Sea hares are hair algae dynamos!

Kimmy · 04/10/2006, 01:45 AM

I purchased a large rock from a fish store that had hair algae on it and within two weeks the stuff was everywhere. I put a sea hare in and he just mowed the stuff down. It was actually pulling the algae off the snails back. They are so ugly that they are cool. Kimmy

Anemone · 04/10/2006, 11:11 AM

Glad to hear it stranger! Where ya been?

Kevin

Kimmy · 04/10/2006, 11:17 AM

Anenome!! My long lost reef central buddy!! I have been so busy (working two jobs ect) that I just kind of fell off the board. I still have my 180 reef and its going strong. I just had to tell about the sea hare because it was so amazing to just watch him ripping that stuff off the rocks. I'll have to buy it algae sheets when the algae is all gone. Thanks for remembering me!! I surely haven't forgotton you either. Kimmy

RBirns · 04/10/2006, 12:33 PM

Kimmy--any update with your cyano problem? I think it was early last year that you treated the tank. Any problems since?

Kimmy · 04/10/2006, 01:22 PM

Nope, I haven't had any cyano or other problems until this brief outbreak of hair alge and that ws simply stupidity on my part for not paying attention to what I was buying. I have been red algae free since that thread. I have been tempted to start that one back up again just to see how everyone else did with it. There are always so many different opinions and right and wrongs in this hobby. I just share what works for me..its never a guarantee that it will work for someone else. Kimmy

kmk2307 · 04/10/2006, 01:24 PM

Kimmy, what kind of sea hare did you get? What can you feed it once it eats all the algae?

Thanks,
Kevin

Kimmy · 04/10/2006, 01:34 PM

I don't know the genus of it. It is kind of golden colored with a mushy kind of body and it has funny looking horns that come out of its head when it crawls. I named it Jabba the hut if that says anything. I have a algse clip with an algae sheet attached to it and he nibbles on that along with my hair algae. A reefer friend of mine in Portland has has his sea hare for 2 year and thats what he told me to feed it. My Tang eats right along side him at the clip.

kmk2307 · 04/10/2006, 01:37 PM

Is the algae on the clip Nori? I had some small Dolabrifera (sp?) that ignored nori :-(

Thanks,
Kevin

kysmith · 04/10/2006, 01:43 PM

Aren't you worried about it walking into a powerhead? That is what happened to the 1 I bought.

tisso · 04/10/2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RBirns
Kimmy--any update with your cyano problem? I think it was early last year that you treated the tank. Any problems since?

kimmy, how did you treat your cyno problem ?

Anemone · 04/10/2006, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kimmy
Anenome!! My long lost reef central buddy!! I have been so busy (working two jobs ect) that I just kind of fell off the board. I still have my 180 reef and its going strong. I just had to tell about the sea hare because it was so amazing to just watch him ripping that stuff off the rocks. I'll have to buy it algae sheets when the algae is all gone. Thanks for remembering me!! I surely haven't forgotton you either. Kimmy

Well, it's nice of you to stop in and tell us how you're doing. You might pop into the Lounge occasionally and update any of the oldsters still around.

Glad you're still in the hobby and evidently keeping yourself busy with work. I feel like I should make a comment about your "ferret" just for old times' sake.

Kevin

Kimmy · 04/11/2006, 12:03 AM

Kevin!! You never cease to crack me up!!

My red cyano problem is over and gone. I haven't had a lick of the nasty stuff since I treated with the Erythro. I still say it rocks!! I hope I don't lose Jabba to the powerhead!!

I have screens on the bottom so hopefully that will help. The algae is not Nori. It is from peetco and its called "Marine Algae". Its kind of a greenish brown color. I forgot how much I enjoyd talking "fish" again. I will get back in the lounge and chat again. Kimmy

reefNetWork · 04/11/2006, 12:26 AM

i wanted to get a sea hare but online i have read that they release a purple dye that is poisonous. has your hare done that or are they pretty mellow?

Kimmy · 04/11/2006, 10:54 AM

I haven't seen any problems with him. He just lazily crawls around munching the hair algae and the fish totally leave him alone. My friend has had one for a coiple of years and he hasn't had any problems with his.

Bandsaw · 04/11/2006, 01:33 PM

Correct someone if I am wrong, but the hares need to consume cyno to make the dye.

Kimmy, can you publish a picture of Jabba? I've had two hares and both have ignored my HA. They both ended up going belly up.

miracles38 · 04/11/2006, 01:36 PM

I would also love to see a picture of the sea hare. I need one for my 72 bowfront.

