questions

[bolt696]

Hi,

Just wanted to get an opinion on 2 things:

1) I would like to get a SEA SLUG Lettuce but keep reading they they can emit toxins and wipe out a tank. Is this common? I read that people have them. What would you suggest getting one or no? What kind of algae do the eat?

2) Is there a limit to how many urchins you can have in a 55 gallon tank. I have 2 now and they do help with the algae on glass. I wanted to get to more. Is that to much?

thanks

 

[jnfallon]

clueless as fas as the sea slug, but urchins consume coralline at a furious pace.

I would add snails instead for that.

 

[billsreef]

Assuming your talking about one of the Elyssia sp. sea slugs often referred to as Lettuce Nudi's, they are "Solar Powered". They rob chloroplasts from various algae and "farm" the chloroplasts in their own bodies, this gives them that green color. They can only keep the chloroplasts going for just so long before they need to get new ones, so they need a constant supply of the right algae to grow. They do not produce toxins, so no worries there. The toxin idea comes about due to some species that "borrow" the toxins from their foods, these are usually the brightly colored sea slugs.

As for urchins, sure you could put two more in. However, not only do they do a number on coraline as Justin mentions, but you got to worry about bumping into them

 

[Long Island Andy]

I am no expert but I think the lettuce nudi's are pretty safe. They do eat bryopis but the problem is they will keep going over the overflows. I have used them in the past. I think the best thing for the glass is a magnet or single edged razor blade. Its faster

 

[bolt696]

Thanks, Guess I will pass on both. I read that the lettuce snails die quick due to lack of food.

 

[Spracklcat]

I've had the lettuce nudi's too, and I think they are overrated. For glass-algae I'd jsut load up on snails, and for hair algae and cyanobacteria I highly recommend the sea hares (Dolabella spp).

 

[Fragmented 99]

Wasnt aware the sea hares would eat the cyano. What do they eat once the algae is gone?

 

[Spracklcat]

They do actually. I don't know wh taht isn't commonly known--I found out by accident when I put one in my tank and my cayano disappeared . Then I did some research, and in the wild it is commonly known for them to eat cyano. In fact, sea hares were harvested for research, where they collected them and extracted some compound from them for medicinal purposes. Then later someone went back and figured out that the compound wasn't something the hares made, but something from all the cyanobacteria they had eaten.

Once your tank is clean you can feed algae--nori or any of the Tang veggies. The nori is cheap at the Asian grocery store.

 

[Fragmented 99]

How often did you feed it. Do you know of any stores in the Coram -Selden area that carries Nori

 

[Spracklcat]

I put a half sheet of nori in a lettuce clip every other day or so, but taht also got eaten by my damsels and lawnmower blenny. I don't know of any place in Coram or Selden, but the place I go is at the corner of Stony Brook Road and 347--called "Oriental Groceries". Just ask for Sushi nori--I think it is $10 or so for a packet of 50 sheets. That will last you a LOOOOOOONG time.

 

[puckbs]

i just went into a sushi place and asked if they would sell me a package of nori...like christine said...huge pack for 10 beans

 

[KathyC]

You can buy nori in the Asian section of your local supermarket. I know that Waldbaums carries it.

 

[billsreef]

Just make sure it is plain and not seasoned

 

[6stringpenguin]

Has anyone actually tried the dried nori with garlic already in it?

 

[Spracklcat]

I haven't but I don't imagine it would be a problem. Also, don't worry if the nori is roasted--works just the same.