Dictyota. Need a real solution.
- Thread starter Logzor
- Start date
Logzor
New member
I picked up a Dolabella sea hare this evening. I did a 1.5 hour drip acclimation and threw some dictyota chunks in there.
He immediately started to eat pieces. Now it is night and hes moving all around the tank. Hopefully he takes care of it fast!
Man! I was surprised by how heavy this thing was when I put it into the tank. Stretched out he must be over 5 inches!
Wish me luck
He immediately started to eat pieces. Now it is night and hes moving all around the tank. Hopefully he takes care of it fast!
Man! I was surprised by how heavy this thing was when I put it into the tank. Stretched out he must be over 5 inches!
Wish me luck
Logzor
New member
Alright, after the dolbella sea hare being in the tank for a few days it seems that he is on the glass an awful lot, where there is no algae (or very little).
I was hoping he would much on Dictyota all day but I only seem him eating it at night every once in awhile.
I have been feed him a bit of nori because I am not sure how much other algae he is eating.
Are there signs that sea hares are not getting enough in their diet?
I was hoping he would much on Dictyota all day but I only seem him eating it at night every once in awhile.
I have been feed him a bit of nori because I am not sure how much other algae he is eating.
Are there signs that sea hares are not getting enough in their diet?
CyboRob
New member
Mine didn't touch the Dictyota much for the first week or better. I did not feed it anything.
It started eating the Dictyota soon after.
Only after all the Dictyota was trimmed down did I start feeding sinking Spirulina pellets every other day.
I gave my two Dolabellas to my LSF after a couple of months.
The Dictyota has regrown and taken over again.
Got a new Dolabella last week and he is doing much like yours and mine before.
Tommorrow will be day 8 for the new guy. I hope he takes to the Dictyota like the other two did.
Will keep you posted.
It started eating the Dictyota soon after.
Only after all the Dictyota was trimmed down did I start feeding sinking Spirulina pellets every other day.
I gave my two Dolabellas to my LSF after a couple of months.
The Dictyota has regrown and taken over again.
Got a new Dolabella last week and he is doing much like yours and mine before.
Tommorrow will be day 8 for the new guy. I hope he takes to the Dictyota like the other two did.
Will keep you posted.
drawman
New member
It is called the two-barred rabbitfish. However, there are a few species that are referred to as two-barred rabbitfish so I would check to get siganus doliatus. I don't have any personal experience but I have heard they will eat it. I have wanted to get one myself but I was a little worried about it nipping at my LPS.
Logzor
New member
Well ive been out of town on co-op so I made the call to keep the skimmer off at all times. People are not around enough to make sure it is dialed in right and the risk of it overflowing and getting clogged is too great. I wish I had a sump!
I came home this weekend to check out the situation and there was a medium bloom on dictyota algae. I took care of it with a good siphoning. The corals and fish were doing great though (nitrates undetectable!).
I have had a sea hare (the species mentioned above) for several weeks now. It seems more interested in nori (which is suppose to be for the tang) than the dictyota. I think it may be beginning to eat it.
Overall the tank has stayed in good shape while I have been gone. The demands for alk/cal have increased dramatically as my stonies are really taking off. I still have 9 more weeks of work up in Cleveland and Ill be coming home to Cincinnati to do major tank stuff every other week.
On a side note, it is quite amazing how well my acros and other sps are doing without the skimmer running. Feedings have been quite large, too. In a way the dictyota is a blessing because it absorbs nutrients rapidly, keeping the corals in good shape.
The only time an issue arises is when it smothers coral.
I wish I could keep the skimmer on but it is too much of a liability and requires too much of my roommate and girlfriend to keep track of.
I came home this weekend to check out the situation and there was a medium bloom on dictyota algae. I took care of it with a good siphoning. The corals and fish were doing great though (nitrates undetectable!).
I have had a sea hare (the species mentioned above) for several weeks now. It seems more interested in nori (which is suppose to be for the tang) than the dictyota. I think it may be beginning to eat it.
Overall the tank has stayed in good shape while I have been gone. The demands for alk/cal have increased dramatically as my stonies are really taking off. I still have 9 more weeks of work up in Cleveland and Ill be coming home to Cincinnati to do major tank stuff every other week.
On a side note, it is quite amazing how well my acros and other sps are doing without the skimmer running. Feedings have been quite large, too. In a way the dictyota is a blessing because it absorbs nutrients rapidly, keeping the corals in good shape.
The only time an issue arises is when it smothers coral.
I wish I could keep the skimmer on but it is too much of a liability and requires too much of my roommate and girlfriend to keep track of.
paulsilver
In Memoriam
As for temporary fishes, I see no reason to be flamed for that, provided you make sure it goes to a good home after you are done... I did this with a Copperband Butterfly, for Aiptaisia, and made sure it went to a quality home... namely my FOWLR tank... ;-)
I have some Dictyota starting in my larger display now... the tank is almost a year old... and I am thinking of an Emerald Mithrax crab... for certain, the Powder Blue tang, the Purple tang, and the Kole tang in this tank dont eat it... although the tank is relatively large (210g) I dont think I want to support another even larger tang (Naso) in there...
Hey Wharfrat, where did you get the Dolabella sea hare... I only find Aplysia sp. available...???
I have some Dictyota starting in my larger display now... the tank is almost a year old... and I am thinking of an Emerald Mithrax crab... for certain, the Powder Blue tang, the Purple tang, and the Kole tang in this tank dont eat it... although the tank is relatively large (210g) I dont think I want to support another even larger tang (Naso) in there...
Hey Wharfrat, where did you get the Dolabella sea hare... I only find Aplysia sp. available...???
Logzor
New member
I guess I am not getting lucky with mine yet. The dolbella does not seem to be interested in Dictyota.
Perhaps there is so much I do not notice it disappearing?
I often see him way up towards the top of the tank behind the bubble box to my skimmer.
He could literally sit in one area and just eat Dictyota all day if he wanted to.
Having the skimmer off has made a huge impact in the growth of this algae, although, my corals look better than ever. My acros, the blue tort in particular, have really colored up.
I have a pretty heavy feeding regime set up right now while I am gone. 1/2 cube mysis/brine + freeze dried cyclopeze at noon and then 1 cube of home made food at night.
I think the home made stuff, being that it is pure raw fish (many types), really fouls up the water. Although, I think the fish and coral really benefit so long as I trim back the algae.
I put in a wad of chaeto the size of a cantaloupe in addition to what I already had in there. I am hoping this would steal some of the nutrients from the Dictyota.
Now if the sea hare starts going to work ill be in business.
Perhaps there is so much I do not notice it disappearing?
I often see him way up towards the top of the tank behind the bubble box to my skimmer.
He could literally sit in one area and just eat Dictyota all day if he wanted to.
Having the skimmer off has made a huge impact in the growth of this algae, although, my corals look better than ever. My acros, the blue tort in particular, have really colored up.
I have a pretty heavy feeding regime set up right now while I am gone. 1/2 cube mysis/brine + freeze dried cyclopeze at noon and then 1 cube of home made food at night.
I think the home made stuff, being that it is pure raw fish (many types), really fouls up the water. Although, I think the fish and coral really benefit so long as I trim back the algae.
I put in a wad of chaeto the size of a cantaloupe in addition to what I already had in there. I am hoping this would steal some of the nutrients from the Dictyota.
Now if the sea hare starts going to work ill be in business.
CyboRob
New member
Logzor does your Dolabella come out during the day? Mine comes out a couple of hours before lights out.
If it's eating the Tang's nori it is not going to eat the Dictyota. All the ones I've had eat everything else first, the Dictyota is the last choice.
See if you can keep the Tang feed without the Dolabella getting any of it's food.
If it's eating the Tang's nori it is not going to eat the Dictyota. All the ones I've had eat everything else first, the Dictyota is the last choice.
See if you can keep the Tang feed without the Dolabella getting any of it's food.
Logzor
New member
It does come out but stays towards the top of the tank, behind the bubble box to my skimmer.
Ill have to stop feeding nori possibly. The tang eats a lot of meat (home-made formula) so I fear removing it from his diet.
I also worry that the slug will starve to death.
I have a bunch of chaeto in the tank to starve off the dictyota, will the dolabella go after that?
Ill have to stop feeding nori possibly. The tang eats a lot of meat (home-made formula) so I fear removing it from his diet.
I also worry that the slug will starve to death.
I have a bunch of chaeto in the tank to starve off the dictyota, will the dolabella go after that?
Logzor
New member
This is what I have been doing since I have been home this weekend. I got tried of just siphoning out 7 gallons worth. I have toothbrushed all the rocks in the tank then collected it off from the powerheads with a medium sized net. I know this can spread it but it is already everywhere possible.
I am going to have feedings reduced some while I am gone and I am hoping the chaeto will make a difference.
I am going to have feedings reduced some while I am gone and I am hoping the chaeto will make a difference.
Logzor
New member
Just a small update.
Toothbrushing the rock multiple times and then collecting off of the powerheads (with a net) has been my latest treatment. This step is in addition to the final siphoning from the rock and sand bed (7 gal).
Being out of town and having the skimmer off has let the dictyota run rampant.
I have had my roommate cut feeding in half and that has helped. I have also added and moved all my chaeto towards the top of the tank in moderate flow. Some of the chaeto sits near the top of the water right under my T5's and does just fine.
I have found that chaeto near the sandbed collects significant detritus (although it is an excellent pod refuge).
I believe the sea hare is starting to clean off the rock now that the dictyota is not as thick and that nori has not been in the tank as much.
Toothbrushing the rock multiple times and then collecting off of the powerheads (with a net) has been my latest treatment. This step is in addition to the final siphoning from the rock and sand bed (7 gal).
Being out of town and having the skimmer off has let the dictyota run rampant.
I have had my roommate cut feeding in half and that has helped. I have also added and moved all my chaeto towards the top of the tank in moderate flow. Some of the chaeto sits near the top of the water right under my T5's and does just fine.
I have found that chaeto near the sandbed collects significant detritus (although it is an excellent pod refuge).
I believe the sea hare is starting to clean off the rock now that the dictyota is not as thick and that nori has not been in the tank as much.
wld1783
Premium Member
Skim...Skim...Skim...
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/algae/faq_dictyota.jpg/view?searchterm=herbivores
quote: This is possibly Halymenia sp. or Dictyota sp. Halymenia and Dictyota are both very attractive algae that do well in reef aquaria. Fast growth of these algae may indicate high nutrient content in the tank. When dissolved nutrients are limited, they can be out-competed by other species more suited to the low nutrient environment of reef aquaria. As a note, Dictyota sp. contain some very potent anti-predation chemicals so control (if needed) of these algae may not be possible with common herbivores like tangs. Nutrient stripping (as provided by high efficiency protein skimming) is a better way to limit unwanted growth in chemically defended species. Dictyota can also be quite beautiful as seen in the picture above.
Bill
http://www.reefs.org/hhfaq/algae/faq_dictyota.jpg/view?searchterm=herbivores
quote: This is possibly Halymenia sp. or Dictyota sp. Halymenia and Dictyota are both very attractive algae that do well in reef aquaria. Fast growth of these algae may indicate high nutrient content in the tank. When dissolved nutrients are limited, they can be out-competed by other species more suited to the low nutrient environment of reef aquaria. As a note, Dictyota sp. contain some very potent anti-predation chemicals so control (if needed) of these algae may not be possible with common herbivores like tangs. Nutrient stripping (as provided by high efficiency protein skimming) is a better way to limit unwanted growth in chemically defended species. Dictyota can also be quite beautiful as seen in the picture above.
Bill
gpodio
Premium Member
I had Dictyota in my sump when I first setup my SPS tank, I really liked it and tried to get it to grow in my main tank. After the refugium filled in with macros the Dictyota died off on it's own, i tried to save it but couldn't. I suppose I should be glad it did, but in small quantities it's really nice looking! On the other hand bryopsis took over my tank after a couple years into it, I was close to surrendering until I got a fox face, he cleaned up my 180g in a matter of weeks! I love him for it!
I would suggest outcompeting it with faster growing macros if possible, that's what I believe did it for me. I also have a very light fish load so nutrient levels have always been very low.
Good luck with it!
I would suggest outcompeting it with faster growing macros if possible, that's what I believe did it for me. I also have a very light fish load so nutrient levels have always been very low.
Good luck with it!
gpodio
Premium Member
I had cheato at the time too... now I have a little of everything in there and the cheato has been struggling ever since, this would lead me to believe that the others are better at competing for nutrients... I know there's bryosis and a couple types of caulerpa in there, the others I don't know the names of...
Logzor
New member
Well bad news the sea hare died. I stopped feeding nori and it just withered away. I figured it would eat other algae in the tank but it didnt 
Good news is that I will be back home in just over 4 weeks to maintain the tank and get things under better control.
The chaeto has made a significant difference in the growth of Dictyota.
More good news. I bought a 90 gallon tank reef ready that has a 30 gallon sump and an auto top off.
Now. Do I trash all of my old rock, keep the old 55 running, or risk moving corals over? I am really clueless on what to do about this algae.
My goal is to have the new tank started within 6 months and somehow rid my tank of dictyota before that time.
I have some huge corals that I want to transfer over but I dont want any dictyota in my new tank!
Any suggestions? One piece of rock in particular has 5 neon pink and 1 neon green yuma (large). I can just cook that rock and kill those corals...
Not to mention the rock I have has massive biodiversity in it.
Good news is that I will be back home in just over 4 weeks to maintain the tank and get things under better control.
The chaeto has made a significant difference in the growth of Dictyota.
More good news. I bought a 90 gallon tank reef ready that has a 30 gallon sump and an auto top off.
Now. Do I trash all of my old rock, keep the old 55 running, or risk moving corals over? I am really clueless on what to do about this algae.
My goal is to have the new tank started within 6 months and somehow rid my tank of dictyota before that time.
I have some huge corals that I want to transfer over but I dont want any dictyota in my new tank!
Any suggestions? One piece of rock in particular has 5 neon pink and 1 neon green yuma (large). I can just cook that rock and kill those corals...
Not to mention the rock I have has massive biodiversity in it.
