Non-Snail algae grazers?

Alexraptor · 07/08/2017, 06:08 PM

So I have this problem that my gorgeous 15 gallon reef is heavily infested with Oenone Fulgida Worms that keep eating my snails.
I've tried to catch them with traps with only partial success, and they move way to fast for me to grab them with tweezers in the dark. Much of the rocks is covered in many years of coral growth so simply discarding the rocks would mean tearing down the entire reef and destroying years of healthy coral growth, so kinda not willing to go nuclear here.

Right now I am investigating the possibilities of my local saltwater stores getting me a Conus Regius as they are one of the few things that can actually kill Fulgida worms.(its delicious irony that the Cone snail is bait and predator in one package).
But in case that option does not pan out I would really like to know of any good non-gastropod alternatives for nuisance algae control.

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/08/2017, 07:39 PM

I'd say urchins or emerald crabs, given your aquarium is too small for tangs or foxface/rabbitfish.

mcgyvr · 07/09/2017, 06:25 AM

What type of algae?
What are your nitrate and phosphate readings?

Alexraptor · 07/09/2017, 07:25 AM

All the regular kind of microalgaes and filamentous algaes that is normally taken care of by your average Trochus/Astrea/Turbo snails.

Ztous · 07/09/2017, 10:52 PM

A tail spot blenny?

tkeracer619 · 07/10/2017, 01:52 AM

Pretty much need to get that cone snail. I'm not sure of another predator. Since they are nocturnal most other creatures have retreated to "safety".

They're easy to get here in the states. Reeftopia sells them.

Alexraptor · 07/10/2017, 07:06 PM

Yeah looks like its going to be the cone snail, maybe even two of them. Just found out my 25 gallon reef also has these damn worms as well. >.<
Sadly that's gonna cost me my big bristleworms too.

norfolkgarden · 07/18/2017, 11:52 PM

Please keep us updated.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Vinny Kreyling · 07/19/2017, 05:28 PM

How about a Wrasse?

Alexraptor · 07/20/2017, 10:58 AM

Well unfortunately I seem to be out of luck.
The snails my LFS thought were Conus Regius turned out to be harmless Tiger Sand Conchs. :P
When they investigated further it turns out that none of the suppliers in Sweden imports Conus Regius at all.

07/08/2017, 06:08 PM	#1
Alexraptor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 352	Non-Snail algae grazers? So I have this problem that my gorgeous 15 gallon reef is heavily infested with Oenone Fulgida Worms that keep eating my snails. I've tried to catch them with traps with only partial success, and they move way to fast for me to grab them with tweezers in the dark. Much of the rocks is covered in many years of coral growth so simply discarding the rocks would mean tearing down the entire reef and destroying years of healthy coral growth, so kinda not willing to go nuclear here. Right now I am investigating the possibilities of my local saltwater stores getting me a Conus Regius as they are one of the few things that can actually kill Fulgida worms.(its delicious irony that the Cone snail is bait and predator in one package). But in case that option does not pan out I would really like to know of any good non-gastropod alternatives for nuisance algae control.

07/08/2017, 07:39 PM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I'd say urchins or emerald crabs, given your aquarium is too small for tangs or foxface/rabbitfish. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/09/2017, 06:25 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	What type of algae? What are your nitrate and phosphate readings? __________________ Who me?

07/10/2017, 01:52 AM	#6
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Pretty much need to get that cone snail. I'm not sure of another predator. Since they are nocturnal most other creatures have retreated to "safety". They're easy to get here in the states. Reeftopia sells them. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

07/19/2017, 05:28 PM	#9
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	How about a Wrasse? __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/09/2017, 07:25 AM	#4
Alexraptor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 352	All the regular kind of microalgaes and filamentous algaes that is normally taken care of by your average Trochus/Astrea/Turbo snails.

07/09/2017, 10:52 PM	#5
Ztous Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 220	A tail spot blenny?

07/10/2017, 07:06 PM	#7
Alexraptor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 352	Yeah looks like its going to be the cone snail, maybe even two of them. Just found out my 25 gallon reef also has these damn worms as well. >.< Sadly that's gonna cost me my big bristleworms too.

07/18/2017, 11:52 PM	#8
norfolkgarden Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA Posts: 258	Please keep us updated. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

07/20/2017, 10:58 AM	#10
Alexraptor Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sweden Posts: 352	Well unfortunately I seem to be out of luck. The snails my LFS thought were Conus Regius turned out to be harmless Tiger Sand Conchs. :P When they investigated further it turns out that none of the suppliers in Sweden imports Conus Regius at all.