Lawnmower Blenny Bioload

TimeConsumer · 04/01/2012, 03:13 PM

I often hear people write about how a lawnmower blenny adds a lot of bioload to a tank. Specifically I'm referring to situations where people advise than lawnmowers used to control an algae problem actually make the problem worse. That's something that I don't quite understand.

According to the information in this article about phosphate http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/chemistry almost all of the phosphate comes from food introduced into the aquarium. However, with my lawnmower blenny, he eats only algae growing on the side of the tank. He doesn't eat nori, pellets, or anything my other fish eat. So how can he be affecting nutrient levels in a closed system? The way I see it he eats the algae and the nutrients (N and P) contained within, then the nutrients in his waste break down and become more algae. No phosphate or nitrate enters the system from the outside (as far as he is concerned) so they are just caught in a perpetual cycle. So how much bioload does he truly add? (other than the load on the live rock needed to convert the ammonia to nitrate of course).

I view mandarins in the same light. Fish eats pods, fish takes a poo, poo turns to excess nutrients, pods consume nutrients, fish eats pods and on and on.

shifty51008 · 04/01/2012, 04:21 PM

IMO they add just the same bioload as any other small fish weather it be a clown or cardinal.

04/01/2012, 03:13 PM	#1
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Lawnmower Blenny Bioload I often hear people write about how a lawnmower blenny adds a lot of bioload to a tank. Specifically I'm referring to situations where people advise than lawnmowers used to control an algae problem actually make the problem worse. That's something that I don't quite understand. According to the information in this article about phosphate http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/3/chemistry almost all of the phosphate comes from food introduced into the aquarium. However, with my lawnmower blenny, he eats only algae growing on the side of the tank. He doesn't eat nori, pellets, or anything my other fish eat. So how can he be affecting nutrient levels in a closed system? The way I see it he eats the algae and the nutrients (N and P) contained within, then the nutrients in his waste break down and become more algae. No phosphate or nitrate enters the system from the outside (as far as he is concerned) so they are just caught in a perpetual cycle. So how much bioload does he truly add? (other than the load on the live rock needed to convert the ammonia to nitrate of course). I view mandarins in the same light. Fish eats pods, fish takes a poo, poo turns to excess nutrients, pods consume nutrients, fish eats pods and on and on. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

04/01/2012, 04:21 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	IMO they add just the same bioload as any other small fish weather it be a clown or cardinal. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder