how polluting is lettuce to the tank

bryang6286 · #1 08/26/2005, 09:50 PM

i have a blue tang and would like to just leave a piece of lettuce in the tank for him to eat whenever he wants. is this bad for the water and if so how bad.

bryan

MIKE NY · #2 08/26/2005, 10:08 PM

don't use it because it has little nutritional value and it's hard to digest for them......and it makes a mess too. Try using Nori or Seaweed Selects. If you want to use lettuce then use Romaine...

Putawaywet · #3 08/26/2005, 10:16 PM

Agreed! I switched to Nori from Romaine years ago and never looked back. However, if you are set on going the Romaine route, it's best if you freeze it first to break down the fibers which will make it a little easier on digestive systems.

Brett

Bennerkla2 · #4 08/26/2005, 10:50 PM

Iceberg = 0 nutrition and is terrible for a reef. Once that lettuce is in there it is best to get it out of the tank. Freezing or boiling works best to remove the thick organics of the lettuce.

David Corbett · #5 08/26/2005, 11:00 PM

Romaine lettuce is perfectly suitable for our fishy friends; it's a staple in my Tangs diets. It's readily available, fresh, and inexpensive, I have been using it for years with great results. I am not sure why there is allot of negative feedback on this subject, I can only comment from my experience that the results are excellent. David

xtrstangx · #6 08/26/2005, 11:41 PM

Whats closer to what Tangs really eat in nature? Romaine lettuce or Nori?

If you can't answer that question, then you shouldn't be keeping a tang :P

BuckeyeDad2002 · #7 08/27/2005, 12:02 AM

I feed spinach to mine. Boiled for 45 seconds to a minute. It takes them about half an hour to clean up two leafs.

jlfritsche · #8 08/27/2005, 12:12 AM

then why do most Nori sheets say noo romaine on the package....like its a bad thing

Putawaywet · #9 08/27/2005, 01:52 AM

Just guessing, but possibly used as a filler. A cost savings measure perhaps.

David Corbett · #10 08/27/2005, 11:38 AM

xtrstangx says:

Quote:

If you can't answer that question, then you shouldn't be keeping a tang :P

Wow

tanker · #11 08/27/2005, 01:04 PM

I feed my tangs lots of nori. To me sea-creatures eat things from the sea.

BUT-- I have seen other tangs eat only Romaine in their tanks.

I personally would not feed them Romaine.

bryang6286 · #12 08/27/2005, 03:07 PM

ok but does leaving the lettuce in really pollute the tank

David Corbett · #13 08/27/2005, 03:14 PM

Quote:

ok but does leaving the lettuce in really pollute the tank

No.

It will be quickly consumed by the fish once they recognize it as food. I have a 350 gallon reef tank that I have been putting one full head of lettuce in every week for over 3 years. Corals look great fish spawn weekly everything is on track. David