Mollies in a sw tank

Jerry W · 04/06/2009, 10:41 AM

I recall reading a thread about this at some point, perhaps on another board but is anyone keeping mollies in their sw tank for algae control? One of our lfs has a few tanks running and each holds a pair/few of mollies. These tanks are spotless! Not a speck of algae and all these fish do is scour every surface of the tank. The other fish don't bother them. The mollies don't pester anything else. I recall reading that mollies are actually acclimated to FW for the trade but are more of a sw/brackish fish. Not sure of the truth to this but in any event, I'd consider a pair of these for algae control. Just wondering i anyone else is doing it. pros/cons?

BLKTANG · 04/06/2009, 10:52 AM

I did it on my first ever tank its the Halequin Mollies.They worked well until my Domino Damsel got big enough to eat them.

I drip acclimated them for 2 hours until they were in 1.025 SW.

Jerry W · 04/06/2009, 10:58 AM

Yeah, the one tank has a mix of Harlequin and white. The other has a gorgeous pair of orange sailfins that are about three inches each and very colorful. I'm pretty much a purist but would consider this for my system, given that they just plow through all kinds of algae.

BLKTANG · 04/06/2009, 11:02 AM

they did work very well while they lasted.I put 2 in my first ever 10g reef that was COVERED in HA,& they plowed down about 1/3 of it before they became lunch.

amstar · 04/06/2009, 11:16 AM

I have a pair that I have live in my sump... not only do I pull them out when I need an algae trim.. but I use their babies as food.

Sugar Magnolia · 04/06/2009, 11:27 AM

I've kept them in my tank. I did a three hour drip acclimation.

tank o tang · 04/06/2009, 12:49 PM

I cycled my first tank with them and they did great. Careful they can breed quicker than rabbits with fry having great survival rate. The fry can be a real pain to catch.

agreeive?fish · 04/06/2009, 01:34 PM

i kept 1 male and 4 females in my seahorse tank... the algea conrol was fair but the seahorses and mandrin had fry for lunch often

i keep some in my sumps and display tanks they keep the food waste down considerably and my sumps are algea free

amstar · 04/06/2009, 02:26 PM

thats what I do is use them in my sump and catch the fry and feed it them to the main tank... and my sump is clean of algae from them

reefloverd1 · 04/06/2009, 03:46 PM

what a great idea

04/06/2009, 10:41 AM	#1
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	Mollies in a sw tank I recall reading a thread about this at some point, perhaps on another board but is anyone keeping mollies in their sw tank for algae control? One of our lfs has a few tanks running and each holds a pair/few of mollies. These tanks are spotless! Not a speck of algae and all these fish do is scour every surface of the tank. The other fish don't bother them. The mollies don't pester anything else. I recall reading that mollies are actually acclimated to FW for the trade but are more of a sw/brackish fish. Not sure of the truth to this but in any event, I'd consider a pair of these for algae control. Just wondering i anyone else is doing it. pros/cons? __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

04/06/2009, 10:52 AM	#2
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	I did it on my first ever tank its the Halequin Mollies.They worked well until my Domino Damsel got big enough to eat them. I drip acclimated them for 2 hours until they were in 1.025 SW. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

04/06/2009, 10:58 AM	#3
Jerry W Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: PA. Posts: 2,873	Yeah, the one tank has a mix of Harlequin and white. The other has a gorgeous pair of orange sailfins that are about three inches each and very colorful. I'm pretty much a purist but would consider this for my system, given that they just plow through all kinds of algae. __________________ Americans sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Current Tank Info: 37 gal; pair of mocha clowns, ywg and tiger pistol shrimp

04/06/2009, 11:02 AM	#4
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	they did work very well while they lasted.I put 2 in my first ever 10g reef that was COVERED in HA,& they plowed down about 1/3 of it before they became lunch. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

04/06/2009, 11:27 AM	#6
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I've kept them in my tank. I did a three hour drip acclimation. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

04/06/2009, 11:16 AM	#5
amstar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 745	I have a pair that I have live in my sump... not only do I pull them out when I need an algae trim.. but I use their babies as food.

04/06/2009, 12:49 PM	#7
tank o tang Thread Lurker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CT Posts: 1,527	I cycled my first tank with them and they did great. Careful they can breed quicker than rabbits with fry having great survival rate. The fry can be a real pain to catch. __________________ A 5 gallon bucket of water dosen't look like much till it's on your living room floor Current Tank Info: 180gal

04/06/2009, 01:34 PM	#8
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	i kept 1 male and 4 females in my seahorse tank... the algea conrol was fair but the seahorses and mandrin had fry for lunch often i keep some in my sumps and display tanks they keep the food waste down considerably and my sumps are algea free

04/06/2009, 02:26 PM	#9
amstar Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dayton Ohio Posts: 745	thats what I do is use them in my sump and catch the fry and feed it them to the main tank... and my sump is clean of algae from them

04/06/2009, 03:46 PM	#10
reefloverd1 returns Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 214	what a great idea __________________ reefloverd1 Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have Their shoes. Current Tank Info: 14 gal. Biocube