Feather Duster Control

[Cyberdude47]

I'm getting these little white feather dusters in my tank about a half inch in diameter and they are now getting to be a bit of a nuisance,and in a 500 gallon tank it could be quite a problem once they really get out of control, What are your suggestions for controlling them A friend suggested a copperband butterfly and I'm leaning toward that but what happens once there all gone? I'm curious if any of you have this problem.

[Geoff]

why are they a problem? they are great filter feeders. if you have that many, than it seems you may be feeding to much.

a Copperband will most likely decimate the population. after that some CB will eat prepared foods, others will not. it would be best to find one that does eat prepared foods before you buy it.

G~

[Tynan Rasmus]

first time I have ever heard of feather dusters becoming a problem.

[Cyberdude47]

It's just that there is A HELL OF A LOT OF THEM and in numbers like that they get kind of ugly so I want to keep them in check and like I said before in a 500 g tank they can get kind of out of control

[skeety]

I guess it's a personal preference thing..

I personally think they add to the realism of the tank. Especially in large numbers like that.

Definitely not a bad thing to have. But if they're annoying you...I guess that's a problem.

I imagine they'll probably cycle like everything else. If there's enough filter food for them, they'll maintain their populations...but if you skim wetter/feed less/etc then they'll more than likely die off to a smaller population.

Any pics of the tank?

[Geoff]

have you been siphoning out detritus behind your aquascaping?

G~

[JEEP9783]

I Just Have A Nano N I Belive I Have About 30 Or So Little Ones N My Tank

[Cyberdude47]

I haven't been siphoning because I rely on flow to keep everything in suspense but I have been feeding more regularly though as we bought a school of 8 Pictilus Anthia's. I have mostly been relying that my sand bed maintenance crew have been going after any detritus that settles when I do my next water change I'll have to check and maybe siphon anything that may have settled

[Cyberdude47]

Jeep9783 it must be nice I'm pushing about 300+