Best hair algae eater?

ReeferAl · 04/11/2014, 10:25 AM

What's the best animal to control hair algae? Snails and hermits just don't do the trick. I've used a rabbit fish and tangs before but I'm going with a more peaceful tank so want to avoid anything too assertive.
So, any blennies that are good at it? Should I get an urchin? Other suggestions?

Allen

Sk8r · 04/11/2014, 10:30 AM

A gfo reactor.
The short spine urchin is ok, but can't handle a large job, and will starve once it's done.
You might also try flipping some of your afflicted rocks: put the algaed side down.

EllisJuan · 04/11/2014, 10:56 AM

Sea Hare...the amount of GHA they eat will blow your mind.

Spork3245 · 04/11/2014, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EllisJuan

Sea Hare...the amount of GHA they eat will blow your mind.

Don't they release a dye that could kill everything in your tank if they get startled? Correct me if I'm wrong, this is coming from memory as I saw one in an LFS once and thought it looked cool - Thank goodness for smart phones and google though

EllisJuan · 04/11/2014, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spork3245

Don't they release a dye that could kill everything in your tank if they get startled? Correct me if I'm wrong, this is coming from memory as I saw one in an LFS once and thought it looked cool - Thank goodness for smart phones and google though

I did a lot of reading on this before I bought mine. The more I read the more I found it to be untrue. I couldn't find any real studies that said it was toxic. I think this is just another unfounded myth in a hobby full of them. From what I remember, the slime coat they have is apparently bad tasting to predators and the "ink" they release when startled, which mine never was that I observed, only temporarily suppressed the senses of potential predators. I had mine in my tank for about 45 days and then I removed him. He had literally eradicated every piece of algae in my tank and I was afraid he would starve if I kept him in any longer. I really enjoyed him, he was very interesting to watch.

I always ran Carbon when he was in my tank just as a precaution.

bif24701 · 04/11/2014, 12:26 PM

Humans, the best control is manual removal and prevention. I use a fuge with Cheato, GFO, GAC, good skimmer, filter socks, and vinegar dosing. I like to feed my animals so all this allows me to do so and control nutrients.

ska d · 04/11/2014, 01:19 PM

Lawnmower blennies are gluttens. Not much to look at but have always been one of my favorites when I had one. Their personalities are awesome, and have faces that looks like an old man.

igot2gats · 04/11/2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bif24701

Humans, the best control is manual removal and prevention.

This.

There's never one 'silver bullet' to fix anything in this hobby. It's always a handful of things.

Preventative maintenance is the best remover I know.

readc · 04/11/2014, 01:38 PM

i added some GHA infested rock into my display from an older tank and with good maintenance and an urchin, its pretty much all gone from that rock..took about 8 months though

rromans88 · 04/11/2014, 04:10 PM

Lawn mower Blenny. I have one in my reef tank and he keeps all on my hair algae out of sight.

ReeferAl · 04/12/2014, 08:58 AM

At the moment I feed only sparingly. I have only 1 blenny and a couple of cleaner shrimp that I feed. I run GFO and carbon and have a good skimmer. I also dose carbon. I have chaeto in the refugium but it barely grows.
I have found manual removal to be futile. Moving rocks isn't an option.

I think it comes down to an urchin, lawnmower blenny or a sea hare. I'll have to decide between them. Thanks.

Allen

snorvich · 04/12/2014, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igot2gats

This.

There's never one 'silver bullet' to fix anything in this hobby. It's always a handful of things.

Preventative maintenance is the best remover I know.

This and what Sk8r said above.

04/11/2014, 10:25 AM	#1
ReeferAl Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fond du Lac, WI Posts: 2,040	Best hair algae eater? What's the best animal to control hair algae? Snails and hermits just don't do the trick. I've used a rabbit fish and tangs before but I'm going with a more peaceful tank so want to avoid anything too assertive. So, any blennies that are good at it? Should I get an urchin? Other suggestions? Allen

04/11/2014, 10:30 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	A gfo reactor. The short spine urchin is ok, but can't handle a large job, and will starve once it's done. You might also try flipping some of your afflicted rocks: put the algaed side down. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/11/2014, 10:56 AM	#3
EllisJuan Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 1,366	Sea Hare...the amount of GHA they eat will blow your mind. __________________ 24x24x12 Rimless RR * Apex * Reeflink * Radion Pro G2 * MP10wQD * JNS CO-1 Skimmer * Advance Acrylics Custom Sump * Jebao DC2000

04/11/2014, 12:26 PM	#6
bif24701 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Florida, FWB Posts: 3,389	Humans, the best control is manual removal and prevention. I use a fuge with Cheato, GFO, GAC, good skimmer, filter socks, and vinegar dosing. I like to feed my animals so all this allows me to do so and control nutrients. __________________ 180 Mixed Reef SRO-5000 Skimmer Neptune APEX Gold Kessil AP700/ MP60+6105 Kalk+2 part/ Cheato Fuge Current Tank Info: 180 SPS Dominant

04/11/2014, 01:19 PM	#7
ska d Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: toronto Posts: 508	Lawnmower blennies are gluttens. Not much to look at but have always been one of my favorites when I had one. Their personalities are awesome, and have faces that looks like an old man.

04/11/2014, 01:38 PM	#9
readc Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Richmond Posts: 97	i added some GHA infested rock into my display from an older tank and with good maintenance and an urchin, its pretty much all gone from that rock..took about 8 months though

04/11/2014, 04:10 PM	#10
rromans88 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 64	Lawn mower Blenny. I have one in my reef tank and he keeps all on my hair algae out of sight.

04/12/2014, 08:58 AM	#11
ReeferAl Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Fond du Lac, WI Posts: 2,040	At the moment I feed only sparingly. I have only 1 blenny and a couple of cleaner shrimp that I feed. I run GFO and carbon and have a good skimmer. I also dose carbon. I have chaeto in the refugium but it barely grows. I have found manual removal to be futile. Moving rocks isn't an option. I think it comes down to an urchin, lawnmower blenny or a sea hare. I'll have to decide between them. Thanks. Allen