Kimmy · 04/11/2006, 03:51 PM

Yes, I will. I'll take some pictures of him after work tonight ad try to get them posted tomorrow sometime. I have to wait for him to come out. He climbs thru the smallest crevices that you can imagine. He can make hisself long and skinny or big fat and round when lounging on the rocks. The fish store in Salem that I ordered him from called him a sea monster. I'll put his pic up as soon as I can...Kimmy

trippyl · 04/11/2006, 03:59 PM

I had a sea hare who died after swimming into my anemone. Apparently they are not very good at walking backwards. Anyhow, the sea hare released his ink, and it did no damage whatsoever to anyone in the tank. In fact, the ink seemed to have congealed at the bottom. When I removed the sea hare's dead body, I also scooped out the ink. I have corals (sps, lps, polyps).

I have since traded the anemone to avoid this stuff from happening (he also got a firefish). And I will be aquireing a new sea hare soon.

dippin61 · 04/11/2006, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kimmy
Yes, I will. I'll take some pictures of him after work tonight ad try to get them posted tomorrow sometime. I have to wait for him to come out. He climbs thru the smallest crevices that you can imagine. He can make hisself long and skinny or big fat and round when lounging on the rocks. The fish store in Salem that I ordered him from called him a sea monster. I'll put his pic up as soon as I can...Kimmy

would that happen to be from ryan at advanced aquarium?

whalloper · 04/11/2006, 05:34 PM

I have 2... they are awesome - they just eat everything bad, and nothing good - incredible. I will try to snap a picture of one the next time they come out to clean a rock.

Kimmy · 04/14/2006, 11:32 PM

Yes, that would be from Ryan at Advanced. I called him for weeks until he got me one. I am going to post a picture of Java here in a few minutes as promised..hang tight. KImmy

Kimmy · 04/15/2006, 12:00 AM

Here's a kind of blurry photo.

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...5STA70098b.JPG

miracles38 · 04/16/2006, 09:26 PM

I got one that looks pretty much like that last night. I sure hope it eats all that d*** hair algae!

riotj · 04/26/2006, 02:48 PM

How big is the sea hare?

Kimmy · 04/26/2006, 11:56 PM

Mine is about 3 inches when scrunched up and about 6 inches when he stretches itself out.

04/10/2006, 01:45 AM	#1
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Sea hares are hair algae dynamos! I purchased a large rock from a fish store that had hair algae on it and within two weeks the stuff was everywhere. I put a sea hare in and he just mowed the stuff down. It was actually pulling the algae off the snails back. They are so ugly that they are cool. Kimmy __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/10/2006, 11:11 AM	#2
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	Glad to hear it stranger! Where ya been? Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

04/10/2006, 11:17 AM	#3
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Anenome!! My long lost reef central buddy!! I have been so busy (working two jobs ect) that I just kind of fell off the board. I still have my 180 reef and its going strong. I just had to tell about the sea hare because it was so amazing to just watch him ripping that stuff off the rocks. I'll have to buy it algae sheets when the algae is all gone. Thanks for remembering me!! I surely haven't forgotton you either. Kimmy __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/10/2006, 01:22 PM	#5
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Nope, I haven't had any cyano or other problems until this brief outbreak of hair alge and that ws simply stupidity on my part for not paying attention to what I was buying. I have been red algae free since that thread. I have been tempted to start that one back up again just to see how everyone else did with it. There are always so many different opinions and right and wrongs in this hobby. I just share what works for me..its never a guarantee that it will work for someone else. Kimmy __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/10/2006, 01:34 PM	#7
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	I don't know the genus of it. It is kind of golden colored with a mushy kind of body and it has funny looking horns that come out of its head when it crawls. I named it Jabba the hut if that says anything. I have a algse clip with an algae sheet attached to it and he nibbles on that along with my hair algae. A reefer friend of mine in Portland has has his sea hare for 2 year and thats what he told me to feed it. My Tang eats right along side him at the clip. __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/10/2006, 12:33 PM	#4
RBirns Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 57	Kimmy--any update with your cyano problem? I think it was early last year that you treated the tank. Any problems since?

