Quiksilver's Ultimate 29g Tank Thread
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Hurgoth
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Nice thread. I always wanted to do something similiar where I have a smaller tank visible in the stand.
I had a caulepra (sp?) outbreak in my 40 breeder not too long ago. I was able to catch it before it got too crazy. The solution? A scribbled rabbitfish. He literally cleaned it up in 2 weeks. I have not seen a single piece since. In fact I sometimes feed him some from the refugium. He now eats anything I put in the tank.
He changes color too. Here's a pic if his driveby appearance.
I had a caulepra (sp?) outbreak in my 40 breeder not too long ago. I was able to catch it before it got too crazy. The solution? A scribbled rabbitfish. He literally cleaned it up in 2 weeks. I have not seen a single piece since. In fact I sometimes feed him some from the refugium. He now eats anything I put in the tank.
He changes color too. Here's a pic if his driveby appearance.
quiksilver
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11784691#post11784691 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Super NooB
Nice thread. I always wanted to do something similiar where I have a smaller tank visible in the stand.
I had a caulepra (sp?) outbreak in my 40 breeder not too long ago. I was able to catch it before it got too crazy. The solution? A scribbled rabbitfish. He literally cleaned it up in 2 weeks. I have not seen a single piece since. In fact I sometimes feed him some from the refugium. He now eats anything I put in the tank.
He changes color too. Here's a pic if his driveby appearance.
Dude, you have no idea how welcome your post is right now. I want a fish to help me with the caulerpa issue in the display but I don't want another hippo tang. I have to go small either way (only 29g).
Tell me more about your scribbled. I've been reading about them since you posted and am very intrigued. How does it get along with other tank mates, corals etc? What's it's personality to you? I have my hand in my tank a lot, do you worry about its venom when you do the same? Do you have any more pictures of yours?
Thanks
well it certainly is a glass tank. It is a used tank that my buddy gave to me. I don't have any clue what someone could do to a tank that would compromise its integrity. oh well. this was my upgrade but it looks like I will need to upgrade again. Can 't wait to explain this to my wife. I am excited to possible have an excuse to upgrade.
Hurgoth
Active member
Quick:
You know I think I labeled him wrong. It might be an Orange Spotted Rabbitfish. I've seen conflicting post as to which is which. Mine definitely has orange spots though. His color changes with mood. If he is trying to hide, he is darker. When he is cool, he becomes blue and orange. Its pretty cool. I got him small, though I've read that they can get about 9". I have him in my 40, but I also have a 29 and I think he would be fine in there for a while until he got too big. I know a lot of people complain about having fish that can get big in small tanks, but personally I don't think it is an issue as long as you increase the tank size as the fish grows. I'm sure you could always trade him to someone else with the same algae issues.
When I first put him in, I didn't feed the tank for a few days. He hid for a while and about a week later he was out and grazing on the rocks. About 2 weeks my algae was significantly reduced. Not too long after I can't even see a single piece. He is a model tankmate. As far as sticking my hand in the tank, he hides behind the rocks when I am messing around in there. If he starts getting brave, I'll use the tongs. Though the other night I was moving stuff around and the lights went out. I almost pood myself.
Lately I've seen him nipping at some byopris (sp?), but I don't think they eat that stuff. One can only dream...
I'll try to get some more pictures of him this weekend. Here is one I found online that is pretty similar:
You know I think I labeled him wrong. It might be an Orange Spotted Rabbitfish. I've seen conflicting post as to which is which. Mine definitely has orange spots though. His color changes with mood. If he is trying to hide, he is darker. When he is cool, he becomes blue and orange. Its pretty cool. I got him small, though I've read that they can get about 9". I have him in my 40, but I also have a 29 and I think he would be fine in there for a while until he got too big. I know a lot of people complain about having fish that can get big in small tanks, but personally I don't think it is an issue as long as you increase the tank size as the fish grows. I'm sure you could always trade him to someone else with the same algae issues.
When I first put him in, I didn't feed the tank for a few days. He hid for a while and about a week later he was out and grazing on the rocks. About 2 weeks my algae was significantly reduced. Not too long after I can't even see a single piece. He is a model tankmate. As far as sticking my hand in the tank, he hides behind the rocks when I am messing around in there. If he starts getting brave, I'll use the tongs. Though the other night I was moving stuff around and the lights went out. I almost pood myself.
Lately I've seen him nipping at some byopris (sp?), but I don't think they eat that stuff. One can only dream...
I'll try to get some more pictures of him this weekend. Here is one I found online that is pretty similar:
Hurgoth
Active member
BTW I have never seen him nip at any coral. I've read so many conflicting reports on the net about this guy. Some say don't keep him with Xenia, etc... I have tons of Xenia and its all doing just fine. I keep mostly LPS, Zoas, and Rics and they are all great.
I've read that he gets 9", and I've read he gets 16". Who knows what to believe anymore
I've read that he gets 9", and I've read he gets 16". Who knows what to believe anymore
quiksilver
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Thanks! Melev told me rabbitfish are known bryopsis eaters which is why he wanted one originally. He is awesome! Thanks again.
quiksilver
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I dunno that you MUST upgrade. How old is the tank? I had a sump that bowed like crazy for 3 years and it held up fine. Since you are wanting to upgrade anyways, just tell your wife you are worried and want to be safe (which isn't a lie at this point at all). Better bigger than 29g off water and fish on your floor.
jrpdriver
Active member
I had a Masked Rabbit Fish, he did great on the algae and got all great with evrbody else in my tank, he even ate out of my hand...then one day he mowed down my blastos, wasn't positive it was him until I was watching the tank and he started taking bights out of my red button coral right in front of me. I took him out and put him in my 100g at work and he mowed down all of the mushrooms in the tank. I keep my fish very well fead but for some reason he developed a taste for coral, he never touched any of my sps though, just lps and mushrooms.
reefarchitect
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11788493#post11788493 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LePep
I would just like to share my personal experience with an orange spotted rabbitfish exactly like the one pictured.
I searched for almost two years before locating one locally. I was so excited that I called a few friends and we purchased the entire shipment from the store.
Fast forward a few months. Everything had been going fine. The fish was fat, happy and well acclimated to his tank mates. One morning I notice about 50 safecracker zoos missing. The next day most of my pepto-palys were gone. This kept up for a few days. I wondered if I had nudis or spiders or whatever, so I stayed up one night and at about 2:00 am shined a flashlight into the tank. There he was, my orange spot taking out the few safecrackers I had left. I watched him for almost 20 minutes as he consumed ~10 zoos.
When all was said and done, in the week it took me to catch him, he decimated my zoo collection. Especially the PPE, RPE and GPE. I figured out that in retail cost, he ate over 2K in zoos.
He ended up in a 300 gallon SPS tank whos owner hates zoos. Good marriage for them, bad experience for me.
Hopefully this was an isolated incident and yours behaves.
quiksilver
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Yeah I have a few zoos which can just go in my prop tank. So no worries.. but thanks for the warning. I pretty much only have sps in the display. And one GIANT hammer.
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