agree on the GHA as a matter of fact i have never seen a tang eat GHA
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355351
Fixed it, It should have said "green hair algae" not just "algae" STUPID PHONE!
btldreef
Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355358
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355351
Fixed it, It should have said "green hair algae" not just "algae" STUPID PHONE!
an i agree on the GHA as a matter of fact i have never seen a tang eat GHA
My Blonde Naso will nip at it here and there, but definitely not her preferred choice. She'd eat nothing but Caulerpa if I let her. No other tang that I have ever owned has touched the stuff.
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355358
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355351
Fixed it, It should have said "green hair algae" not just "algae" STUPID PHONE!
My Blonde Naso will nip at it here and there, but definitely not her preferred choice. She'd eat nothing but Caulerpa if I let her. No other tang that I have ever owned has touched the stuff.
sparty059
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355346
Have you considered removing your one troublesome rock? Keep in mind that as you remove GHA, if you're doing so in the tank, you could be releasing more spores for it to grow again. You might want to remove the worst rock and scrub in a bucket, them add back to the tank.
I will say this as a word of caution: Rocks that are infested with GHA usually stay that way and need to be boiled, etc. This is when the infestation is really bad. I haven't seen yours so I can't say one way or the other.
Some tangs will eat green hair algae, some won't and IME, most won't. I'm not a believer in adding fish for CUC purposes. How many and what types of snails and hermits do you have in this tank?
The difference between GHA and some other algaes is nuisance vs food source (at least this is the best way I can describe it). GHA is a nuisance algae, sort of like having crab grass is a "weed" even though it's still a type of grass or having a dandelion in your lawn, they're both "plants" but one is just not as desirable as the other.
Just curious, are you using tap water to fill your tank?
What and how much are you feeding the fish already in this tank?
I can't really remove the rock. It's a base rock and removing it would just mean I would have to remove all rocks in the tank, as well as all the sand to re-establish the placement of the rock once I put it back in. I haven't taken many pictures of my tank due to the GHA... it's an eyesore and quite embarrassing to say the least so I avoid from taking pictures and sharing because I know the abuse I'll take when I post them haha. It's a rock that is approx 20lbs, almost flat with a lip big enough to create a small cave. The best way I can describe the GHA on the rock is picture your lawn in the summer... that is my whole rock. I removed a "great deal" of GHA off of it, however, the reason for the quotes is it looked almost as if I had removed little to nothing on the rock. I don't have any intention of using fish as CUC, I wanted to get tangs regardless of algae issues, but I figured this could be a win win scenario.
I use RO/DI in my tank. I'll check my levels again today when I get home and see where my pH and Nitrate sit. I know my ammonia is at 0, and fairly confident my nitrites are at 0 as well.
My feeding habits are half a cube of reef mix which includes chopped up clam, squid, shrimp, yada yada yada. I feed the fish once every other day. There are eight fish in there and they do well with eating it up quickly.
I also took advice of (sorry I don't recall who it was that suggested it) melting the cube in a cup, and dumping the cloudy matter into the sink by placing a net over the cup and dumping everything, draining the bad stuff, keeping only the food. This alone has proven helpful as before I used to see algae growth, since I've stopped I've seen no further growth.
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355346
Have you considered removing your one troublesome rock? Keep in mind that as you remove GHA, if you're doing so in the tank, you could be releasing more spores for it to grow again. You might want to remove the worst rock and scrub in a bucket, them add back to the tank.
I will say this as a word of caution: Rocks that are infested with GHA usually stay that way and need to be boiled, etc. This is when the infestation is really bad. I haven't seen yours so I can't say one way or the other.
Some tangs will eat green hair algae, some won't and IME, most won't. I'm not a believer in adding fish for CUC purposes. How many and what types of snails and hermits do you have in this tank?
The difference between GHA and some other algaes is nuisance vs food source (at least this is the best way I can describe it). GHA is a nuisance algae, sort of like having crab grass is a "weed" even though it's still a type of grass or having a dandelion in your lawn, they're both "plants" but one is just not as desirable as the other.
Just curious, are you using tap water to fill your tank?
What and how much are you feeding the fish already in this tank?
I can't really remove the rock. It's a base rock and removing it would just mean I would have to remove all rocks in the tank, as well as all the sand to re-establish the placement of the rock once I put it back in. I haven't taken many pictures of my tank due to the GHA... it's an eyesore and quite embarrassing to say the least so I avoid from taking pictures and sharing because I know the abuse I'll take when I post them haha. It's a rock that is approx 20lbs, almost flat with a lip big enough to create a small cave. The best way I can describe the GHA on the rock is picture your lawn in the summer... that is my whole rock. I removed a "great deal" of GHA off of it, however, the reason for the quotes is it looked almost as if I had removed little to nothing on the rock. I don't have any intention of using fish as CUC, I wanted to get tangs regardless of algae issues, but I figured this could be a win win scenario.
