what else devours hair algae other than seahares?

jiggy · 06/15/2006, 11:54 PM

what else devours hair algae as rapidly as a seahare? i dont want to get a seahare because i dont want it inking my tank

ACBlinky · 06/16/2006, 12:45 AM

For now I'd manually remove what you can, and pick up a few of these guys - IME zebras will mow down anything green.
Then to ensure it won't return, try and reduce nutrients (do water changes using RO, use a fuge full of macro to outcompete it, adsorbing resins, feed less, etc.)

Lawnmower with a shell

reefNetWork · 06/16/2006, 01:13 AM

i just bought one those zebras and that thing mows down algae like crazy. i have been having problems with hair algae and red slime. another invert that i have is a queen conch and that eats a lot of hair and red algae.

Monkey_Bone · 06/16/2006, 01:46 AM

Lettuce nudibrancs, scarlet hermits, Yellow tangs, Astrea snails ( Atlantic astreas), Nassarius vibex snails ( TRUE Nassarius Vibex and NOT those horrible little COLD WATER eastern mud welks some sites are selling and are being passed around on ebay like candy.), Zebra hermits, blue legged hermits, Mexican turbo snails,
Rabbit fish........the list is huge!

Do a little research.

cleverdave2k · 06/16/2006, 07:06 AM

I had a real bad problem with it so i brought a fingerprint toby by the next morning it was all clear its loves the stuff not seen a hair since

fittdog8848 · 06/16/2006, 07:22 AM

I have two Sea Hares and they have never inked in my tank. I have actually lost a hair before to no ill effects. They really have to be p*$#ed off to ink.

skidclan · 06/16/2006, 07:33 AM

I have used sea hares and had them ink. It's never been a problem. My carbon pulled it out quickly and no ill effects to corals or fish. I have 2 in my tank now. My local fish store rents them out for tank cleanup.

Reeling Reefer · 06/16/2006, 08:35 AM

Where do you get seahares?

Crusty Old Shellback · 06/16/2006, 08:38 AM

Urchins work great. I have several different typs in my tanks. When I first put them in, you could litteraly see where they had been. Looked like a lawn mower had been thru the alage patch. It was clean all the way down to the bare rock.

skeeter_ca · 06/16/2006, 10:34 AM

My seahare is fantastic. Never inked and i move it back and forth from my tank and refuge. It is by far the most wierdiest looking animal i have, even campared to the 3 hovercraft boxfish i have (love'm).

jiggy · 06/16/2006, 10:46 AM

where did u get your seahares?.. if i were to get one id probably go with liveaquaria..

where do u get those zebra snails?

fittdog8848 · 06/16/2006, 11:06 AM

LiveAquaria is the only place I would go but others might have someplace else in mind.

skeeter_ca · 06/16/2006, 12:37 PM

The first time i saw one was at a LFS and i bought it. It's kinda funny never saw one before that but now all 3 of my LFS have them. Maybe there seasonal. Mine can be right in front on a rock and i don't even notice him or he likes to bury himself to his gills(holes) in the sand and it's hard to find him. Ask your LFS person, you might not even notice him in the store tanks. It's amazing because these things are pretty big, about 4" long by 2" wide.

06/15/2006, 11:54 PM	#1
jiggy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ZOO JERSEY Posts: 774	what else devours hair algae other than seahares? what else devours hair algae as rapidly as a seahare? i dont want to get a seahare because i dont want it inking my tank

06/16/2006, 12:45 AM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	For now I'd manually remove what you can, and pick up a few of these guys - IME zebras will mow down anything green. Then to ensure it won't return, try and reduce nutrients (do water changes using RO, use a fuge full of macro to outcompete it, adsorbing resins, feed less, etc.) Lawnmower with a shell __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

06/16/2006, 01:13 AM	#3
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	i just bought one those zebras and that thing mows down algae like crazy. i have been having problems with hair algae and red slime. another invert that i have is a queen conch and that eats a lot of hair and red algae. __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

06/16/2006, 01:46 AM	#4
Monkey_Bone Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In the Urban Jungle Posts: 145	Lettuce nudibrancs, scarlet hermits, Yellow tangs, Astrea snails ( Atlantic astreas), Nassarius vibex snails ( TRUE Nassarius Vibex and NOT those horrible little COLD WATER eastern mud welks some sites are selling and are being passed around on ebay like candy.), Zebra hermits, blue legged hermits, Mexican turbo snails, Rabbit fish........the list is huge! Do a little research. __________________ READ THE WHOLE THING BEFORE YOU TYPE!!!! AYE YI YI!!!!

06/16/2006, 07:22 AM	#6
fittdog8848 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 308	I have two Sea Hares and they have never inked in my tank. I have actually lost a hair before to no ill effects. They really have to be p*$#ed off to ink. __________________ When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with 50g refugium/sump

06/16/2006, 07:06 AM	#5
cleverdave2k Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 10	I had a real bad problem with it so i brought a fingerprint toby by the next morning it was all clear its loves the stuff not seen a hair since

06/16/2006, 07:33 AM	#7
skidclan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Boise, Id. Posts: 67	I have used sea hares and had them ink. It's never been a problem. My carbon pulled it out quickly and no ill effects to corals or fish. I have 2 in my tank now. My local fish store rents them out for tank cleanup.

06/16/2006, 08:35 AM	#8
Reeling Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 445	Where do you get seahares?

06/16/2006, 08:38 AM	#9
Crusty Old Shellback MASVC OG Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Home of the FREE, Thanks to the BRAVE! Posts: 5,089	Urchins work great. I have several different typs in my tanks. When I first put them in, you could litteraly see where they had been. Looked like a lawn mower had been thru the alage patch. It was clean all the way down to the bare rock. __________________ Have you THANKED a Veteran lately for the freedoms you take for granted each day? Best quote ever! "This is a hobby for God sakes and so many people get so uptite. A "hobby" so it should be fun and not a cause to worry or go broke." Paul B Current Tank Info: Tankless for a while. RIP my 8+ yr old pair of Naso tangs, 4 + yr old Moorish Idol

06/16/2006, 10:34 AM	#10
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	My seahare is fantastic. Never inked and i move it back and forth from my tank and refuge. It is by far the most wierdiest looking animal i have, even campared to the 3 hovercraft boxfish i have (love'm). __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06

06/16/2006, 10:46 AM	#11
jiggy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: ZOO JERSEY Posts: 774	where did u get your seahares?.. if i were to get one id probably go with liveaquaria.. where do u get those zebra snails?

06/16/2006, 11:06 AM	#12
fittdog8848 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 308	LiveAquaria is the only place I would go but others might have someplace else in mind. __________________ When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with 50g refugium/sump

06/16/2006, 12:37 PM	#13
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	The first time i saw one was at a LFS and i bought it. It's kinda funny never saw one before that but now all 3 of my LFS have them. Maybe there seasonal. Mine can be right in front on a rock and i don't even notice him or he likes to bury himself to his gills(holes) in the sand and it's hard to find him. Ask your LFS person, you might not even notice him in the store tanks. It's amazing because these things are pretty big, about 4" long by 2" wide. __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06