lighting schedule?

DebsSisterFlo · 03-02-2006, 11:51 AM

I'm not sure how long I should have my lights on... here's what I've been doing, is it ok?
Actinics 9am-10pm
flourescent 10am-9pm

I have snails and I'm still toying with the idea of getting a mower blenny, so I should have some algae growth, yes? I do not have a skimmer on this tank yet per seahorse.org. I do have two whisper HOB's.
um, corals:
lots of shrooms
digitata up on top by the lights, seems to be doing fine
clump of zoos

thanks!

gwen_o_lyn · 03-02-2006, 12:12 PM

What my book says about lawn mower blennies is that they need lots of algae and sometimes they starve in tanks wen they don't get enough. If you can't see the algae, then you prolly will have to buy some to keep it healthy. Never had one so maybe someone else can add to this.

Your lighting schedule looks good to me

Caoineag · 03-02-2006, 12:23 PM

Hi there,

Algae blenny's love to graze. You need to make sure you have at least one panel of glass on your tank that you don't clean algae off of, and lots of algae growing on your live rock. They are a constant grazer and a happy alge blenny is one with a bulging belly.

Otherwise, you need to buy seaweed and clip it in your tank and just always have it in there. That way they can choose when to eat. I have never had a algae blenny starve in my tank and my current one is fattening himself up fast.

I recommend them myself. They LOVE to people watch, they will purposely come out from behind a rock to stare back at you. Also if you have very shy or peaceful fish, they shouldn't have any problem with the algae blenny. I mean, my jawfish doesn't hide from my algae blenny so that should tell you something (if you don't know, jawfish are extremely shy, especially when new to a tank).

DebsSisterFlo · 03-02-2006, 12:59 PM

They get kind of big don't they, like 5"? In my 38 when it's fully stocked it will have 3 seahorses, a green clown goby and a firefish. Also the snails, 2 reef hermies and 3 pepp shrimp. Does it sound like I'd have room for him? Don't want to stress everyone out. Should I wait a couple months before I add the blenny, if I do? Will the snails compete with the blenny for algae?

Caoineag · 03-02-2006, 01:05 PM

If I remember an earlier conversation that we had, you told me some of your snails were nassarius, they are detritus eaters, so they don't compete, as to your other critters, no one is going to fight with him, pick on him, or make him angry. He won't even scare your seahorses so he is very compatible, the issue here is can your filtration handle it. Remember as long as you have algae growing, you won't have to worry about more mess that way but he still poops. Frankly, he does get to 5" but he doesn't actually swim so much as perch. So space isn't an issue, just filtration, is your nitrate 0? If so, I would put him in, if not, get better filtration first.

But personally you should be good to add him, he's hardy, friendly, and very low maintenance.