Chevron not eating hair algae

Dawn II · 03/03/2006, 07:57 AM

He's eating all the time. He's picking all over the sand, and seems to be eating at the parts of the rock without hair algae- I thought I could put my toothbrush away!!

dhoch · 03/03/2006, 08:22 AM

Most fish that are "hair algae" eaters are hit or miss with hair algae, some will eat it some won't...

Dave

Dawn II · 03/03/2006, 10:16 AM

Where did you see that? Books point to the chevron as being a tank cleaner.

Reef'in Colorado · 03/03/2006, 10:24 AM

I have yet to find a fish that will eat hair algae. Manual removal is the only sure-fire method to get rid of it. Using macro algae in your sump/fuge will help to rid your display of this horrible pest.

Dawn II · 03/03/2006, 10:26 AM

! 0nly have a 30x24 inch area where the sump is, which includes the protein skimmer and doser area.

Amphiprion · 03/03/2006, 10:26 AM

Chevron tangs dont even have the dentition to effectively feed on hair algae. They are very adept at eating diatoms, detritus, and fish waste, however. I don't doubt this fish didnt eat your hair algae.

Redfish · 03/03/2006, 10:41 AM

I dont know about lacking dentition as my Chevron eats both the pervasive red clean water algae and occoasionally even a bite of dictyota, but he will not touch hair algae. I don't ever have much anyway.

I have never seen any Chevron eat hair algae. Snails and crabs maybe. You would be better off cleaning up the water and picking out the worst of it yourself.

Amphiprion · 03/03/2006, 10:45 AM

What I was referring to is that their teeth are like combs, not designed at all to feed on filamentous forms of algae. A better way to phrase it would have been " they lack the form of dentition to feed on hair algae."

cindy288 · 03/03/2006, 12:41 PM

Your all correct.....they do not eat hair algae even if they were starving

SDguy · 03/03/2006, 12:54 PM

At most, they are good at keeping hair algae from growing, due to their constant rasping on the rocks. But something else has to get rid of the HA first.

lvreefer · 03/03/2006, 01:00 PM

Wrong mouth structure as noted above. Have you tried any inverts to handle the problem? Or better yet have you tested your water parameters?

king7 · 03/03/2006, 02:46 PM

other things you can try are sea hare, lettus sea slugs, Lawnmower blenny, cowrie (i found them to eat it, but they will pick up soft corals too)

bureau13 · 03/03/2006, 03:42 PM

My Chevron ate nothing but what I thought was hair algae, and when it was all gone he stopped and eventually died. However...I'm starting to think maybe that wasn't hair algae, it wasn't long, it looked more like laundry lint all over everything. Whatever it was, he ate it!

jds

Serioussnaps · 03/03/2006, 05:06 PM

Dude get a lawnmower blenny. Turbo and astrea snails eat it too. No need to get a gorgeous fish if your only purpose is for hair algae. Most tangs i see would rather have the prepared food than that hair algae except the lawnmower blenny.

NCreefwannabe · 03/03/2006, 07:24 PM

buying a fish to rid HA isnt the answer. Since all fish are diferent. One persons foxface may eat it, but that fishes brother wouldnt lol... Just how it works.

SDguy · 03/03/2006, 07:29 PM

Wasn't there a post showing zebra or striped turbo snails eating HA? The poster was very happy with the results.

Dawn II · 03/04/2006, 05:32 AM

I have a lawnmower blenny. The parameters are fine- only nitrate around 15 because I don't tarve my tank. I have a few snails and hermit crabs. a lawnmower blenny, sand sifting stars, red serpent star, hectori goby, and (2) cleaner shrimps as far as clean up crew goes. I weekly scrub rhe hair algae off with a toothbrush- I can't get it all- but the tank by no means looks "hairy". However it would if I let it go for a few weeks! I also have a uv sterilizer. The chevron is one of the tangs mentioned in Julian Sprung's "Algae" book, and Eric Borneman mentioned him last year at a conference as being a favorite for algae control. I realize, Peter, you are probably right about the constant rasping on rocks taking care of the beginning film of algae. Maybe I just need patience...

