gardener wanted!!!

[dbman]

OK I am at the point that my 55 reef is becoming overrun by caulerpa of about 3 different kinds and a couple of stands of sargassum which are pretty easily controlled. As if the xenia wasn't bad enough. Anyway, The caulerpa is virtually impossible to remove by hand; there seems to be enough light that it is not leafing out much but just shooting out roots over, around, and under every rock and crevice; my efforts to remove it just get it attached to more rocks.

I know a tang would probably knock this stuff out in pretty short order but I don't think I can or should support one in my 55 with its current residents, a small flame angel, a lightning wrasse, and a dusky jawfish. I'm wondering if there are any other good macro grazers out there - do sailfin / lawnmower blennies eat macros? Anything else??? Tank is looking messy and they're starting to overgrow a couple of corals so I'm gettting really serious about this now!

TIA

[mojoreef]

dbman I am in the same boat as you, my tangs wont touch the stuff. One thing I know is that the more your rip out the more it grows back. I even took all my rock and corals out and weeding it out and it still came back. I have a new tank coming so again I will do a detailed job on removing it..


good luck
mike

[Heavan]

Mike,
Next time you come down bring me some....hehehe
Renae

[J-shrimp]

I think scats can be converted to salt water. the are herbivores they might eat it

[Carpentersreef]

I've got a foxface that makes short work of ANY macro within 20 feet of the tank!!

Mitch

[dbman]

Mitch, what do you think about a foxface in a 55? They're kinda big but are they as easily stressed by lack of space as a tang would be? If they're not too skittish I could always put a small one in for a few weeks or a couple of months and remove it later.

[mojoreef]

I tried a fox face and it didnt eat the calurpa I have. I have heard that they dont do very well in a smaller tank.

MIke

[Carpentersreef]

dbman,
My foxface was one of the first fish I bought when I got into reefing a few years ago. I put him in my then 55 gal system.
I must have lucked out, because mine isn't skittish at all, and I've heard that they can be. He's always the first one up to the seaweed I feed, and he'll eat the whole thing right out of my hand!
After I had him for a while, I switched over my 180FW to reef, and he does enjoy all the extra room.
If you do decide to get one, he'd make a great excuse for a move up to a larger system ...and we all need that! lol!
If your lfs is like mine, maybe they'll let you use him for a while, then return him. (I do have to pay up front, though )

Mitch

[Doug1]

Maybe I was lucky but my sail fin ate all the macro, he just wont touch the green hair