Feeding herbivorous tangs

I have a 120 gal reef tank established for 8 months. It has mostly soft
corals, hermit crabs, a brittle star a short spined sea urchin, some snails,
and 2 clown fish and 1 cardinal fish and a bunch of micro and macro algae.
I have been adding things very slowly and recently put in two young tangs--a
blue tang and a sailfin tang for their beauty and to help chew down the
algae. The local live fish store recommended holding back on feeding the
tank to encourage the tangs to focus on the algae and this has worked well.
Now they chomp up the daily small frozen cube of food and are making real
progress on the algae. I think I am getting to the point where I need to
supplement feeding with something for the tangs. I have read in this group
about using Nori which I can get from the local asian market. Is this a
good way to go? Just hang a piece of Nori in the tank? Are there better
approaches? Thanks in advance for your help.

--
Al Waitz

I had a similar problem when it came to feeding my tang(s) as well as other
grazing fish. I was getting tired of sticking my hands in the tank everyday
just to add seaweed. What I finally came up with is this.
I took a large shell and drilled a hole in it and ran a piece of fishing
line so I could tie the shell and the clip together. The shell acts as a
weight to keep the clip from floating away. The other end of the line I hang
outside of the tank, and secure it so I can find it right away. When I
want to add seaweed to the tank, I pull up the fishing line with the clip on
it, add the veggie, then drop it back in the tank. This may not be the best
way, but it works for me. Good Luck






"Al Waitz" wrote in message
news:bVLHg.108776$FQ1.65622@attbi_s71...
I have a 120 gal reef tank established for 8 months. It has mostly soft
corals, hermit crabs, a brittle star a short spined sea urchin, some
snails, and 2 clown fish and 1 cardinal fish and a bunch of micro and macro
algae. I have been adding things very slowly and recently put in two young
tangs--a blue tang and a sailfin tang for their beauty and to help chew
down the algae. The local live fish store recommended holding back on
feeding the tank to encourage the tangs to focus on the algae and this has
worked well. Now they chomp up the daily small frozen cube of food and are
making real progress on the algae. I think I am getting to the point where
I need to supplement feeding with something for the tangs. I have read in
this group about using Nori which I can get from the local asian market.
Is this a good way to go? Just hang a piece of Nori in the tank? Are
there better approaches? Thanks in advance for your help.

--
Al Waitz

Yep it's good. You can use a clip to hold it in place. A
lot of times I just wad a piece in a ball, and then while
holding it in the tank, squeeze the air out of it and drop
it in.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Al Waitz wrote on 8/25/2006 7:41 PM:
I have a 120 gal reef tank established for 8 months. It has mostly soft
corals, hermit crabs, a brittle star a short spined sea urchin, some snails,
and 2 clown fish and 1 cardinal fish and a bunch of micro and macro algae.
I have been adding things very slowly and recently put in two young tangs--a
blue tang and a sailfin tang for their beauty and to help chew down the
algae. The local live fish store recommended holding back on feeding the
tank to encourage the tangs to focus on the algae and this has worked well.
Now they chomp up the daily small frozen cube of food and are making real
progress on the algae. I think I am getting to the point where I need to
supplement feeding with something for the tangs. I have read in this group
about using Nori which I can get from the local asian market. Is this a
good way to go? Just hang a piece of Nori in the tank? Are there better
approaches? Thanks in advance for your help.