XeniaMania · 04/15/2006, 01:57 AM

The Chevron is a bristletooth, so I believe picking at plants would not be its preferred method of eating. Your best chances would be one from the Zebrasoma family. It's like how some are in disbelief that my Desjardini has completely eradicated my Bryopsis algae problem, yet, I have this coral that has hair algae and it won't touch it. But in the past, I've had a Pacific Sailfin that would eat all the hair algae. Has your hippo assisted you in this matter at all?

joeychitwood · 04/15/2006, 03:27 AM

My Lawnmower Blenny and two Zebra Turbo snails initially cleaned my 54 corner of hair algae in a week. I've recently had a small outbreak again, and this time, they are not touching the hair. Go figure.

Dawn II · 04/15/2006, 03:53 AM

My new hippo is helping out. My next to get is the yellow-zebrasoma. The chevron is working some on the rocks now, but mostly on the sand. I am still employing my toothbrush!

XeniaMania · 04/15/2006, 03:57 AM

I guess I should feel really fortunate that my tank is pretty much algae free...

waterfaller1 · 04/15/2006, 05:10 AM

I have a small patch of HA that comes and goes just below my overflow box..too bad Rainsfords gobys are'nt bigger, because mine eats it like it's candy.

ReeferAl · 04/15/2006, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dawn II
My new hippo is helping out. My next to get is the yellow-zebrasoma. The chevron is working some on the rocks now, but mostly on the sand.

Frankly, I wouldn't put 3 tangs in a 160 gal.

Dawn II · 04/15/2006, 05:25 AM

I've seen 3 or more before, along with a niger trigger. I know people say put them in together, but I'm a kind of one fish at a time person, lest something goes wrong. Did you see the combinations of fishes, sizes of tanks, and lengths of operation in Paletta's "Ultimate Marine Aquariums"?
I agree about the Rainfordi- I have a hectori, and if he could clone himself, I'd be in heaven. These gobies are true non-stop working machines!

03/03/2006, 07:57 AM	#1
Dawn II Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Coral, FL, Posts: 606	Chevron not eating hair algae He's eating all the time. He's picking all over the sand, and seems to be eating at the parts of the rock without hair algae- I thought I could put my toothbrush away!!

03/03/2006, 08:22 AM	#2
dhoch Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,762	Most fish that are "hair algae" eaters are hit or miss with hair algae, some will eat it some won't... Dave __________________ Check out my tanks website... click the red box above my post Current Tank Info: 180 gal Acrylic, 29 gal refugium, 40 gal sump, Mag 18 -> 2 Sea Swirls, Tunze 6100, 8 x 80W overdriven T5 Lights, ASM G4 skimmer

03/03/2006, 10:26 AM	#6
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	Chevron tangs dont even have the dentition to effectively feed on hair algae. They are very adept at eating diatoms, detritus, and fish waste, however. I don't doubt this fish didnt eat your hair algae. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/03/2006, 10:45 AM	#8
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	What I was referring to is that their teeth are like combs, not designed at all to feed on filamentous forms of algae. A better way to phrase it would have been " they lack the form of dentition to feed on hair algae." __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

03/03/2006, 12:54 PM	#10
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	At most, they are good at keeping hair algae from growing, due to their constant rasping on the rocks. But something else has to get rid of the HA first. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/03/2006, 10:16 AM	#3
Dawn II Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Coral, FL, Posts: 606	Where did you see that? Books point to the chevron as being a tank cleaner.

03/03/2006, 10:24 AM	#4
Reef'in Colorado Reefer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Frederick, Co. Posts: 934	I have yet to find a fish that will eat hair algae. Manual removal is the only sure-fire method to get rid of it. Using macro algae in your sump/fuge will help to rid your display of this horrible pest.

03/03/2006, 10:41 AM	#7
Redfish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 360	I dont know about lacking dentition as my Chevron eats both the pervasive red clean water algae and occoasionally even a bite of dictyota, but he will not touch hair algae. I don't ever have much anyway. I have never seen any Chevron eat hair algae. Snails and crabs maybe. You would be better off cleaning up the water and picking out the worst of it yourself.

