TO ALL Blenny owners!!!

b0bby1 · 10/17/2007, 07:38 PM

i am currently looking for an algae eating fish gor my 20 gallon. i've read that the bicolor DOES eat hair algae somewhere. is that correct??? dont sugesst gettin a lawnmower, they will outgrow my tank. thanks!

sprinj76 · 10/17/2007, 07:56 PM

I would get a tail spot blenny, or at least that's what i am planning on getting for my 20 gallon. They only get about 2-2.5".

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2229

b0bby1 · 10/17/2007, 08:00 PM

lol i was thinkin the same thing, its either the tailspot or the bicolor. do they both eat algae???

m2434 · 10/17/2007, 08:32 PM

I have a bicolor, who does eat algae, but this is a small fish, so don't count on miracles. Does supplement GFO and other methods well. Lots of personality though and all around great fish.

Trigeek · 10/18/2007, 05:00 AM

I have a bicolor, too. He'll pick at the rocks and glass, but don't count on him to clean up a hair algae problem. I would be one or two trochus snails. Those things are lawnmowers. Also, my bicolor has turned into a bit of a coral and clam nipper.

KDodds · 10/18/2007, 05:44 AM

IME, the Tailspot nor Bicolor, or any of the Ecsenius spp. Blennies really, are not an effective means of algae eradication/control. Find the source, the source of nutrient introduction/build-up, and you'll resolve the "problem". Problem is in quotes because, in a new tank, you can expect things in terms of species diversity, including nuisance algae, to bloom and die back regularly within the first year or so. FWIW, adding more, and significant at that, bio-load to a tank already experiencing algae/nutrient problems is usually counter-productive, especially in small tanks.

Alarmguy66 · 10/18/2007, 06:23 AM

Forget a Canary Blenny. Mine is my favorite fish, but an algae eater he is not. Neither is my bicolor.

b0bby1 · 10/18/2007, 01:29 PM

i dont have much of a bioload, i feed once every 2-3 days. i dont weekly 3 gallon water changes, only fish are a sixline and perc

KDodds · 10/18/2007, 01:47 PM

How long has the tank been set up?

pelochas · 10/18/2007, 01:56 PM

how about a coral beauty? my cb constantly eat and eat algea from my tank. its rated for 30 minumum so its probably not a good idea.

Dingo Dog · 10/18/2007, 05:01 PM

IMO, it depends on how much alge you have. If you're talking about GHA, take KDobbs advice and balance your water out. Do water changes and if you're dosing phytoplankton, cut back a bit. Also cutting back on your lights will help. If the alge is really bad, I'd suggest running PhosBan in a reactor.
You'd do good to try and determine why you're having an alge issue. Fish aren't the cure-all for alge issues.

Best of luck to you on this. I've been there and have the T-Shirt. I used the reactor route which took about 3 months to remove the alge but it worked great.

10/17/2007, 07:38 PM	#1
b0bby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Berlin, CT Posts: 847	TO ALL Blenny owners!!! i am currently looking for an algae eating fish gor my 20 gallon. i've read that the bicolor DOES eat hair algae somewhere. is that correct??? dont sugesst gettin a lawnmower, they will outgrow my tank. thanks! Last edited by b0bby1; 10/17/2007 at 08:32 PM.

10/18/2007, 05:44 AM	#6
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	IME, the Tailspot nor Bicolor, or any of the Ecsenius spp. Blennies really, are not an effective means of algae eradication/control. Find the source, the source of nutrient introduction/build-up, and you'll resolve the "problem". Problem is in quotes because, in a new tank, you can expect things in terms of species diversity, including nuisance algae, to bloom and die back regularly within the first year or so. FWIW, adding more, and significant at that, bio-load to a tank already experiencing algae/nutrient problems is usually counter-productive, especially in small tanks. __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

10/18/2007, 06:23 AM	#7
Alarmguy66 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Madison, Va Posts: 340	Forget a Canary Blenny. Mine is my favorite fish, but an algae eater he is not. Neither is my bicolor. __________________ And this all started with a betta? Current Tank Info: 180 gallon, 55 gal sump, mag 18 return, Yellow Tang, Coral Beauty, 2 Perc Clowns, Bicolor Blenny, Yellow Watchman Goby, Niger trigger, Blue devil damsel, Clown Goby

10/18/2007, 01:47 PM	#9
KDodds Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Suffern, NY Posts: 2,731	How long has the tank been set up? __________________ The sum of my knowledge is great, the sum of my ignorance greater still Kieron Dodds Administrator Inside Aquatics Current Tank Info: 450 Reef/180 FOWLR/125 ARLC/40 Seahorse/12 Planted/12 Planted

10/18/2007, 01:56 PM	#10
pelochas Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pasadena, TX Posts: 385	how about a coral beauty? my cb constantly eat and eat algea from my tank. its rated for 30 minumum so its probably not a good idea. __________________ 120g Reef Tank Oceanic, 2x175watt MH 14k Iwasaki, 1 Ecotech MP40, Reeflo Dart return pump, AquaC EV-120 Eheim 1262 ,AquacontrollerJr, KentMaxximaHI-S, PhosBanReactor150, Geo Kalk Rx. Current Tank Info: working on diy led lighting and finishing a sump refuge relocated outside the house

10/17/2007, 07:56 PM	#2
sprinj76 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: WI Posts: 495	I would get a tail spot blenny, or at least that's what i am planning on getting for my 20 gallon. They only get about 2-2.5". http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/p...fm?pCatId=2229

10/17/2007, 08:00 PM	#3
b0bby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Berlin, CT Posts: 847	lol i was thinkin the same thing, its either the tailspot or the bicolor. do they both eat algae???

10/17/2007, 08:32 PM	#4
m2434 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,171	I have a bicolor, who does eat algae, but this is a small fish, so don't count on miracles. Does supplement GFO and other methods well. Lots of personality though and all around great fish.

10/18/2007, 05:00 AM	#5
Trigeek Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Broward County, FL Posts: 638	I have a bicolor, too. He'll pick at the rocks and glass, but don't count on him to clean up a hair algae problem. I would be one or two trochus snails. Those things are lawnmowers. Also, my bicolor has turned into a bit of a coral and clam nipper.

10/18/2007, 01:29 PM	#8
b0bby1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Berlin, CT Posts: 847	i dont have much of a bioload, i feed once every 2-3 days. i dont weekly 3 gallon water changes, only fish are a sixline and perc

10/18/2007, 05:01 PM	#11
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	IMO, it depends on how much alge you have. If you're talking about GHA, take KDobbs advice and balance your water out. Do water changes and if you're dosing phytoplankton, cut back a bit. Also cutting back on your lights will help. If the alge is really bad, I'd suggest running PhosBan in a reactor. You'd do good to try and determine why you're having an alge issue. Fish aren't the cure-all for alge issues. Best of luck to you on this. I've been there and have the T-Shirt. I used the reactor route which took about 3 months to remove the alge but it worked great.