Hello forum...not really a problem this time, more gathering of information.
I am finally convinced that the roasted seaweed (Yaki Nori/Sushi Nori) from the local Asian market is as good as, if not superior to, the stuff you pay a premium price for at the LFS. My Tang, Angel and Butterfly go through almost a whole sheet a day. It's good for them, they like it, so it's a no-brainer to say I will gladly provide as much as they will eat.
But are there other foods I can also use to provide the largest possible variety for my scaly friends? For example, they also sold bags of dried seaweed in it's original form (i.e., still in strands, just dry, instead of pressed into a square sheet) 2-3 feet long for pennies per serving. Would this make a suitable meal as well if I hang it in the tank?
My thought is, I could put a couple strands of this along with a piece of the sheet stuff, because they eat the sheets quickly, and by the time they finish the sheet, the dried seaweed strands would be softened up and they would have stuff to graze on all day while I'm at work. It's not practical for me to run home every 2 hours and hang another sheet.
Also, what about dried kelp? Is it safe as well? I bought some of this, because I figured kelp is a form of seaweed. But I hung a piece of it in the tank, and as it started to soften, I noticed some clear, wavy lines leeching out of it, like when aquarium salt first starts to dissolve. I wasn't convinced it was safe, so I removed it in less than a minute. I would hate for some weird additive to poison the tank.
Any other suggestions for the healthiest variety? I feed seaweed, Formula One, Formula Two, Prime Reef, VHP, Angel Formula, spirulina flakes and occasional live brine in the main tank. The butterfly in the QT eats seaweed, frozen mysis and live brine, but won't touch anything else, even when I mix it in with the live brine. I'm concerned I'm not offering a broad enough of a buffet, especially where the butterfly is concerned.
What about things like: frozen krill, Cyclopeze, zooplankton, frozen clams, etc. Doesn't matter what it costs, if it's good for them and they'll eat it, I'll gladly buy it.
--Aquabear
I am finally convinced that the roasted seaweed (Yaki Nori/Sushi Nori) from the local Asian market is as good as, if not superior to, the stuff you pay a premium price for at the LFS. My Tang, Angel and Butterfly go through almost a whole sheet a day. It's good for them, they like it, so it's a no-brainer to say I will gladly provide as much as they will eat.
But are there other foods I can also use to provide the largest possible variety for my scaly friends? For example, they also sold bags of dried seaweed in it's original form (i.e., still in strands, just dry, instead of pressed into a square sheet) 2-3 feet long for pennies per serving. Would this make a suitable meal as well if I hang it in the tank?
My thought is, I could put a couple strands of this along with a piece of the sheet stuff, because they eat the sheets quickly, and by the time they finish the sheet, the dried seaweed strands would be softened up and they would have stuff to graze on all day while I'm at work. It's not practical for me to run home every 2 hours and hang another sheet.
Also, what about dried kelp? Is it safe as well? I bought some of this, because I figured kelp is a form of seaweed. But I hung a piece of it in the tank, and as it started to soften, I noticed some clear, wavy lines leeching out of it, like when aquarium salt first starts to dissolve. I wasn't convinced it was safe, so I removed it in less than a minute. I would hate for some weird additive to poison the tank.
Any other suggestions for the healthiest variety? I feed seaweed, Formula One, Formula Two, Prime Reef, VHP, Angel Formula, spirulina flakes and occasional live brine in the main tank. The butterfly in the QT eats seaweed, frozen mysis and live brine, but won't touch anything else, even when I mix it in with the live brine. I'm concerned I'm not offering a broad enough of a buffet, especially where the butterfly is concerned.
What about things like: frozen krill, Cyclopeze, zooplankton, frozen clams, etc. Doesn't matter what it costs, if it's good for them and they'll eat it, I'll gladly buy it.
--Aquabear