at fish store what eats hair algea

tprize · 04/28/2008, 02:28 PM

what eats green hair algea at store didn't plan on being here so I ant to pick up something I need.

kar93 · 04/28/2008, 02:33 PM

Sea Hare, Lawnmower Blenny and Foxface are known to.

downhillbiker · 04/28/2008, 02:36 PM

rainfords goby and emerald crab-Both TOP NOTCH hair algae eaters.

kar93 · 04/28/2008, 02:39 PM

yeah, forgot to mention them too.

Peter Eichler · 04/28/2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by downhillbiker
rainfords goby and emerald crab-Both TOP NOTCH hair algae eaters.

I've had a pretty good amount of experience with Rainford's gobies and I'm of the belief that they do NOT directly eat hair algae. They do nip at the algae probably to eat small benthic invertebrates and or detritus, but I've never witnessed one that is consuming the actual algae. I know this goes against conventional wisdom but I'd bet a large amount of money that a gut analysis would show that only a small portion of their diet consists of algae. Even if I'm totally wrong these are pretty sensitive fish that rarerly accept prepared foods and would not be capable of handling any sort of hair algae outbreak.

Lastly, while Emerald Crabs may pick at hair algae I'd never consider them a good candidate for controlling it. If anything, the Sally Lightfood would be pretty good other than the Hermit crabs, but like most crabs they all can cause some problems in a reef tank.

myerst2 · 04/28/2008, 03:52 PM

I always found Kole tangs and Chevrons to eat almost any algae. The biggest thing is to get this fish prior to a problem. Most grazers will eat all newly grown algae. Your best bet is to get some good grazers and you would be the best person for the job. I would manually remove as much as you can and let the fish do the rest and make sure your phosphate and nitrate are as low as possible. Regards, Tim

tprize · 04/28/2008, 05:41 PM

Here is the algae, I have never seen it before so it came up fast.

downhillbiker · 04/28/2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peter Eichler
I've had a pretty good amount of experience with Rainford's gobies and I'm of the belief that they do NOT directly eat hair algae. They do nip at the algae probably to eat small benthic invertebrates and or detritus, but I've never witnessed one that is consuming the actual algae. I know this goes against conventional wisdom but I'd bet a large amount of money that a gut analysis would show that only a small portion of their diet consists of algae. Even if I'm totally wrong these are pretty sensitive fish that rarerly accept prepared foods and would not be capable of handling any sort of hair algae outbreak.

Lastly, while Emerald Crabs may pick at hair algae I'd never consider them a good candidate for controlling it. If anything, the Sally Lightfood would be pretty good other than the Hermit crabs, but like most crabs they all can cause some problems in a reef tank.

I can agree that the rainford is picky and may not eat HA, but mine is constantly picking at it and sifting sand, so either way it is a good addition.

As far as the emerald crabs...
Are you kidding me????
They will take a rock that is completely COVERED in HA and in 2 days it is bare. I dont know what kind of emerald crabs you had, but they must have been lazy ones, cuz mine went to town. I have 5 in my 75 gallon and there isn't an ounce of HA. I also have a sally lightfoot crab, and it does half of the work that one emerald does.

tprize · 04/28/2008, 07:30 PM

Well it sounds like I will be making an order with premium for 3 emerald crabs and a sally light foot, only because I LOVE THEM, come to think of it I have no idea why I don't have one in my tank.

Peter Eichler · 04/28/2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by downhillbiker
I can agree that the rainford is picky and may not eat HA, but mine is constantly picking at it and sifting sand, so either way it is a good addition.

As far as the emerald crabs...
Are you kidding me????
They will take a rock that is completely COVERED in HA and in 2 days it is bare. I dont know what kind of emerald crabs you had, but they must have been lazy ones, cuz mine went to town. I have 5 in my 75 gallon and there isn't an ounce of HA. I also have a sally lightfoot crab, and it does half of the work that one emerald does.

I have had a decent number of emerald crabs throughout the years, and yes, nearly every one has been a lazy bum. I have however found them to be quite good at eating some tougher types of algae that seems to be unpalatable to other herbivores. Sadly, I never seem to get the ones that like bubbles algae either... I will be doing some experimenting soon (in regards to bubble algae) and plan to purchase several Emerald Crabs (anyone know of a cheap source?). My personal tanks are normally void of hair algae, however I've got a little that has started to grow in small patches due to my own neglect. Hopefully you're right and at least some of the crabs will tackle it with gusto.

Peter Eichler · 04/28/2008, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tprize
Well it sounds like I will be making an order with premium for 3 emerald crabs and a sally light foot, only because I LOVE THEM, come to think of it I have no idea why I don't have one in my tank.

If you LOVE THEM by all means go for it. They sometimes can be destructive, but generally I think their found guilty by circumstance and consequence moreso than being the destructive pests some make them out to be.

pgammon · 04/28/2008, 09:38 PM

I'll certainly be watching for any bubble algae experiment result, I'm having an outbreak as we speak!

thecichlidpleco · 04/28/2008, 09:39 PM

turbo snail is the lawnmower of the sea

seapug · 04/28/2008, 10:03 PM

Don't waste money on another fish or crab that'll poop and make more algae grow. Buy a Phosban Reactor and GFO instead.

04/28/2008, 02:28 PM	#1
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	at fish store what eats hair algea what eats green hair algea at store didn't plan on being here so I ant to pick up something I need.

04/28/2008, 02:36 PM	#3
downhillbiker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,831	rainfords goby and emerald crab-Both TOP NOTCH hair algae eaters. __________________ The friendliest GIANT you'll ever meet. Current Tank Info: 200g Marineland Deep Dimension (Lumenmax Reflectors/Dual PFO 400w/Radium 20K) and 2xFrag Tanks (One TEK T5 fixture and one MH, Galaxy/Phoenix) on same system w/100g sump w/6"x100g DSB, AquaC EV-1000 Skimmer, Reeflo Barracuda return pump

04/28/2008, 03:52 PM	#6
myerst2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East Hampton, Long Island Posts: 2,341	I always found Kole tangs and Chevrons to eat almost any algae. The biggest thing is to get this fish prior to a problem. Most grazers will eat all newly grown algae. Your best bet is to get some good grazers and you would be the best person for the job. I would manually remove as much as you can and let the fish do the rest and make sure your phosphate and nitrate are as low as possible. Regards, Tim __________________ "Those who teach must constantly hold up the challenge to study nature, not books." -Albrecht.

04/28/2008, 09:39 PM	#13
thecichlidpleco Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 1,227	turbo snail is the lawnmower of the sea __________________ knowledge is power, power leads to abuse, study hard, be evil Owning a tank is like being with that girlfriend who could care less about you, but you couldn't stand being without her. Current Tank Info: 125 Reef, (3) 250w aquamedic oceanlights ETSS 600 skimmer, mag12 return, (2) Tunze 6055's with 7095 controller, 100 gallon sump

04/28/2008, 10:03 PM	#14
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Don't waste money on another fish or crab that'll poop and make more algae grow. Buy a Phosban Reactor and GFO instead. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

04/28/2008, 02:33 PM	#2
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	Sea Hare, Lawnmower Blenny and Foxface are known to.

04/28/2008, 02:39 PM	#4
kar93 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lincoln Posts: 5,521	yeah, forgot to mention them too.

04/28/2008, 05:41 PM	#7
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	Here is the algae, I have never seen it before so it came up fast.

04/28/2008, 07:30 PM	#9
tprize Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,077	Well it sounds like I will be making an order with premium for 3 emerald crabs and a sally light foot, only because I LOVE THEM, come to think of it I have no idea why I don't have one in my tank.

04/28/2008, 09:38 PM	#12
pgammon Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Eastover, SC Posts: 282	I'll certainly be watching for any bubble algae experiment result, I'm having an outbreak as we speak!