04/10/2006, 01:24 PM	#6
kmk2307 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 5,110	Kimmy, what kind of sea hare did you get? What can you feed it once it eats all the algae? Thanks, Kevin

04/10/2006, 01:37 PM	#8
kmk2307 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 5,110	Is the algae on the clip Nori? I had some small Dolabrifera (sp?) that ignored nori :-( Thanks, Kevin

04/10/2006, 01:43 PM	#9
kysmith Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 600	Aren't you worried about it walking into a powerhead? That is what happened to the 1 I bought. __________________ GO HOKIES!! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon

04/11/2006, 12:03 AM	#12
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Kevin!! You never cease to crack me up!! My red cyano problem is over and gone. I haven't had a lick of the nasty stuff since I treated with the Erythro. I still say it rocks!! I hope I don't lose Jabba to the powerhead!! I have screens on the bottom so hopefully that will help. The algae is not Nori. It is from peetco and its called "Marine Algae". Its kind of a greenish brown color. I forgot how much I enjoyd talking "fish" again. I will get back in the lounge and chat again. Kimmy __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/11/2006, 12:26 AM	#13
reefNetWork Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 365	i wanted to get a sea hare but online i have read that they release a purple dye that is poisonous. has your hare done that or are they pretty mellow? __________________ William Current Tank Info: 80 gallon reef. 20 Gallon Sump. Little Giant MDQX - SC Pump. ASM G1x skimmer. 4x96 watt 50/50 PCs

04/11/2006, 10:54 AM	#14
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	I haven't seen any problems with him. He just lazily crawls around munching the hair algae and the fish totally leave him alone. My friend has had one for a coiple of years and he hasn't had any problems with his. __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/11/2006, 01:33 PM	#15
Bandsaw Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: North Eastern Ontario (above Sudbury) Posts: 720	Correct someone if I am wrong, but the hares need to consume cyno to make the dye. Kimmy, can you publish a picture of Jabba? I've had two hares and both have ignored my HA. They both ended up going belly up. __________________ VE3SZB Failure is not an option - It is a requirement if you expect to learn anything. Click on my home page button for pictures of my aquarium. Current Tank Info: 75g Display, CPR SM Aquafuge, 8g sump, 20g tall fuge, Maxspect R420R LED, KoralLin 1502 CaRa, EV-180 Skimmer

04/11/2006, 01:36 PM	#16
miracles38 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,008	I would also love to see a picture of the sea hare. I need one for my 72 bowfront. __________________ Kim Current Tank Info: 180 reef

04/11/2006, 03:51 PM	#17
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Yes, I will. I'll take some pictures of him after work tonight ad try to get them posted tomorrow sometime. I have to wait for him to come out. He climbs thru the smallest crevices that you can imagine. He can make hisself long and skinny or big fat and round when lounging on the rocks. The fish store in Salem that I ordered him from called him a sea monster. I'll put his pic up as soon as I can...Kimmy __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/11/2006, 03:59 PM	#18
trippyl Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Here Posts: 1,106	I had a sea hare who died after swimming into my anemone. Apparently they are not very good at walking backwards. Anyhow, the sea hare released his ink, and it did no damage whatsoever to anyone in the tank. In fact, the ink seemed to have congealed at the bottom. When I removed the sea hare's dead body, I also scooped out the ink. I have corals (sps, lps, polyps). I have since traded the anemone to avoid this stuff from happening (he also got a firefish). And I will be aquireing a new sea hare soon.

04/11/2006, 05:34 PM	#20
whalloper Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 317	I have 2... they are awesome - they just eat everything bad, and nothing good - incredible. I will try to snap a picture of one the next time they come out to clean a rock. __________________ Please let me know when they invent the device which makes water changes unnecessary and foolish... I cant wait Current Tank Info: 72 gal mixed reef (SPS acros montis stylo miles, LPS, zoos, shrooms, clams, xenia, chili) 26 gal zoo/softies/LPS reef

04/14/2006, 11:32 PM	#21
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Yes, that would be from Ryan at Advanced. I called him for weeks until he got me one. I am going to post a picture of Java here in a few minutes as promised..hang tight. KImmy __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/15/2006, 12:00 AM	#22
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	The photo Here's a kind of blurry photo. http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/...5STA70098b.JPG __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank

04/16/2006, 09:26 PM	#23
miracles38 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,008	I got one that looks pretty much like that last night. I sure hope it eats all that d*** hair algae! __________________ Kim Current Tank Info: 180 reef

04/26/2006, 02:48 PM	#24
riotj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: So. Orange County Posts: 187	How big is the sea hare?

04/26/2006, 11:56 PM	#25
Kimmy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Oregon Posts: 340	Mine is about 3 inches when scrunched up and about 6 inches when he stretches itself out. __________________ Kimmy Sue Current Tank Info: 180 reeftank