Parrot fish question.....

I was wondering if I had a parrot fish (or any other rock munching fish) that was separated from the reef part of the tank and had some base rock for him to munch on. Would his excrement be any benefit to the reef?

 

Normally I would have no idea about this but I just happened to see something on TV about it last night. Your parrot fish would be a fine sand factory. Thats where the beachs come from.

 

Halimeda and various other calcareous algaes make sand too.

 

Most parrots get huge. Sure they make sand, but htey make it from rocks. Sand is pretty cheap, and rocks are not. So more strikes against it besides the obvious non reef safe factor and huge size of the parrotfish.

 

That just sounds like more reasons to do it to me. Anything people tell me I shouldn't try just sounds like fun to me because its unique. The harder it is the more rewarding it is if you succeed.

 

I have to agree with you there mike, parrot fish area bizarre and beautiful little creature and I am sure I will have one in a tank somewhere soon!

 

I think its more the point of you shouldnt keep things that outgrow our tanks. But we are all entitled our own opinion. But if you want to throw your money away to get sand, go ahead. make sure you get pix and video for us to see. Then it's A OK!! My wife went to the Great Barrier Reef on a dive and got some pix of them guys, they are like a small car.

 

how big is your tank that you can keep the parrot away from your reef part? Parrots get gigantic and will soon outgrow many tanks, let alone one that is divided in half.

I personally dont see the benefits of adding one to a reef tank...so you get sand, so what? I have a large golden puffer that eats rocks and poos sand. It is neat to watch but.....I can buy a 20lb bag of sand for some $20-30 (been awhile...so might not be accurate on price) or I can buy 20lbs of rock for anywhere between $100 to $180.

Plus parrots need more then rock. They eat the rock to get to the algea and to grind their teeth down...so it is going to require A TON of algea to supplement it.

My LFS is trying to talk me into buying a parrot to got with my golden puffer and I refuse to get it. Will outgrow my system rather fast (which mind you causes stress on the inhabitants), increased BIOLOAD MAJORILY (messy eaters with a lot of waste) and I dont want 2 rock eating fish.