I use RO/DI in my tank. I'll check my levels again today when I get home and see where my pH and Nitrate sit. I know my ammonia is at 0, and fairly confident my nitrites are at 0 as well.
My feeding habits are half a cube of reef mix which includes chopped up clam, squid, shrimp, yada yada yada. I feed the fish once every other day. There are eight fish in there and they do well with eating it up quickly.
I also took advice of (sorry I don't recall who it was that suggested it) melting the cube in a cup, and dumping the cloudy matter into the sink by placing a net over the cup and dumping everything, draining the bad stuff, keeping only the food. This alone has proven helpful as before I used to see algae growth, since I've stopped I've seen no further growth.
btldreef
Moderator
What's your current CUC like?
I do remember you talking about having the Tangs regardless of the GHA issue.
IMO, you might need to do more smaller water changes and add more CUC.
Your nitrates and phosphates might not be reading accurately due to the GHA in the tank, it can cause false numbers. Usually when there is a lot of GHA present, both numbers will read 0 or close to, when in actuality it's probably higher than that.
It sounds like you're doing everything right, see if more CUC and more water changes work. You just have to stay on top of it. If that doesn't work, you may have a rock that just has to go.
I do remember you talking about having the Tangs regardless of the GHA issue.
IMO, you might need to do more smaller water changes and add more CUC.
Your nitrates and phosphates might not be reading accurately due to the GHA in the tank, it can cause false numbers. Usually when there is a lot of GHA present, both numbers will read 0 or close to, when in actuality it's probably higher than that.
It sounds like you're doing everything right, see if more CUC and more water changes work. You just have to stay on top of it. If that doesn't work, you may have a rock that just has to go.
sparty059
Active Member
Sorry, I forgot to mention the CUC.
So right now I have three turbo snails, a peppermint shrimp, anywhere from 10-30 nassirus,crieth, and one other type snail... all of those combined, not each. I have an emerald crab, and as of recent I have a crab that is pink that has black tip claws (hitchhiker) that I have done plenty of research on and found they will try and kill my corals and are detrimental to my tank. However, I've decided I'm going to leave him in there and see if he does any good for me because he hasn't even done anything bad for me as of yet.
I had 2 emerald crabs before, I also had 4 turbo snails. One of each died. I don't know why they died but one morning I found one of the emeralds on his back (I assure you it was not a molt), and the other week the turbo that had now died refused to eat and eventually shriveled up and died.
Since I brought that up... what should I do with the snail now? I removed him and placed him in the refugium in hopes that he would live. But he died and I have yet to remove him. I assumed it would be food for the critters in the refugium but I don't know if I am polluting the tank by leaving a dead snail in there or not.
So right now I have three turbo snails, a peppermint shrimp, anywhere from 10-30 nassirus,crieth, and one other type snail... all of those combined, not each. I have an emerald crab, and as of recent I have a crab that is pink that has black tip claws (hitchhiker) that I have done plenty of research on and found they will try and kill my corals and are detrimental to my tank. However, I've decided I'm going to leave him in there and see if he does any good for me because he hasn't even done anything bad for me as of yet.
I had 2 emerald crabs before, I also had 4 turbo snails. One of each died. I don't know why they died but one morning I found one of the emeralds on his back (I assure you it was not a molt), and the other week the turbo that had now died refused to eat and eventually shriveled up and died.
Since I brought that up... what should I do with the snail now? I removed him and placed him in the refugium in hopes that he would live. But he died and I have yet to remove him. I assumed it would be food for the critters in the refugium but I don't know if I am polluting the tank by leaving a dead snail in there or not.
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355361
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355358
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355351
Fixed it, It should have said "green hair algae" not just "algae" STUPID PHONE!
an i agree on the GHA as a matter of fact i have never seen a tang eat GHA
My Blonde Naso will nip at it here and there, but definitely not her preferred choice. She'd eat nothing but Caulerpa if I let her. No other tang that I have ever owned has touched the stuff.
The strange thing is tangs main food is filamentous algae yet they don’t like hair algae
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355361
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355358
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355351
Fixed it, It should have said "green hair algae" not just "algae" STUPID PHONE!
My Blonde Naso will nip at it here and there, but definitely not her preferred choice. She'd eat nothing but Caulerpa if I let her. No other tang that I have ever owned has touched the stuff.
