The Story Of Not So Fantastic Mr Foxface
A few months back I purchased a tiny one spot fox face with the hopes it would clean up bryopsis and valonia.
The fish did do a good job of reducing both algae, but did not eliminate it. This has got me thinking that grazing fish like this will not actually eliminate the algae, just mow/trim it to ensure an ongoing food source.
Anyway, the fish grew quickly, no doubt fuelled by eating trachys and acan lords
Decided that it's got to go, and invested in an aquamedic fish trap. This device works pretty well IMO, but turbo snails love to wedge themselves where they can block the trigger for the door. Of course every other fish was super keen to go in the trap, except for the foxface.
I eventually caught him, and accidentally opened the door while removing the trap, allowing him to escape
Two more weeks go by... a few more failed attempts at trapping him - mechanical errors, coralline growing on the door and preventing it dropping, more snails etc.
Finally caught him to be rehomed this weekend.
All in all, a $40 fish ended up costing over $400, factoring in the price of the trap and lost corals.
Going to try flucanazole again. Current pests are aiptasia, valonia and byopsis - just can't shake em.
The fish did do a good job of reducing both algae, but did not eliminate it. This has got me thinking that grazing fish like this will not actually eliminate the algae, just mow/trim it to ensure an ongoing food source.
Anyway, the fish grew quickly, no doubt fuelled by eating trachys and acan lords

Decided that it's got to go, and invested in an aquamedic fish trap. This device works pretty well IMO, but turbo snails love to wedge themselves where they can block the trigger for the door. Of course every other fish was super keen to go in the trap, except for the foxface.
I eventually caught him, and accidentally opened the door while removing the trap, allowing him to escape

Two more weeks go by... a few more failed attempts at trapping him - mechanical errors, coralline growing on the door and preventing it dropping, more snails etc.
Finally caught him to be rehomed this weekend.
All in all, a $40 fish ended up costing over $400, factoring in the price of the trap and lost corals.
Going to try flucanazole again. Current pests are aiptasia, valonia and byopsis - just can't shake em.