Best fish to apistasia and algae

Lonelyreef · Nov 3, 2014

I hear mixed things about what's safe and what's not for this task. I have 5 wrasse so nudis are kinda outta the question. I have peppermints but they don't seem to interested. I've heard of people acclimating scars to there reefs and them cloning out out all algae and pest anemonees. Just wondering if I can get some fresh input from reefers. Thanks.

SeeingGreen · Nov 3, 2014

Scars?

watchguy123 · Nov 3, 2014

Scats (spellcheck changes that to scars), ate aptasia in my sump but when I added them to the display, they learned to eat fish food and apparently preferred it to aiptasia. So the first few days in the display, they ate a handful of aiptasia but once they discovered fish food, they left the aiptasia alone

Lonelyreef · Nov 3, 2014

Oops sorry yea I ment scats I just read they ate algae and apistasia not sure how hard it is to acclimate them to salt water how long did it take you and what size did u get it at

Lonelyreef · Nov 3, 2014

Any help

Reefing Madness · Nov 3, 2014

Scat didn't touch one of my Aiptasia, ever.
Try Matted Filefish, but just like the Copperband, they may pick at corals. not really gonna find a reef safe 100% aiptasia eating fish.

Lonelyreef · Nov 3, 2014

I know just least kikely to eat corals

watchguy123 · Nov 4, 2014

Scats are indestructible. Any size will do and I think it's kinder and safer to acclimate over a day or two, but they also seem to tolerate immediate immersion into saltwater. However, I don't know how that impacts long term health and must assume it is certainly not best practice

MattL22 · Nov 6, 2014

My matted file works awesome but I only keep sps when I had a smaller tank peppermints did the trick but now I have to many fish that would eat them

N1Husker · Nov 8, 2014

I have a Melanurus Wrasse that eats flatworms and does a wonderful job. I have a One Spot Foxface Rabbit Fish and a Flametail Blenny to control alagae. I don't have anything to control aiptasia unless I squirt each one with Kalkwasser ot Aiptasia X.

Paolissimo · Nov 8, 2014

I am starting to have a problem with bubble algae. Is fox face fish the safest way to get this problem under control? I know they require large tanks, I am on a 75gal. I was thinking to get a small one, and once I get the bubble algae under control to sell it or pass it on to someone else with a bigger tank.

eatbreakfast · Nov 8, 2014

The best thing for bubble algae is emerald crabs.

The best fish for aiptasia is the raccoon butterfly, he will eat allxaiptasia and majanos before moving on to coral so I put one in and 3 days later hook it out before it eats any coral.

N1Husker · Nov 8, 2014

+1 on the emerald crab. I have a Foxface and he doesn't touch bubble algae. IMO a Foxface doesn't belong in a 75, no matter what size it is, they grow rapidly. I have had him for about 15 months and he has doubled in size.

jdl513 · Nov 9, 2014

Depends what kind of coral you keep.

If SPS only display then any of the large angels should eat all the aptasia they can reach.
Mine quickly pick off any they can reach.

If you keep a lot of LPS or zoa's then not sure if there is anything that is a shoe in to eat aptasia and/or majanos that won't go after those too.

sbazain · Nov 10, 2014

I had an infestation and I got a copperband in a matter of one week they were all gone its been now three months and not one the only thing I had to do was get the copper band use to eating frozen foods, gladly hes a pig right now and still keeps my aptasia to 0. And no problems with corals.