grazing area

[Raceimage]

The Pgh zoo made a grazing station in a tank with alot of tangs so the fish can eat as they naturally would. I have 4 tangs in my tank and would ziptie dried algae sheets to a piece of live rock. Today I purchased a plastic drain cover and a plastic cap that fit together. I filled the cap portion with sand, put the stalks of kale (organic purchased at local supermarket for $1) through the slots of the drain cover, snapped the 2 pieces together, and placed it in the display. The tangs would not go near it for several hours; however, once an urchin started plowing through it they started pecking at the kale.

When I used the dried sheets they would fall apart in no time. The kale has been in the tank for 10 hours and it still looks like a marine plant - very natural appearance. I even have a return line and vortech blowing on it and it is still standing tall.

 

[Misled]

When I had a tank large enough for tangs I did similar with romaine and green leaf lettuce. They held up pretty well also. Maybe get some of all and make a buffet.

 

[Masterderrull]

wow never thought of doing anything like that. Thanks for the great ideas. Race, how do you hide the white plastic drain cover, and is it a pain to take it in and out to clean and restock with food?

 

[Raceimage]

I didn't try to hide the plastic yet as I just made it the same day that I posted. The kale has been in for 2 days and still is "crispy" and standing tall. My plan is to cover the plastic with rubble and sand. I loaded the drain cover up with food so you really don't notice it. It would be awesome if I only had to replace the greens once or twice a week and still give the fish a constant source of food. The urchin hasn't moved off of it since it discovered the food.

My fish enjoy playing hide the frag so I am in the tank often setting things upright. Pulling the feeder out and replacing the food won't be any more work for me and I feel better that the tangs have a constant source of food instead of fighting over a dried strip of seaweed ziptied to a rock.

 

[feedmycorals]

Great tips! I just got a Foxface Rabbit fish last night. this morning I fed him with dried seaweed and I was amazed that he ate so much...