Ae sea hares safe to clean my tank???

newreef06 · 06/12/2006, 05:03 PM

I have a red algae problem. Someone mentioned a Sea Hare. I head they give off of a toxic where it can kill your fish. Has anyone used one. To get rid of the red algae. I was also told Scarlet Herment crabs and tangs are also good. I have a 55G tank. What should I get

Scott

Reefrus2003 · 06/12/2006, 05:37 PM

Sea Hares do a great job on algae, just feed them some Nori when they eat all of the algae up or trade them back in. I had one die in my tank by the time I found him behind the rocks a serpant star beat me to him.

bertoni · 06/12/2006, 05:49 PM

I'm not sure that the sea hare will eat the type of alga that you have. Other than that, sea hares are safe, but are prone to being killed by predators or sucked into powerheads. I wouldn't hugely want one in most cases. How bad is the problem and how long has the situation existed?

newreef06 · 06/12/2006, 06:19 PM

Its been going on for a week or so. There isnt alot about 15% of the tank has it. Mostly on the sand and rock.

bertoni · 06/12/2006, 06:21 PM

If this tank is new, then I would just ignore the problem for a few weeks. Such blooms are common in new tanks and often (but not always) go away on their own.

Is this a slimy coating or does the organism have structure? In either case, some hand removal might speed the process along a bit.

newreef06 · 06/12/2006, 10:24 PM

Its the slimy kind. I removed some by hand. I also did a 10% water change. I will wait a week or 2 to see If it gets worse. What else can I do in the mean time

bertoni · 06/13/2006, 12:21 AM

You can remove the slime by siphoning it out, and if you're feeding, you could consider reducing the amount.

Technically, the tank probably is seeing a cyanobacteria bloom. That's very common.

oonycxwilloo · 06/13/2006, 12:48 AM

well i heard they only release the toxin after they die off...but i also heard that they are hard to keep

compulou · 06/13/2006, 06:53 AM

Interesting, anyone have a picture of a Sea Hare?

ricks · 06/13/2006, 09:00 AM

Why not find the reason for the algae in the first place. Then you can take steps to rid your tank of it... Why do people always try animals to take care of there problems. Instead of taking sometime to find a solution for the problem....

06/12/2006, 05:03 PM	#1
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	Ae sea hares safe to clean my tank??? I have a red algae problem. Someone mentioned a Sea Hare. I head they give off of a toxic where it can kill your fish. Has anyone used one. To get rid of the red algae. I was also told Scarlet Herment crabs and tangs are also good. I have a 55G tank. What should I get Scott

06/12/2006, 05:49 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'm not sure that the sea hare will eat the type of alga that you have. Other than that, sea hares are safe, but are prone to being killed by predators or sucked into powerheads. I wouldn't hugely want one in most cases. How bad is the problem and how long has the situation existed? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/12/2006, 06:21 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If this tank is new, then I would just ignore the problem for a few weeks. Such blooms are common in new tanks and often (but not always) go away on their own. Is this a slimy coating or does the organism have structure? In either case, some hand removal might speed the process along a bit. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/13/2006, 12:21 AM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You can remove the slime by siphoning it out, and if you're feeding, you could consider reducing the amount. Technically, the tank probably is seeing a cyanobacteria bloom. That's very common. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/12/2006, 05:37 PM	#2
Reefrus2003 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Houston Posts: 260	Sea Hares do a great job on algae, just feed them some Nori when they eat all of the algae up or trade them back in. I had one die in my tank by the time I found him behind the rocks a serpant star beat me to him.

06/12/2006, 06:19 PM	#4
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	Its been going on for a week or so. There isnt alot about 15% of the tank has it. Mostly on the sand and rock.

06/12/2006, 10:24 PM	#6
newreef06 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western Ma Posts: 822	Its the slimy kind. I removed some by hand. I also did a 10% water change. I will wait a week or 2 to see If it gets worse. What else can I do in the mean time

06/13/2006, 12:48 AM	#8
oonycxwilloo Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 54	well i heard they only release the toxin after they die off...but i also heard that they are hard to keep

06/13/2006, 06:53 AM	#9
compulou Moved On Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 951	Interesting, anyone have a picture of a Sea Hare?

06/13/2006, 09:00 AM	#10
ricks Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: portland,or Posts: 906	Why not find the reason for the algae in the first place. Then you can take steps to rid your tank of it... Why do people always try animals to take care of there problems. Instead of taking sometime to find a solution for the problem....