Low Flow, High Bio load, Minimal Mechanical Filtration?

[Wandering Albatross]

I only have them for aptasia control. I don't think any other file fish eat them.

How are they with corals and clams/scallops? Aggressive or territorial towards non-similar species? I don't mind having the extra help, if he will in fact help get in the places too tight for the butterfly, and not eat my corals.

 

[X-37B]

How are they with corals and clams/scallops? Aggressive or territorial towards non-similar species? I don't mind having the extra help, if he will in fact help get in the places too tight for the butterfly, and not eat my corals.

Very peaceful fish. I have one in my 15g with a Pajama cardinal and a transparent Cave Goby.
30+ mixed coral.
Only 9.5 g's of water.
In my 150 acro system

it will take nory from my fingers, lol.
My 150.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Very peaceful fish. I have one in my 15g with a Pajama cardinal and a transparent Cave Goby.
30+ mixed coral.
Only 9.5 g's of water.
In my 150 acro system

it will take nory from my fingers, lol.
My 150.

Are they hermaphrodites? Can they be kept as a pair as well? These are very promising (and pretty) images. If only I could find some available. Given their general desire to eat aiptasia, and that the butterflies are hard to get eating initially in most cases, should I add the butterflies first, and if they can't reach every aiptasia or are also stably eating frozen as well, then add the filefish? Or could they be added together?

 

[X-37B]

Are they hermaphrodites? Can they be kept as a pair as well? These are very promising (and pretty) images. If only I could find some available. Given their general desire to eat aiptasia, and that the butterflies are hard to get eating initially in most cases, should I add the butterflies first, and if they can't reach every aiptasia or are also stably eating frozen as well, then add the filefish? Or could they be added together?

Never had a butterfly so unknown us your system is to small for one
Never heard of a pair but maybe, but not in your size system.
A small file fish is all you need.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Never had a butterfly so unknown us your system is to small for one
Never heard of a pair but maybe, but not in your size system.
A small file fish is all you need.

The butterflies were for the 150g, not the 20g. Wow I just realized how far away from the start of this thread we went…

 

[Pntbll687]

You don't need much in terms of filtration.

The tank I liked the most was a 33 long with zero filtration. I ran a two bulb t5, heater, and wavemaker. Water changes every week until it was established. Grew zoas, mushrooms, and chalices like crazy. I hated that I had to take it down when I moved.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

You don't need much in terms of filtration.

The tank I liked the most was a 33 long with zero filtration. I ran a two bulb t5, heater, and wavemaker. Water changes every week until it was established. Grew zoas, mushrooms, and chalices like crazy. I hated that I had to take it down when I moved.

What fish were in there?

 

[X-37B]

The butterflies were for the 150g, not the 20g. Wow I just realized how far away from the start of this thread we went…

Cool! Should be no problem.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

For anyone following my aiptasia spinoff problem, I went with the CBB. I tried for a pair, they scuffled so they've been separated for now. They'll be reintroduced later on when they're both settled. Neither one has touched aiptasia yet that I've seen, but they pick at the rocks all day. Not sure what they're finding, but the behavior is a good sign far as I'm concerned. I got them from Eric over at Tankstop, they both came in healthy and active, and they were chasing down frozen bloodworms on day one. If you're worried about getting one that'll eat, get them from Tankstop. The one still in the reef is very friendly, not shy at all, swims up in the mix of chromis and anthias to beg for food. Always front and center. I was on the fence about these guys, thinking they were overrated, but I've found them personable and, at least the ones I ended up with, very easy to care for overall. Still hoping they'll learn to eat the aiptasia though.

 

[Louis Z]

So I would suggest that you peel off the small aptasia and drop them off in the water to feed .the CBB . They turn into little balls when they shrivel up from being peeled off the glass . I would say try this on the one you separated if it’s in a tank with established aptasia . Reason is you can withhold food for a day or two then drop them in . The CBB will probably attack anything you drop in . Let it get a taste of them . If it works then alternate them . Switch places and train the other . Reason for the switch , I wouldn’t recommend withholding food from the anthias . . I wish I was close I would take the other CBB off your hands .

 

[Wandering Albatross]

So I would suggest that you peel off the small aptasia and drop them off in the water to feed .the CBB . They turn into little balls when they shrivel up from being peeled off the glass . I would say try this on the one you separated if it’s in a tank with established aptasia . Reason is you can withhold food for a day or two then drop them in . The CBB will probably attack anything you drop in . Let it get a taste of them . If it works then alternate them . Switch places and train the other . Reason for the switch , I wouldn’t recommend withholding food from the anthias . . I wish I was close I would take the other CBB off your hands .

Ironically, my aiptasia never grow on the glass. They get locked into the rock pores, taking up valuable real estate for small fish. The back up tank the other CBB is in is still quite new, I'm not willingly introducing aiptasia to it. Also, there are other young fish in there that need live food for the time being. I tried to use tongs to pry some of the longer-stalked aiptasia out, but they always shrink before I get a good grip. At least he's picking at the rocks, maybe he'll get the idea. He's a very curious fish.