Black Mollies in macro tank

[ClownWrangler]

For those who use black mollies to help keep you macro algae clean of nuisance algae, how effective are they? I tried a black balloon molly and i cant tell if its making an impact. It just hides from the clowns durring the day and comes out at night. Also, is there anything special about black mollies vs other types such as balloon, sailfin, lyretail ect in terms of their affinity for algae?

 

[Spieg]

I like the sailfins the best for my tank... smaller species tend to get eaten.

 

[ClownWrangler]

I like the sailfins the best for my tank... smaller species tend to get eaten.

Thanks. My macro tanks are small and only have clowns, so smaller is better. Im just curious if one type makes a better algae grazer than another.

 

[Tchung23]

What type of algae do black mollies eat?

 

[AlgaeBarn]

What type of algae do black mollies eat?

I think they are going to prefer nuisance algae (like hair algae) over macroalgae

 

[ClownWrangler]

What type of algae do black mollies eat?

I only tried one black balloon molly, but after that I got some tail spot blennies and they seem to be better for picking hair algae off my macro alga. I also have a bicolor blenny in QT for the same purpose. I think blennies are a better option. I wish I discovered this sooner.

 

[LAA]

For those who use black mollies to help keep you macro algae clean of nuisance algae, how effective are they? I tried a black balloon molly and i cant tell if its making an impact. It just hides from the clowns durring the day and comes out at night. Also, is there anything special about black mollies vs other types such as balloon, sailfin, lyretail ect in terms of their affinity for algae?

I breed saltwater mollies. They are rare from where I am and everyone loves them. All colors. Sailfin as well. LFS sells for $15 each. (They pay me about $5 each) they are amazing at eating algae! Very active and friendly little guys.

 

[N.Sreefer]

I breed saltwater mollies. They are rare from where I am and everyone loves them. All colors. Sailfin as well. LFS sells for $15 each. (They pay me about $5 each) they are amazing at eating algae! Very active and friendly little guys.

I sell them for a buck a piece where I am every color and pattern lol. Wouldnt get any more than that

 

[LAA]

I sell them for a buck a piece where I am every color and pattern lol. Wouldnt get any more than that

Really?! Wow. Yeah around here they are praised everyone loves them. The local shop used to breed them but stopped cause they kept dying on them so I acclimated a pair over to salt and now I got tons and the store loves them

 

[LAA]

Really?! Wow. Yeah around here they are praised everyone loves them. The local shop used to breed them but stopped cause they kept dying on them so I acclimated a pair over to salt and now I got tons and the store loves them

 

[reddevilant]

So are these guys definitely safe with macros? I have a 40 gallon tank that I use to grow out smaller pieces of macros and have been trying to decide what to stock it with. I love the look of the lyretail black and gold mollies that LiveAquaria has but, I've been hesitant to get them because I'm not sure if they'll eat any of my macros. I mostly have red macros but my main concern is that I do have some brown (dictyota which is pretty soft and delicate) and green (batophora) macros that I'm worried they might snack on.

 

[LAA]

Yes they will be fine

 

[N.Sreefer]

So are these guys definitely safe with macros? I have a 40 gallon tank that I use to grow out smaller pieces of macros and have been trying to decide what to stock it with. I love the look of the lyretail black and gold mollies that LiveAquaria has but, I've been hesitant to get them because I'm not sure if they'll eat any of my macros. I mostly have red macros but my main concern is that I do have some brown (dictyota which is pretty soft and delicate) and green (batophora) macros that I'm worried they might snack on.

I have never seen them eat macro, ive seen them eat hair algae off different macros and clean them but never actually eat them. I feed my tangs live seaweed I harvest locally and the mollies were only ever interested in sea lettuce but nothing else (out of tons of brown green and red species)

 

[reddevilant]

Yes they will be fine

I have never seen them eat macro, ive seen them eat hair algae off different macros and clean them but never actually eat them. I feed my tangs live seaweed I harvest locally and the mollies were only ever interested in sea lettuce but nothing else (out of tons of brown green and red species)

Thanks guys! I think I'm going to order some when it gets warmer here in NY. Any tips on acclimating them to saltwater? I have plenty of buckets and a spare heater to use. How long should I drip acclimate for?

 

[LAA]

Thanks guys! I think I'm going to order some when it gets warmer here in NY. Any tips on acclimating them to saltwater? I have plenty of buckets and a spare heater to use. How long should I drip acclimate for?

As a fellow New Yorker… they will be fine if you order now. I ordered other tropical fish in February last year they did well. The company will ship them properly. I acclimated them in a bucket over three course of a hour. Every 5 min add a cup full of saltwater to the bucket.

 

[N.Sreefer]

Thanks guys! I think I'm going to order some when it gets warmer here in NY. Any tips on acclimating them to saltwater? I have plenty of buckets and a spare heater to use. How long should I drip acclimate for?

No worries! You'll get different answers I did it many different ways but with the most success approx 70% survival both dumping straight in the system and dripping for a whole 3 days. Shorter acclimation times led to larger losses but so did longer until 3 days. Interpret that how you wish I ended up going with the longer end acclimating for 3 whole days using an iv bag. You'll experience more loses with designer morphs like I used, if you start with black or natural color (silver and olive) sailfins you'll have the most success transitioning fish that were born in fresh.

 

[reddevilant]

As a fellow New Yorker… they will be fine if you order now. I ordered other tropical fish in February last year they did well. The company will ship them properly. I acclimated them in a bucket over three course of a hour. Every 5 min add a cup full of saltwater to the bucket.

Awesome, nice to meet you! Thanks for the info! How many do you think would be ok in a 40g?

 

[LAA]

Awesome, nice to meet you! Thanks for the info! How many do you think would be ok in a 40g?

I’d say if that’s all you plan to have.. maybe 8-10 considering they will multiply fast.

 

[reddevilant]

I’d say if that’s all you plan to have.. maybe 8-10 considering they will multiply fast.

Yeah, I'm keeping the tank very simple. The mollies would be the only things I'd keep in there other than some CUC.

No worries! You'll get different answers I did it many different ways but with the most success approx 70% survival both dumping straight in the system and dripping for a whole 3 days. Shorter acclimation times led to larger losses but so did longer until 3 days. Interpret that how you wish I ended up going with the longer end acclimating for 3 whole days using an iv bag. You'll experience more loses with designer morphs like I used, if you start with black or natural color (silver and olive) sailfins you'll have the most success transitioning fish that were born in fresh.

Ok, thanks! I feel like I had read on here someone else saying the same thing, that very short/no acclimation or very long acclimation worked best. Nine is my luck number lol, so I'll order that many with the expectation that I will likely lose a couple. I'll try my best with acclimating them so hopefully there will be very little to no losses.