Moorish Idol in SPS tank
- Thread starter Allmost
- Start date
gofor100
New member
From everything that I know about Moorish Idols, and that's probably more than the average Joe, since they are my favorite fish... the Idol would love the high flow in an SPS tank since when I go diving in Hawaii, they are always seen swimming in the shallower part of the reefs moving from reef patch to reef patch, and are similar to Angels in that they may pick from time to time at the corals, but they are truly looking for sponge and other food on the rocks, and are probably picking at the corals more out of curiosity than anything.
The main thing though is the size of your tank... I would have to say that if you're thinking of keeping it in your 65 gallon, then you'll probably have some problems since it truly does need space to thrive. I'm thinking at least a 5 ft long, 2ft deep tank...
Its a GREAT excuse to upgrade though!!!
The main thing though is the size of your tank... I would have to say that if you're thinking of keeping it in your 65 gallon, then you'll probably have some problems since it truly does need space to thrive. I'm thinking at least a 5 ft long, 2ft deep tank...
Its a GREAT excuse to upgrade though!!!
Allmost
New member
thanks guys, yes the upgrade is on its way just gotta try to find a way to bring my 7 foot tank up to the 26th floor lol
hmmm, they do look like they would get huge but keeping a small one in 65G should be fine for some time, I have alot of sponges growing on the rocks.
hmm, thanks, gotta see if I can find a really small one. if not, u are right, too small.
just gotta try to find a way to bring my 7 foot tank up to the 26th floor lol hmmm, they do look like they would get huge but keeping a small one in 65G should be fine for some time, I have alot of sponges growing on the rocks.
hmm, thanks, gotta see if I can find a really small one. if not, u are right, too small.
gofor100
New member
If you keep it in the 65G temporarily, I would play around with the rockwork to make sure there is plenty of open space for it to swim (if it isn't already this way).
The only other problem that I can foresee is the amount of food that most people have to feed for it to thrive... so make sure you've got a really good skimmer and probably some type of phosphate removal system, because you'll probably end up feeding it 2 to 3 times a day, and this, as you probably know, can lead to rising nutrients and be a detriment to your SPS. For some reason, their metabolism is off the charts (probably because they swim so much) and are usually finicky eaters to begin with, which most often results in the Idol owner feeding more than necessary to get it started eating.
I think the key is to get one that is already eating pellets and/or frozen foods in the LFS... otherwise, you're flushing $ down the toilet along with a dead Idol in a couple weeks time.
Good luck.
The only other problem that I can foresee is the amount of food that most people have to feed for it to thrive... so make sure you've got a really good skimmer and probably some type of phosphate removal system, because you'll probably end up feeding it 2 to 3 times a day, and this, as you probably know, can lead to rising nutrients and be a detriment to your SPS. For some reason, their metabolism is off the charts (probably because they swim so much) and are usually finicky eaters to begin with, which most often results in the Idol owner feeding more than necessary to get it started eating.
I think the key is to get one that is already eating pellets and/or frozen foods in the LFS... otherwise, you're flushing $ down the toilet along with a dead Idol in a couple weeks time.
Good luck.
Reefaddictor
In Memoriam
Had a morish idol in my old SPS Mixed Reef with no issues. It was 280 Gallons. He was a cool fish, hated selling him when I moved.
very nice MI. how long did u keep it in that tank.
