Sailfin Tang Eating Algae

RonMidtownStomp · 03/30/2008, 08:52 PM

This seems like the greatest thing to ever happen to this tank, but I wanted to make sure. We have all of this long, dense algae that we inherited with the liverock. We just put the Sailfin Tang into the tank (from LFS) and it immediately started feasting on the algae and pretty much hasn't stopped eating for the last hour. Are we to assume that it will eventually stop eating before it turms bulemic or explodes? Will we need to supplement this diet with more nutritious stuff? If so, what?

It also says on liveaquaria.com that it will eat meats. I'm having a hard time imagining this little guy (3" long?) eating a hunk of scallop.

He's fantastic so far. The idea is to move him to the 100 gallon tank when he appears too big for this tank. Liveaquaria also says 125 gallon min. and the LFS said they'd take him back if he outgrew that and we didn't have a larger tank by then. I figure we'll pick up a 200-250 gallon tank in the next year.

Thanks,
Ron and Deanna

Gary Majchrzak · 03/30/2008, 08:59 PM

Welcome to RC.
I'd let that little fella eat algae until it's all gone. It might take a couple of days

Nori is a good food for your Sailfin Tang. Mysid shrimps are probably the best meaty seafood you can give it. This species isn't too fussy and will eat almost anything if hungry enough. Good luck with it.

RonMidtownStomp · 03/30/2008, 09:29 PM

Oh, there's a whole bunch more than that little bit in the tank. Maybe 100x more? We bought an urchin to try to eat the stuff, and it's been working on it for a couple of weeks. Sounds great, though.

650-IS350 · 03/30/2008, 10:07 PM

Mine mowed down nuisance algae all over the tank. Only reason why I have him for.

mdog3000 · 03/31/2008, 06:12 PM

Mine must be broken, lol, He barely picks at all my algae.

03/30/2008, 08:52 PM	#1
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	Sailfin Tang Eating Algae This seems like the greatest thing to ever happen to this tank, but I wanted to make sure. We have all of this long, dense algae that we inherited with the liverock. We just put the Sailfin Tang into the tank (from LFS) and it immediately started feasting on the algae and pretty much hasn't stopped eating for the last hour. Are we to assume that it will eventually stop eating before it turms bulemic or explodes? Will we need to supplement this diet with more nutritious stuff? If so, what? It also says on liveaquaria.com that it will eat meats. I'm having a hard time imagining this little guy (3" long?) eating a hunk of scallop. He's fantastic so far. The idea is to move him to the 100 gallon tank when he appears too big for this tank. Liveaquaria also says 125 gallon min. and the LFS said they'd take him back if he outgrew that and we didn't have a larger tank by then. I figure we'll pick up a 200-250 gallon tank in the next year. Thanks, Ron and Deanna

03/30/2008, 08:59 PM	#2
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	Welcome to RC. I'd let that little fella eat algae until it's all gone. It might take a couple of days Nori is a good food for your Sailfin Tang. Mysid shrimps are probably the best meaty seafood you can give it. This species isn't too fussy and will eat almost anything if hungry enough. Good luck with it. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

03/30/2008, 09:29 PM	#3
RonMidtownStomp You can edit this? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Orangevale (Sacramento Area) Posts: 3,993	Oh, there's a whole bunch more than that little bit in the tank. Maybe 100x more? We bought an urchin to try to eat the stuff, and it's been working on it for a couple of weeks. Sounds great, though. __________________ Back in a hobby with an island 4-side viewable 4' cube with center overflow. Old school SPS dominant with a nice zoa collection and a few chalices. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t

03/30/2008, 10:07 PM	#4
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	Mine mowed down nuisance algae all over the tank. Only reason why I have him for. __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

03/31/2008, 06:12 PM	#5
mdog3000 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 125	Mine must be broken, lol, He barely picks at all my algae. __________________ If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them. Current Tank Info: 125 gallon reef, 55 planted freshwater tank.