Do Kole Tangs eat macro algae?

[ZoeReef]

i have a problem with a macro algae or some other type of (for lack of better word) seaweed. It has spread fairly rapidly in my tank and although I don't have a brown or green algae issue, the macro needs to be taken care of.

Do you think a Kole will eat the stuff?

 

[ZoeReef]

bump. I'm surprised no one has answered this one yet.

 

[Blazer88]

My Kole would never touch any macro stuff.

 

[jda]

Some will, some won't. Snails might be a better bet in a 24G. Remove as much algae by hand as you can and then drop in some mexican turbos.

 

[jmaneyapanda]

they wont. they dont have the proper mouth mechanism to grasp and tear fleshy or more fibrous algaes.

 

[ZoeReef]

Thanks. That helps make my decision easy

 

[thor32766]

great info jmaneypanda

 

[jmaneyapanda]

thanks- i love tnags too

 

[jmaneyapanda]

tangs that is

 

[wayne in norway]

Mine didn't . My foxface annihalated it

 

[ZoeReef]

thanks wayne

 

[Joao Monteiro]

They´re grazers, feeding alot of inorganic material.
Also very good to control diatom and bryopsis (hair algae)

Check this: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ctenocha.htm

 

[jmaneyapanda]

I strongly doubt they would eat bryopsis, mine never did. I dont think they generate enough focused leverage to remove the bryopsis, just gently brushing.

 

[Joao Monteiro]

Some do. In the www Faqs there are several reports on that.

Hope mine will...

 

[R33f3r]

Mine doesn't but it will eat diatoms and detritus.

 

[rdmpe]

My Naso, Sailfin and Sribbled Rabbitfish all eat macros. I feed them cheato on a veggie clip every day LOL. But not sure you want to put any of those fish in a 24g unless it's really small fish and for a short time... My Kole never eats macro. It will eat small pieces of nori that are in the water column but that's about as close as it gets. They are "scraper" type algae eaters. They can eat microalgae off the glass for instance...

 

[ZoeReef]

it would be for a very short time. Naso and Sailfin..Hmmmm I may need to try those.

I moved my Kole to a large tank with plenty of his style algae. I replaced him with a yellow tang, but this tang could care less about macro after 4 days.

I may give it to a friend and try a naso or sailfin. I would try the foxface, but I have too many softies.

 

[ZoeReef]

FOLLOW UP

I got a yellow tang. It could care less about the macro.

Got a FOXFACE. Macro all gone in five days. That is an algae eating machine!