Butterflyfishes for Marine Aquariums Diversity, Selection & Care New eBook on Amazon: Available here New Print Book on Create Space: Available here by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Mitratus butterfly and Caulerpa in sump question    8/10/12
Hi Bob,
I have a couple of unrelated questions which I hope you can help me with. I have had a Mitratus butterfly for about 6 weeks, great hardy fish, it is white between its black stripes.
<Yes>
On your site 'best butterflies...' this is more or less the same as your photos for juvenile and adult, I have Scott Michael's 'angels and butterflies' reef series book which shows similar pictures as being the juvenile, but the adult being completely yellow and black with no white at all (can see such pictures on the web too).
<Yes, as adults>
Are the yellow and black versions a local variant or what my fish will become?
<The latter>
If, as I hope, the adult version is all yellow and black how long does the change take to occur?
<A year or so>
My second question relates to potentially using Caulerpa (I think grape variety) in my sump tank.
<Mmm, there are better choices than Caulerpas nowayears. Read here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/refugalgfaqs.htm
I have a FOWLR system with a lot of healthy fish that I feed well. I have no nuisance algae in the display since using a Kalkwasser reactor which has got control of the phosphate, but I do have a nitrate problem despite regular water changes (I know, I should reduce feeding or fish population).
I want to grow algae in the sump to help with reducing the nitrate. My lfs guy has Caulerpa in mind for the sump,
<Again... Not Caulerpa... other genera of greens, reds...>
will the lack of phosphate inhibit its growth even with nitrate available?
<Could possibly>
I'm aware of the dangers associated with Caulerpa reproduction, I read Bob is not against its use if people maintain it so it does not reproduce and foul the water, whilst others say steer clear.
<Have changed my mind in most cases, circumstances... other algae are better>
I'm thinking 24hr lighting to try and prevent this,
<Better to use other algal species and RDP>
but mainly I am thinking Caulerpa as I want an algae that will rapidly take up excess nutrients, am I wrong in thinking it grows quicker than other potential sump species?
<At times too quickly>
Still considering my options here, my nightmare would be to find algae had reproduced, clouded tank, and killed my expensive fish! Is the Caulerpa reproduction danger to fish exaggerated? I run a good skimmer with ozone, would this and use of carbon save me if the Caulerpa clouded the tank?
<Not always, necessarily, no>
Thanks for your invaluable help,
Toby
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Pakistani Butterflyfish Hi Bob, I wonder whether the above fish is a shoaling lot? Can keep in a small group? I read you rate it a good one. Interested to keep. Hope to hear your advice soon. David. <Yes, possibly... take a read about the species in the Butterflyfishes reviews posted on the site: www.WetWebMedia.com Bob Fenner> 

Tinkeri butterfly's Hey Bob, <Hi John> Just got back from a fun weekend in Chicago. Went to hear Eric Borneman speak. Lorenzo (aka Zo) was going to go with us, but had to cancel at the last minute. He missed a good time Stopped at OLD TOWN AQUARIUM, They had a LARGE and a small to medium Tinkeri that I am interested in. So the question is, do you think I could put both of them together in a 4ft (long) X 3ft (wide) 2ft (deep) With a few other fish of course. I really don't know much about butterflies in the same tank, except how to kill them. I do know that Tinker's are plankton pickers and I can handle the feeding part. It just the compatibility I am worried about. Any help would be welcome. <You could... this species is very different than most chaetodonts... quite passive (have seen them caught with bare hands, approaching divers off of Hawai'i), but I encourage you to just keep one... if for no other reason to leave one for someone else's enjoyment, experience. One is fine on its own. Bob Fenner> John Dawe 'a fool and his money are soon parted, especially if he's into aquariums' PS they also had a 'Hawaiian dwarf eel' that looked like a big (12in?) G. melatremus, which I have had in the past. Hey, its only money...................... <Were the Tinker's not a couple hundred dollars or more each? Bob Fenner>
Re: Tinkeri butterfly's Bob, the small-medium, 3inch+(?) was $349, the large one was on sale for $119, they want to get rid of him they said (?) he was holding his own, not taking any lip form another large fish. <! Diver pay for this species is not-size dependent... and last time I was around, about $75 per, FOB the Big Island... the low price IS low> $349 is a bit high, but I don't mind paying for a health fish that lives. Should be closer to $200 - $250. I have seen pairs of Tinker's in Ann Arbor for $175 each or the pair for $400. (they must have skipped math class once too often) Too much money for the locals and ended up coming down with something after several months They were both bigger than I wanted. I go for the small fish so they better adapt to captivity. Every fish I have bought there has come down with ICK, even if I put it in a tank by itself and died or I killed it trying to treat it. Or spread the ICK to any other fish in with it......... <Likely their system has a very entrenched infestation... At some point... best to nuke (use a biocide like bleach (some like formalin/formaldehyde... not me) to wipe all clean, start again). Bob Fenner>

Butterflyfishes for Marine Aquariums Diversity, Selection & Care New eBook on Amazon: Available here New Print Book on Create Space: Available here by Robert (Bob) Fenner