Feeding Powder blue tang

[jarhead81]

I recently put a PBT in my tank. So far he is doing great. I have a seaweed clip in the tank. I usually put a 2"x4" piece on the clip in the morning. He will barely nibble on it but mostly pick at the rocks. I have been removing the clip later that night. Just want to know how long I should keep the seaweed in the tank until it will cause any problems.

Thanks in advance
Jason

 

[FishGuyTy]

You should remove uneaten algae daily. Leaving it in will add excess nutrients to the tank and will smell bad from decay.

 

[jarhead81]

Thanks for the reply. Do you think I'm good leaving throughout the day. Probably in there about 12 hours

 

[FishGuyTy]

That is on the long side. the biggest concern to me when leaving algae is having it get ripped off whole and float up to an overflow box. I work as a maintenance technician and I have had a few clients put too much on and leave it causing some flooding over the top. With the size piece you feed, I am sure 12 hours is fine. Smell it one day to make sure. If you smell the clip after you pull it out, you can get an idea of what any uneaten stuff is doing.

 

[jarhead81]

Thanks again. I'll adjust to 8 hours. While at work. Or will he be good with about 4 hours if I put it in after work and pull out before bed time

 

[FishGuyTy]

I feed it at night so i can watch my golden rabbit fish eat anyway, lol. Good luck with your PBT. One of my client's tanks has a huge PBT. We lovingly refer to her as Satin! She has been a cold blooded killer for over 8 years! She has been in a few different tank, has taken out a smaller sohal and clown tang! She is now with our 18" stellatus puffer, miniatus, lion, emperor angel and a few others. The little kole tang is holding his own, but she is always on the prowl. This fish is almost 9 years old now!!! Feed them a lot and feed them often

 

[jarhead81]

Thanks for all your help. I was just reading that PBTs are all day grazers. Wanted to make sure i feed him enough.

 

[TJ's Reef]

Try feeding Red and or Brown Nori mixed with the Green, mine definitely has a taste for RED, Brown thennnnnnnnn green in that order. And lets me know when I'm past due with his veggies by munching on my few Soft Corals in the tank (Sarcophyton and Lobophytum)

Cheers, Todd

 

[jarhead81]

Thanks

 

[monkiboy]

you can also try new era marine grazers. they've worked great in my qt systems for natural marine grazing fish like butterflies, blennies, and surgeonfish.

not my video but this is it:

New era marine grazer 1 - YouTube

it's nice because it doesn't fall apart or tear apart easily and lasts for hours and then you remove uneaten at the end of the day.