butterfly fish and macro alga

[Daniel62]

For those of you with butterfly fish, do any of you keep them with macro alga in your tanks. Or what alga have you seen your butterflies eat.
Thanks

 

[SDguy]

I used to keep all sorts of caulerpa with butterflies back in the day without issue.

 

[jarrod13]

What kind of butterflies are you referring to Peter? I'm also interested in this topic.

 

[SDguy]

Standard fare... auriga, ephippium, ulietensis, etc.

 

[gobolts23]

my declivis and tinkers never paid any attention to macro algae...but they would surely pick at anything else!

 

[Daniel62]

Well it looks like most macros might be safe. I am in the process of researching for my new butterfly tank. And I want something a little different than just rocks, so I am hoping I can do some type of planted tank to fill in the bare spots. keep posting everyone")

Thanks

 

[gobolts23]

macro algae tanks are awesome. i am in the process of making my peacock mantis tank full of it.

 

[Dr Colliebreath]

I wanted to do what you suggest - have a planted tank with a number of butterflyfish. I tried growing macro algae in my tank (Shaving brush, maiden's hair, halimeda, and a couple of others, but no caulerpa) with no success. I suspect one or more of my butterflyfish had a hand in the demise of the algae, although I can't say I ever caught them picking at the algae a lot. The suspects are a ulitensis, falcula and saddleback. I now have two tangs so macro algae is not going to grow.

You might try getting the algae established and then introducing the butterflyfish.

 

[Daniel62]

Yes, I will add the alga first. I have a lot of different kinds in my grow out system. since I will be adding the fish 1 at a time, I should be able to know which fish is munching out. at least that's the plan LOL

 

[jarrod13]

I don't mean to hijack but I have a related question, my tank is full of macro plus some anemones (rock nems and condys), is there any butterfly that won't eat either? Besides the longnose ones or cbb's