Obligate Macro eater

BeanAnimal · #1 11/07/2006, 08:13 PM

I never had a caulerpa problem....

I no longer have a yellow tang... I now have a HUGE caulerpa problem. Anybody have opinions on THE BEST caulerpa eater? I need to get something to keep this stuff under control!

pixburg-reefer · #2 11/07/2006, 09:00 PM

yup yup... I have had the same problem for 5 years.... but what always worked best for me was a tuxido urchin.

Kelly

acer · #3 11/08/2006, 09:05 AM

I have the same problem- the spiney black urchin I got cleared the coralin algea, but never touched the macro algea that is taking over the tank. I am now in the process of finding a small rabbit fish - when he outgrows my office tank ( 35 hex with the macro problem) I will trade him out or put him in my home 90 tank. Any further ideas would be appreciated. Sorry to hi-jack Bean.

BeanAnimal · #4 11/08/2006, 09:47 AM

Rabbitfish as in a Foxface?

I would be interested to hear others opinons on the foxface and reef compatability. Also on the idea of having both a yellow tang and foxface together. I do plan on getting another tang. As far as I have been able to read... the Yellow tang is the best of the tang bunch when it comes to eating caulerpa and the like.

Bean

acer · #5 11/08/2006, 10:39 AM

Bean - my yellow Tang only picked at the specific "caulerpa" I have - actually created a mess with floating debri that got stuck in the overflow and power head. I have never seen the actual plant that I am having trouble with - but haven't really researched either. I will try to post a pic for ID fro you experts that knwo this kind of stuff. THe "rabbit fish" I am talking about is not a foxface. I saw one at petland in Monroeville- but is was too big to put in my 35 hex -even for just a month or so. I also saw one a seahorse th eother day- also too big for me.

Adam · #6 11/08/2006, 11:34 PM

Hi Guys,

This is going to sound kind of like and SAT scenerio, but...

All foxface are rabbit fish, but not all rabbit fish are foxface.

How about that? Seriously though, foxface are one "variety" of rabbitfish.

All of these fish are generally good macro algae eaters. They are moderately agressive/territorial, but often compatible with tangs. Like tangs, they are fairly prone to ich. Also in common with tangs, a rare individual will mildly pester corals. Also, watch out for the mildly poisonous doral spines.

For macro algae eating Tangs, the Zebrasomas are excellent. Nasos will sometimes do a good job too. Most others are more turf/diatom specialists and aren't reliable macro eaters.

Adam

BeanAnimal · #7 11/09/2006, 09:16 AM

Adam, I wish I could carry you in my hip pocket (or at least around my arm) instead of the Burgess book... of course it would help if you were 5'4", blonde, better looking, and had the "other" chromosomes...

So for my 75 Gallon the Yellow or Scopas is about the only suitable member of that family?

Adam can you recomend one of the Rabbitfish to go along with it and the maroon clown?

I plan on adding a black or lawnmower blenny in a few months as well.

holeinone1972 · #8 11/09/2006, 09:39 AM

I have a long term foxface in my tank, which as you all know is coming down. Now almost completely empty.

This fish is my first fish and has been with me almost 5 years.

$40 takes him.

It is a Lo Vulpinas (sp)?

Let me find a pic about 4-5 inches long great fish

holeinone1972 · #9 11/09/2006, 09:41 AM

BeanAnimal · #10 11/09/2006, 08:24 PM

I am interested...

what is his temperment and eating habbits?

holeinone1972 · #11 11/10/2006, 08:55 AM

Eats everything.

Great temperment.

Do not put him in a tank w/ any other rabbitfish, or yellow tangs.

Foffaces do have poison spines. This is a great fish, he has been with us since day 1 literally. Extremely well mannered and great eater, I think a great addition for you if you have a medium to large tank.

Rob

acer · #12 11/10/2006, 07:57 PM

Well - I brought my "caulerpa" to Jason at "Underthe sea"- as I could not identify the species. It is his opinion that it is a type of sargassum. THat would certainly explain the lack of interest by the Yellow tang. Anybody know about this plant??? Please let me know. Looks like I will have to take out all the rock, etc. and start over with the whole system as I bet this will probably have bits of itself in the sand, the cheato or the refugium rock, etc. OUCH!!!.

holeinone1972 · #13 11/10/2006, 11:58 PM

Sargassum is a cool algae. I used to have it it grew extremely fast. A great nutrient export.

If it has littles balls on it, they are actually air bubbles that make the plant float and grow up to the surface.

It is related to kelp, the fastest growing plant on earth.

My foxface used to eat it, but then all of the sudden it just stopped growing.

I dont think he ate it all it just stopped......

acer · #14 11/11/2006, 12:39 AM

I wish mine would stop growing ( assuming it actually is a type of sagassum)- I would have tried your Foxface Hole-in-one, but it would be cruel to put a 4-5" foxface in a 35 hex. If anybody whats to try this in their refugium - come get some- I would not recommend you put it in anything that you dont want it to cover up in a month or two. Could be neat in a fish only tank or with seashorses. Will attempt to take pics for further ID tomarrow for all you "experts " out there..

acer · #15 11/13/2006, 11:02 PM

OK- Have been doing some research and based on desciption and pics I believe the macro I am dealing with is Caulerpa Brachypus. I am unable to find a picture/description of any sargassum that looks like the very aggresive and nasty guy I have. ANY info toward any animal that will eat this macro will be greatly appreciated. At this point I am going to let the "winter" recycle all my rock from this system. We will see if this guy can stand Pittsburghs worst for a season = Leaving it out for the winter elements to kill all life and wash away any toxins. Hopefully will beable to re-use rock in the spring as base rock.

holeinone1972 · #16 11/13/2006, 11:06 PM

Why not setup a large container trash can and recycle the rock there. In complete darkness?

Pluck and scrub rock clean, put in new saltwater, powerheads for circulation, heater, and keep somewhere dark. BLACK dark.

In a few months eveything will be gone. You can even emopty and use new water every month or so.

Do a little research here on RC about cooking rock.

Rob

acer · #17 11/13/2006, 11:16 PM

Thanks Rob- didn't know if the Brachypus would leach out toxins as it dies off.

holeinone1972 · #18 11/13/2006, 11:34 PM

Well even if it does, whats it gonna hurt? Can't be worse than killing the rock off in the snow can it?

LOL

I cooked rock like this for over 6 months before, got rid of everything, all kinds of algae, aiptasia anything that requires light.

acer · #19 11/21/2006, 07:16 PM

Hi all- got a new salifert phophate test kit as my phosphates were reading 0.5 ( pretty high) on my old 'American Pharm.." kit. IT was suggested that I have a phophate problem and that is why the brachypus was out of control. THe new kit reading is 0.0 . So, if anybody has the American phosphate kit I suggest you spend the $$ and get a salifert kit. THe increments alone tell you that the American kit is poor = first reading 0.0 then next best = 0.5. Salifert first reading is 0.0 then next is 0.03. And so, American must know their kit is not very accurate. I was ready to start addign phophate removal chemicals, hook up my phosban reactor again, etc. What a relief!!!