Chaetodonts for pest control

[Gary Majchrzak]

I've phased out all Wrasses. Butterflyfish seem to fulfill a similar role. Something to consider

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

 

[xanthurum]

What about them eating your corals? I'm very curious since I have always liked butterflies.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Net result has always been corals gaining mass...

 

[Bagabaga]

What about polyp extension? What pests are you trying to control? And last but not least how much do you feed to keep them away from the corals?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I don't concern myself much with polyp extension. I would imagine extension is more at night (?) than day depending on species.
Pests of corals is the objective. Whatever they may be.
I feed sparingly.

 

[tommyboynj]

I don't concern myself much with polyp extension. I would imagine extension is more at night (?) than day depending on species.
Pests of corals is the objective. Whatever they may be.
I feed sparingly.

I'm with you Gary. Iv given up going after crazy PE during the day. Ever since I put a flame angle in the tank several years ago I dont seem to get it. At night it's another story. Funny thing is it seem acro specific. Birds nests and stylos have great pe all the time. Acros are allways looking good and growing just no pe. He must just like my expensive acros because I have frags in my frag tank that show crazy pe. No flame in there.

Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Sunlight

Sunlight

 

[Piper27]

So you don't have any coral pests because the butterfly fish ate them all/keep them in check or you never had any and just noticed they behave similar to wrasses? You have some nice large colonies of hardy sps in there that's for sure. Anything else new with your tank?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

What's new?

What's new?

Not much. Running ReefBrite 14k twin arcs. That's about all that's new within the past year.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

All phonecam pix. No gel filters or photoshop.

 

[captjab]

Very impressive colonies. I'm sure it wouldn't be an easy task, but I would love to see a FTS.

 

[Piper27]

All phonecam pix. No gel filters or photoshop.

Love that green nubby acro! And number two is very cool as well. I love some butterfly fish. How many do you have and what kind?

 

[reefmutt]

I have kept just about every wrasse there is and never really been convinced that they eat acro pests. I also have tried damsels. Not convinced.
I recently added a mitratus butterfly and after watching him cruise my tank, I am thinking that he may be an excellent pest eater.
I've never seen a fish cruise the tops of acros as well as underneath and pick at the body of the acro.
Yes, my pe has reduced but not gone completely and the fish never bangs on one coral consistently, nor just acros. He picks all over the tank. But when he eyeballs acros, it's as though he's going for stuff on the acro and not acro flesh. I do see him eating any slime or mesenterial filaments when acros fight it out while encrusting and after feeding, he is more active picking on slime and bits of food.... but no real damage to your the coral.

 

[E.litvin]

Very interesting, I do like my polyp extension and at the same time there are some very nice butterflyfish i wouldn't mind having. Beautiful reefs by the way

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Matt's behavioral description applies to my butterflyfish as well.
Of course, different species will behave differently..and even individuals within a species may vary. Some species are known corallivores (coral eaters) so do your homework.
Looks like reefmutt has a mitratus.
I currently have a burgessi, kleinii and semilarvatus.

 

[anthworks]

Interesting topic. I have a 6 Line that I believe eats pests off my acros. I have noticed much happier SPS (color and growth) after I added him to my tank.

 

[scar79]

Interesting topic indeed. I have experience with kleins and tinkerii. In both cases, coral appetite varied by individual.

A trio of kleins added to a very mature SPS tank were model citizens. A pair added to an equally mature mixed reef wreaked havoc on the SPS, killing two large colonies.

One tinkerii added and later removed from a younger tank was not interested in corlas. A second added later was constantly nipping and had to be removed.

That said, I think it's best to pick butterflies on an individual basis. Find a way to "test" them in a tank from which they can be easily and quickly removed before setting them loose in your prized display.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]