The strange thing is tangs main food is filamentous algae yet they don’t like hair algae
florida joe
Well-Known Member
Quote:
I haven't taken many pictures of my tank due to the GHA... it's an eyesore and quite embarrassing to say the least so I avoid from taking pictures and sharing
The primary person that has to enjoy the tank is you. If you can live with the GHA fine if you are not getting any enjoyment from your tank then you MUST bite the bullet remove the rock and rid your tank of it
I haven't taken many pictures of my tank due to the GHA... it's an eyesore and quite embarrassing to say the least so I avoid from taking pictures and sharing
The primary person that has to enjoy the tank is you. If you can live with the GHA fine if you are not getting any enjoyment from your tank then you MUST bite the bullet remove the rock and rid your tank of it
sparty059
Active Member
I'm really worried about having to remove the rock. I'm hoping that I can at least keep my tank from growing even more GHA at least until later this year. I'm going to be purchasing a new house and will need to take the tank down for the move. I figure at that point I can at least do some damage control on the rock. My only concern though is I have corals that are attached to rocks (assuming more rocks get algae) what should I do at that point? I can't boil them with my coral on them, what about feather dusters as well? I would hate to kill living things that are actually nice for the tank.
sparty059
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355374
Quote:
I haven't taken many pictures of my tank due to the GHA... it's an eyesore and quite embarrassing to say the least so I avoid from taking pictures and sharing
The primary person that has to enjoy the tank is you. If you can live with the GHA fine if you are not getting any enjoyment from your tank then you MUST bite the bullet remove the rock and rid your tank of it
Is it ok if I occasionally trick myself into thinking all that GHA is just GSP?
It's what keeps me sane, avoiding me from reaching in ripping it out and throwing it through a window.
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383502/qt-tank-levels-yay-or-nay/40#post_3355374
Quote:
I haven't taken many pictures of my tank due to the GHA... it's an eyesore and quite embarrassing to say the least so I avoid from taking pictures and sharing
The primary person that has to enjoy the tank is you. If you can live with the GHA fine if you are not getting any enjoyment from your tank then you MUST bite the bullet remove the rock and rid your tank of it
Is it ok if I occasionally trick myself into thinking all that GHA is just GSP?
btldreef
Moderator
For now, I'd get a boat load of Trochus and Astrea snails and Red Legged Hermits.
http://www.lionfishlair.com/cuc/cuc.shtml Good guide for what snails and hermits eat, etc.
**I am not a huge fan of crabs in a reef tank, but you might need them for now. Since you're going to have to move this tank in the future anyways, use the hermits to get the GHA under control and when you move, you can choose whether to keep them or not.
Remove that dead snail. Your CUC should have cleaned it out in under 24hours, if they didn't you need more CUC members, that's a dead give away.
IMHO, you'll have to remove the rock, but if you don't want to until you move, put in a strong CUC to keep the problem at bay.
http://www.lionfishlair.com/cuc/cuc.shtml Good guide for what snails and hermits eat, etc.
**I am not a huge fan of crabs in a reef tank, but you might need them for now. Since you're going to have to move this tank in the future anyways, use the hermits to get the GHA under control and when you move, you can choose whether to keep them or not.
Remove that dead snail. Your CUC should have cleaned it out in under 24hours, if they didn't you need more CUC members, that's a dead give away.
IMHO, you'll have to remove the rock, but if you don't want to until you move, put in a strong CUC to keep the problem at bay.
J
jstdv8
Guest
my turf scrubber took care of my GHA problem.
I had it in huge tufts all over, so thick it actually looked nice.
My mom came over one time and wanted to know what the beautiful dark green wavy coral was
Joe,
I understand what you are saying I think. Try and make the area they live in as much like the ocean as possible. I'm just having a hard time wraping my little mind around spending so much energy to get rid of the algae but it's not good for the tangs becasue now they have nothing to nip at.
my home made food does have nori sheets in it, so that helps with the diet and i do clip on algae (allthough not as often as i probably should) i have an abundance of LR, but nothing but corals on those LR. should I be adding some sort of edible macro like rubberbanded to rocks or something do you think? It's a yellow tang if I hadn't allready mentioned that.
I had it in huge tufts all over, so thick it actually looked nice.
My mom came over one time and wanted to know what the beautiful dark green wavy coral was
Joe,
I understand what you are saying I think. Try and make the area they live in as much like the ocean as possible. I'm just having a hard time wraping my little mind around spending so much energy to get rid of the algae but it's not good for the tangs becasue now they have nothing to nip at.
my home made food does have nori sheets in it, so that helps with the diet and i do clip on algae (allthough not as often as i probably should) i have an abundance of LR, but nothing but corals on those LR. should I be adding some sort of edible macro like rubberbanded to rocks or something do you think? It's a yellow tang if I hadn't allready mentioned that.