Dictyota. Need a real solution.

[Che]

I had a ton of dictyota in my tank. It seemed as if everything that I tried just made it worse. I finally picked up a Scribbled Rabbitfish, Siganus doliatus, that has taken care of the problem. It probably took a week or two for it to start eating the algae, but it mowed it down in a hurry once it started eating it. I haven't had an issue since. I see a little here and there from time to time, but it gets taken care of in short order with the rabbitfish in my tank.

The fish is very hardy, peaceful and a glutton.

Che

 

[drawman]

Keep me updated on your situation logzor. I almost want to setup another tank for my SPS just because this dictyota is such a headache. I don't really want to get a rabbitfish so I might just try an urchin. When your urchin died did you notice a lot of water quality issues?

 

[Logzor]

Here is my latest tank shot:

My urchin died pretty quickly and I got him out of the tank fast, no problems with water quality.

This urchin was not effective because it was a short spine and not a long spine urchin. I have heard that tuxedo urchins can work too.

The most effective tool has been "landscaping" with chaeto and raising my GPH to 2900 and my alk to 10 DKH.

I simply put a wad of chaeto in and as it grows I just stretch it over areas that have Dictyota. So far, good results.

 

[drawman]

Glad to hear it. I will be putting my downstream refugium up again in the next couple of weeks and filling that up with chaeto again. Hopefully that will make an impact. My problem is that every week this stuff is completely covering the intake on my Tunze's. I think I will add another prop pump just to keep it moving in there.

 

[wharfrat48]

My Dolabella sea hare took care of my dictyota

 

[drawman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11948800#post11948800 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wharfrat48
My Dolabella sea hare took care of my dictyota

Where did you get it from?

 

[wharfrat48]

My local LFS carries them. I think Ive seen them for sale from some of the internet sites too.

 

[Poorcollegereef]

Logzor: Glad that the landscaping/chaeto is showing results, and if it works dont fix it.

Also, I have to say "woot" planning. Finishing my planning degree this spring here at Clemson!

 

[Logzor]

Yep the chaeto is growing pretty quickly, now it is just a matter of strategic placement!

I may try one of those sea hares. I am afraid my emerald crab will attack it and ruin my tank...

Congrats on your degree!! I still have a little while to go before I am finished. Overall, I see it is a pretty high demand degree in the future.

I co-op at City Architecture in Cleveland in the Spring.

 

[drawman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11949592#post11949592 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wharfrat48
My local LFS carries them. I think Ive seen them for sale from some of the internet sites too.

I haven't heard of that sea hare either. Do you know of any specific sites that sell them?

 

[Logzor]

Small update.

So far the algae is not catching up with me. Raising my alk and increasing the flow has helped out. I also believe my in tank chaeto has made a huge difference.

All of the algae near the chaeto has turned gray. The chaeto is doubling at an alarming rate.

Is duct take reef-safe? I was thinking about covering some rock up to help kill it off faster.

 

[hypernesia]

saltwaterfish.com for Dolabella sp. and liveaquaria.com or reefscavengers.com for Aplysia sp. IMO the aplysia species are more hardy ( could be just my tank ) they are also bigger and won't get sucked down the overflows as easily

 

[JCTewks]

Logzor...If you are still wanting a foxface or naso, take a short drive north to Marine Solutions....they ALWAYS have foxface in, and usually have a few small Naso's. PM me if you need directions

 

[Logzor]

I have been there, actually!

How long could I keep a Naso in my 55 gallon?

I do need a particular rabbitfish, must be virgate or the gold/blue one.

Would it do well with my Tomini Tang (bristletooth), clowns, and watchman goby?

 

[JCTewks]

the rabbit would do fine with that list IMO...but the 2 tangs would be iffy. With the naso, it depends on the size when you get it...I have a PBtang in my 26g (i know...tang police :lol, but I'll be upgrading to a 120 in the very near future. If you get the naso small enough (under 3") it should be fine for a year or so. But, really...it's a good excuse to upgrade in a year

 

[Logzor]

Exactly!

Also, I am not sure which fish would be the best to eat Dictoya. I can get either for cheap. Maybe I will just get both?

I know that people have had luck using both. Is a naso tang a type of bristletooth? If not, they should be ok.

 

[drawman]

Siganus Doliatus is a good rabbitfish also

 

[Logzor]

Is that the scribbled rabbitfish?

 

[CyboRob]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11948800#post11948800 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wharfrat48
My Dolabella sea hare took care of my dictyota

Same here, I also feed the hare sinking spirulina pellets.

Great invert, keeps the top layer of sand stirred up also from crusing around so much.

 

[ARIANNA]

A pencil sea urchin took care of mine although they eat the coralline algae too. :strooper: