do all tangs eat vegatation??
- Thread starter fast57
- Start date
klepto
New member
Buying a fish to solve an algae problem is rarely advisable. Lowering the nutrients present in your water (skimming, carbon, GFO, water changes etc) is what I would recommend. That way you take away the food for the algae, instead of adding another mouth to your tank (which will likely need regular feedings).
Surgeonfish are primarily herbivorous, but its difficult to generalize about what particular algae any given species will eat. They are also planktivores (especially when they start out as plankton themselves). Some tangs will only eat algae that is suspended in the water and others prefer grazing on film/short filamentous algae... SO In my opinion, there isn't a sure fire way to know if ____ tang will solve your algae problems.
Surgeonfish are primarily herbivorous, but its difficult to generalize about what particular algae any given species will eat. They are also planktivores (especially when they start out as plankton themselves). Some tangs will only eat algae that is suspended in the water and others prefer grazing on film/short filamentous algae... SO In my opinion, there isn't a sure fire way to know if ____ tang will solve your algae problems.
This does not sound as much like an algae problem as some macro algae that got loose in the DT. Again, what size is the tank, that will help you determine your choices of tangs. Another option is a Rabbitfish. Again, they can get large so you are back to size of tank.
I woudl normally agree with the above poster about dealing with nutrient issues with nuisance algae, but this is just Macro Algae run amuck it seems.
I woudl normally agree with the above poster about dealing with nutrient issues with nuisance algae, but this is just Macro Algae run amuck it seems.
fast57
New member
This does not sound as much like an algae problem as some macro algae that got loose in the DT. Again, what size is the tank, that will help you determine your choices of tangs. Another option is a Rabbitfish. Again, they can get large so you are back to size of tank.
I woudl normally agree with the above poster about dealing with nutrient issues with nuisance algae, but this is just Macro Algae run amuck it seems.
yep this is exactly what happened...got alittle busy , thought it looked nice now its out of hand. the tank is a 125 so no problems on room....just cant get something like a vlamingi tang
klepto
New member
How could it get out of hand without adequate nutrients? I'm not saying grazing won't help your problem.. just that it may be wise to look into other factors at the same time.
I agree with Makenna about the rabbitfish (Siganus virgatus).. they seem to go after macros.
davocean
Active member
This is not nuissance algae, but rather macro algae that has gotten out of hand, as usually what happens w/ caulerpa if not kept contained and lit 24/7 to keep it from gowing sexual and invading/overtaking tank.
One reason I don't advocate caulerpa.
Tank size is the deciding factor on tang suggestions.
A lawnmower blenny may eat it too if tank is small.
Rabbitt's are cool too, and can rid macro quickly, but can be an issue after that, sometimes pretty ticky, also needs good size tank.
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