best fish/invert for hair algae?

igotcrabz · 03/19/2018, 07:42 PM

bought some blue leg hermits because they're supposed to eat hair algae but they might be too small or just lazy lol. also have a couple emerald crabs just cause i like them but they dont seem to go go for it either had to take a bunch of rock out and put it in my sump in the dark because it's getting out of control.

ramseynb · 03/20/2018, 03:59 AM

Mexican Turbo Snails or urchins would be my pick for inverts. Urchins will eat coralline too so they’d be my lesser choice. A sea hare will destroy hair algae but would likely starve unless you have a really big tank.

For fish, it depends on the size of the tank. If you have a big tank, tangs or rabbit fish would work well. If you have a medium or small tank, you could try a blenny, but they’ve always been more of a film algae eater for me.

AlSimmons · 03/20/2018, 10:15 AM

How old is your tank? What kind of water are you using? In some cases this stuff just burns itself out, regardless of a CUC. In other words providing an environment where GHA can't really grab ahold is your best bet. The link below might help.

https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide

Uncle99 · 03/20/2018, 11:39 AM

For fish, the lawnmower blenny is great however, better than this, better than any CUC, as mentioned above.....perfect water....consistently.....refreshed....and on point to NSW at all times....then....there is no bad algae to clean....

Tripod1404 · 03/20/2018, 11:51 AM

As long as you have nitrate and phosphate to fuel its growth, no matter how much it is eaten, it will always grow faster somewhere else than it is being eaten.

igotcrabz · 03/20/2018, 12:53 PM

thanks for the replys guys my tank is two months old 75 gal im using r o water I do 10 to 20% water changes a week all my tests are all zero probably because the algae is consuming it. noticed it was only growing in lower flow areas so rearranged some rocks and power heads and doesn't seem to be spreading so there's hope

03/19/2018, 07:42 PM	#1
igotcrabz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 15	best fish/invert for hair algae? bought some blue leg hermits because they're supposed to eat hair algae but they might be too small or just lazy lol. also have a couple emerald crabs just cause i like them but they dont seem to go go for it either had to take a bunch of rock out and put it in my sump in the dark because it's getting out of control.

03/20/2018, 03:59 AM	#2
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	best fish/invert for hair algae? Mexican Turbo Snails or urchins would be my pick for inverts. Urchins will eat coralline too so they’d be my lesser choice. A sea hare will destroy hair algae but would likely starve unless you have a really big tank. For fish, it depends on the size of the tank. If you have a big tank, tangs or rabbit fish would work well. If you have a medium or small tank, you could try a blenny, but they’ve always been more of a film algae eater for me. __________________ How do you make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles!

03/20/2018, 10:15 AM	#3
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	How old is your tank? What kind of water are you using? In some cases this stuff just burns itself out, regardless of a CUC. In other words providing an environment where GHA can't really grab ahold is your best bet. The link below might help. https://www.reefcleaners.org/nuisance-algae-id-guide Last edited by AlSimmons; 03/20/2018 at 11:13 AM.

03/20/2018, 11:39 AM	#4
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	For fish, the lawnmower blenny is great however, better than this, better than any CUC, as mentioned above.....perfect water....consistently.....refreshed....and on point to NSW at all times....then....there is no bad algae to clean....

03/20/2018, 11:51 AM	#5
Tripod1404 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,821	As long as you have nitrate and phosphate to fuel its growth, no matter how much it is eaten, it will always grow faster somewhere else than it is being eaten.

03/20/2018, 12:53 PM	#6
igotcrabz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 15	thanks for the replys guys my tank is two months old 75 gal im using r o water I do 10 to 20% water changes a week all my tests are all zero probably because the algae is consuming it. noticed it was only growing in lower flow areas so rearranged some rocks and power heads and doesn't seem to be spreading so there's hope