03/03/2006, 12:41 PM	#9
cindy288 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 81	Your all correct.....they do not eat hair algae even if they were starving

03/03/2006, 01:00 PM	#11
lvreefer Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sin City Posts: 1,163	Wrong mouth structure as noted above. Have you tried any inverts to handle the problem? Or better yet have you tested your water parameters?

03/03/2006, 02:46 PM	#12
king7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 67	other things you can try are sea hare, lettus sea slugs, Lawnmower blenny, cowrie (i found them to eat it, but they will pick up soft corals too)

03/03/2006, 03:42 PM	#13
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	My Chevron ate nothing but what I thought was hair algae, and when it was all gone he stopped and eventually died. However...I'm starting to think maybe that wasn't hair algae, it wasn't long, it looked more like laundry lint all over everything. Whatever it was, he ate it! jds

03/03/2006, 05:06 PM	#14
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Dude get a lawnmower blenny. Turbo and astrea snails eat it too. No need to get a gorgeous fish if your only purpose is for hair algae. Most tangs i see would rather have the prepared food than that hair algae except the lawnmower blenny.

03/03/2006, 07:24 PM	#15
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	buying a fish to rid HA isnt the answer. Since all fish are diferent. One persons foxface may eat it, but that fishes brother wouldnt lol... Just how it works.

03/03/2006, 07:29 PM	#16
SDguy Fish heads unite! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 23,384	Wasn't there a post showing zebra or striped turbo snails eating HA? The poster was very happy with the results. __________________ Peter SDMAS member Marine tanks since 1989. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><((((º> ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><((((º> Current Tank Info: 240g butterfly and angel FOWLR. 15g QT.

03/04/2006, 05:32 AM	#17
Dawn II Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Coral, FL, Posts: 606	I have a lawnmower blenny. The parameters are fine- only nitrate around 15 because I don't tarve my tank. I have a few snails and hermit crabs. a lawnmower blenny, sand sifting stars, red serpent star, hectori goby, and (2) cleaner shrimps as far as clean up crew goes. I weekly scrub rhe hair algae off with a toothbrush- I can't get it all- but the tank by no means looks "hairy". However it would if I let it go for a few weeks! I also have a uv sterilizer. The chevron is one of the tangs mentioned in Julian Sprung's "Algae" book, and Eric Borneman mentioned him last year at a conference as being a favorite for algae control. I realize, Peter, you are probably right about the constant rasping on rocks taking care of the beginning film of algae. Maybe I just need patience...

04/15/2006, 01:57 AM	#18
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	The Chevron is a bristletooth, so I believe picking at plants would not be its preferred method of eating. Your best chances would be one from the Zebrasoma family. It's like how some are in disbelief that my Desjardini has completely eradicated my Bryopsis algae problem, yet, I have this coral that has hair algae and it won't touch it. But in the past, I've had a Pacific Sailfin that would eat all the hair algae. Has your hippo assisted you in this matter at all?

04/15/2006, 03:27 AM	#19
joeychitwood Schrödinger's Mod Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 3,488	My Lawnmower Blenny and two Zebra Turbo snails initially cleaned my 54 corner of hair algae in a week. I've recently had a small outbreak again, and this time, they are not touching the hair. Go figure.

04/15/2006, 03:53 AM	#20
Dawn II Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Coral, FL, Posts: 606	My new hippo is helping out. My next to get is the yellow-zebrasoma. The chevron is working some on the rocks now, but mostly on the sand. I am still employing my toothbrush!

04/15/2006, 03:57 AM	#21
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	I guess I should feel really fortunate that my tank is pretty much algae free...

04/15/2006, 05:10 AM	#22
waterfaller1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 3,343	I have a small patch of HA that comes and goes just below my overflow box..too bad Rainsfords gobys are'nt bigger, because mine eats it like it's candy.

04/15/2006, 05:25 AM	#24
Dawn II Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cape Coral, FL, Posts: 606	I've seen 3 or more before, along with a niger trigger. I know people say put them in together, but I'm a kind of one fish at a time person, lest something goes wrong. Did you see the combinations of fishes, sizes of tanks, and lengths of operation in Paletta's "Ultimate Marine Aquariums"? I agree about the Rainfordi- I have a hectori, and if he could clone himself, I'd be in heaven. These gobies are true non-stop working machines!