Tangs and grazing on algae.

[florida joe]

I think I need to explain my feeling about tangs live rock and grazing. First let me say if you have green hair algae in your tank IMO you need to remove it ALL by any means necessary. Tangs will not eat it. Tangs will eat most any other filamentous algae and that is a good thing. We need not see this algae growing for the tangs to be doing their job, but rest assured if you see them picking at your LR they are doing their job. But remember just because you don’t see any algae in your tank and you have a tang picking at your rocks that it is not growing.
I feel live rock is essential in allowing tangs to continue what they normally do on the worlds coral reefs. Graze. But do I think supplemental feeding of herbivore food is essential for their wellbeing? Of course I do.
The below pic is of my Yellow picking at live rock, algae it is not readily visible to me yet I am sure he is taking care of it as it starts to grow

 

[1snapple]

Nice favia, and tank

 

[florida joe]

thanks but they grow so s l o w

 

[carlos413]

nice pic

 

[sapper577]

Yes.. Really nice looking shot ! I have been watching the forum for a long time now and just started posting today. What size is your tank and how long has it been established ?

 

[florida joe]

110 and about 10 years but it has undergone many changes

 

[gemmy]

Great tank pic!

 

[al&burke]

Joe nice shot - vibrant tank

 

[saltfan]

Hey ya Joe. So you don't think that leaving say Romaine Lettuce in the tank for them to graze is not a good thing?

 

[florida joe]

I personally don’t like leaving any dead food in my tank for any length of time. I don’t like feeding lettuce IMO it’s just not something they eat in the wild. I supplement what they get from my live rock with a good herbivore food. And nori on a veggie clip

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/383552/tangs-and-grazing-on-algae#post_3355799
I personally don’t like leaving any dead food in my tank for any length of time. I don’t like feeding lettuce IMO it’s just not something they eat in the wild. I supplement what they get from my lf with a good herbivore food. And nori on a veggie clip
+1 Romaine lettuce doesn't really do much for them other than fill them up, it has little nutritional value.

 

[saltfan]

Have you personally tried it? Or are you basing your judgement off of Joe? I will get some pics for you of mine. They look pretty fat and happy to me.

 

[ladyreefseeker]

I really like that leather. Nice tank, corals, tang!

I saw Romaine in all the tanks at ***** the other day when I went for dog food. Was thinking the fish department needed an overhaul but that was besides the point. I know goldfish like lettuce and plants but didn't think romaine was useful in a reef environment...My tangs just beg for the dried green algae sheets, they like that even more than fresh macro algaes. Who knew

 

[florida joe]

How much live rock do you have? While I am sure they will eat the lettuce I am not sure how much nutrition they are getting. The point of my thread was providing algae on live rock for grazing which they constantly to that end adding enough lettuce to provide a constant food source is counterproductive

 

[saltfan]

Counter productive? I guess it could be if you only had a tang or 2. I have quite a few. I have around 160lbs of LR in tank currently. No algea growing. I understand what you were getting at, not trying to be a stuck in the mud. In my dealings with tangs is that they are a constant forager like you state, but need quite a bit more than just picking at the algea in your tank. One tang in a 240g might be enough to forage for the algea on your rock.

 

[mkroher]

How is adding a food source counter productive? My tang will still graze even after being fed.

 

[florida joe]

Quote:
How is adding a food source counter productive?
very simple it depends on the food sourse and the fish

 

[florida joe]

Quote:
. In my dealings with tangs is that they are a constant forager like you state, but need quite a bit more than just picking at the algea in your tank.
i agree thats why i posted above
Quote:
I supplement what they get from my live rock with a good herbivore food. And nori on a veggie clip
You would think my tang would know Just because it’s a tree that does not mean you will find fruit under it

 

[saltfan]

LOL. Oh yea he knows. They run around all day looking for algea to eat. But, all I was getting at was, no matter what else you give them, they are going to do that anyways. I just leave it in the tank all day for them to pick at also. They still seem to take care of the algea on the rock.

 

[florida joe]

yea i love tangs for they constant movement dedicated to finding a meal
BTW i have two hipps and a kole to go with the yellow