Ecological Algae eaters may be the cure to Antifouling a boat

[catmandoo]

Used to keep my fish tank clean by using a species of catfish which ate the algae on the glass .

last year when scraping the hull of my Catfisher I was surrounded by shoals of fish having a good nibble at the bits coming off .

"Now there's an Idea " quoth I.

In these days of reducing carbon footprints and pollution why not train fish to clean ones bottom so to speak . Sharks have attendants so why not yachts .

So come all you botanists and marine biologists . What fish should I train ??? I have provided the lateral thinking you now provide the means .
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[LymingtonPugwash]

If you could train them, what about fitting them with harnesses and training them to tow the boat as well when there's no wind.... or train them to act like tugs and moor the boat to save fuel as the price of diesel goes up?
Or what about training them to jump through fiery hoops as well so that you can make a bit of extra money as an entertainer when you're in the marina? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
After all, if you are providing good food for them, they should repay you as well.

Any other ideas for trained fish anybody?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Jetski intake cloggers...

Or maybe hook catchers?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Mullet would seem to be good candidates.

They eat any old rubbish, and no one's going to bother trying to catch your fish, coz they're 'orrible to eat.

 

[blackbeard]

In my patch of Portsmouth Harbour the mullet will eat the fouling (and just about anything else). You can sometimes see the tracks they leave in the algae.
Unfortunately they don't do a particularly good job.

 

[Twister_Ken]

>Unfortunately they don't do a particularly good job<

S'why they need training.

 

[cameronke]

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri perchance?

Jings I can still remember the scientific names of the fish I kept as a kid. Sad or what?

Cameron
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[catmandoo]

Now why didn't you come out with the idea of using mullet .

 

[catmandoo]

Not training at this stage -- Breeding like dogs for a specific purpose eg labradors hunt and fetch , terriers go down holes . St bernards carry brandy . Sheep dogs well you know ---

and It s now time for my dinner

 

[vyv_cox]

Since entering the Med early in 2006 the hull of our boat has been cleaner than in the past 12 years. Fish remove any fouling within a very short time, the only more-fouled areas being those that the fish cannot reach. Their activities leave a somewhat bizarre pattern but it's far preferable to having to clean the stuff off.

 

[Rivers & creeks]

[ QUOTE ]
Not training at this stage -- Breeding like dogs for a specific purpose eg labradors hunt and fetch , terriers go down holes . St bernards carry brandy . Sheep dogs well you know ---

[/ QUOTE ]
That's the answer then. Instead of wasting time training fish (which are notoriously forgetful) - train dogs to do it. I'm thinking of something that's tenacious and loves water - sort of cross between a Jack Russell and Nantucket Bay Retriever - a Jacket Reliever. Or something.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Seen'em while snorkelling. Silver jobs with 5 or 6 yellow stripes down each side, 'bout the size of a decent whiting. Greedy weed nibblers. Travel in gangs. Can't be good to eat coz they're never on the slab at the fishmongers, or on a restaurant menu.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

[ QUOTE ]
What fish should I train ??? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ] Wrasse

 

[bobgosling]

Not fish but snails !

I had a marine tank with an awful algae problem until I invested in some Turbo Snails ( no, they're not extra fast ... )

No need to train them. Stick them on and they have nowhere else to go.

Oh, and keep speed below 5kts or they will be swept off !!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif