Hair Algae Eatters?

[Azazael13]

Recently my tank has gotten some hair algae as well as some fuzzy green turn algae. I am still trying to find the cause of this, but in the mean time what are some smaller fish that will help eradicate this nuisance that will continue on later?

I know about fix the cause fix the problem, but I really can't figure out the cause, and the tank could use a few more fishes in it.

[lombard0]

If I'm not mistaken, a lawnmower blenny would be a good choice.

[ERICinFL]

A Lawnmower Blenny or Fox Face should work. I have a Kole Tang, Yellow Tang and a Regal Tang (Hippo Tang) and they will pick at it when it starts to pop up in my tank. The Kole Tang does the best job of the three though. They'll usually pick at the shorter HA, so you'll probably have to reach in and start pulling out the longer stuff. If your water parameters are WNL, you may need more flow to help keep detritus from settling.

Oh Azazael13... GO GATORS!!!!!

[spw4949]

I may be mistaken but I don't think lawnmower blennies do all that good of a job with hair algae.....you could do a dwarf angel or like previously suggested a tang of some kind......IMO, seahares do the best job when it comes to hair algae, they usually clean up the tank in no time, then of course you should supplement them with nori sheets from time to time but they do a great job, HTH....

[milkit]

my lawnmower doesnt eat anything but nori sheets it seems

[abulgin]

Kole Tang is probably your best bet, along with manual removal.

[k9gunner]

I would go with the sea hare, however it will knock it down fast, then starve. It is best to "borrow" a sea hare then pass it back to another tank with HA outbreak. I put one in my 180 and it took care of it all in 7 days.

[terryagi]

How about a starry blenny? Do they eat HA?

[abulgin]

Starry Blenny is just a fancy looking lawnmower, and they are hit or miss in my experience.

A sea hare will definitely chow down on HA, but, as noted, the problem is that they quickly run out of food and starve. Unless you (i) have a REAL HA problem and (ii) can pass the Sea Hare along when it's done, don't buy one--they will die, I promise.

[spw4949]

You can sustain them long term if you feed them nori sheets.....or buy 1 & bring it back.....

[abulgin]

Originally posted by spw4949
You can sustain them long term if you feed them nori sheets.....or buy 1 & bring it back.....

I have heard of VERY few people sustaining these long term with seaweed sheets. First, Nori is not their natural diet, so they will pass on it looking for other stuff. Second, they are slow movers and in my experience Nori sheets disintegrate (just adding to the HA/excess nutrient problems) before they are found by the Sea Hare.

These are great HA grazers, but, IMO, you really need to make sure you can take it back or give it to someone else when it's job is done.

[sedor]

I've always had a couple turbo snails as part of CUC, they will eat all types of algae including HA. Only downside is they are fairly large and if you don't have your coral frags secure they can knock them over. Other than that its smooth sailing.

[Rands88]

My lawnmower went to town on GHA. Couldn't get enough of it.

[Elysia]

Seahares are easily killed by things like power heads, overflows, and filters, as well as animals that may pick at it, such as cleaner shrimp and "picky" fish. They will also eat "ornamental" macroalgaes.

Lawnmowers tend to grow large and aggressive.

[milkit]

Originally posted by Elysia
Seahares are easily killed by things like power heads, overflows, and filters, as well as animals that may pick at it, such as cleaner shrimp and "picky" fish. They will also eat "ornamental" macroalgaes.

Lawnmowers tend to grow large and aggressive.

mine is about 5" which id say is on the large side. however he is anything but aggresive, even when the coral banded shrimp is attacking him haha.

he swims side by side with my smaller tangs and MUCH smaller spotter mandarin and doesnt mess with anyone. they all swim side by side feeding on nori (well not the mandarin)

[pammy]

I just bought a small Tuxedo Urchin last week, for GHA that has popped up in my tank after I changed out my bulbs. He is mowing it down !! I plan to bring him back to my LFS or give him to another reefer if he finishes off all the GHA and runs out of food. I had an outbreak of Lobophora several months ago, and couldn't get rid of it manually, so bought a Sally Lightfoot crab. That crab ate every last morsel of the Lobo, and when he finished it off, I found another reefer that wanted him, and I gladly gave the crab to the guy for free.
Pam

[joeychitwood]

Lawnmower Blennys are hit-and-miss when it comes to eating algae. If the Blenny has been eating a diet of flakes or other prepared foods before one buys it, it may not eat any algae at all. I had a Lawnmower Blenny years ago that completely cleared my tank of hair algae. Once the algae was gone, it began eating flakes. When some HA returned, it had become accustomed to flakes, and it would no longer eat algae.

[Seamus1]

Test your phosphate, that is likely the cause of the growth. If it is high, get a phosphate reactor. It will continue to spiral upwards unless you address the underlying cause. I had the same problem - bought tangs, did water changes, manual removal, on and on, the phosphate reactor did the trick. You will have better coral growth as well with less phosphate in the system.

[Azazael13]

I did a phosphate check and it was pretty close to 0 (closer to 0 color wise) and I run a phosban reactor about once a month (for a week).

[sebrofjr]

+1 for Kole Tang. My new tanks rock was covered in hair algae after the cycle process, added a kole tang and within a week, every single strand was gone. I added a TLF phosban reactor as well and it hasnt returned, whatever does come up now, the Kole takes care of it.

Plus, its just a plain beautiful fish that has lots of character once it becomes accustomed to your tank.

[EnglishRebel]

I had a major outbreak of GHA. I got three Mexican Turbos that are doing a good job -- but not enough to get rid of it. I just got 20 Trochus snails and they are doing an excellent job as it's almost gone.

[hershell]

I have seen a Sally Lightfoot clean an infested tank of hair algae in no time. http://www.saltwaterfish.com/site_11...82_63_4_4.html