Sea Hare (Aplysia.sp)

CoMMaNdeR · 08/17/2006, 04:44 AM

Is this invert Reefsafe and it is good to control bad algae like hair algae etc ?

picnic · 08/17/2006, 07:10 AM

Yes its reef safe I have 1 in mine.I have a basket up in the top corner of my tank that gets lots of algae in it and when he goes in there within an hour its all clean.I have alot of algae for him to eat but hes slowly making headway with my conchs and other inverts and a phosphate absorber.I think they are great and it like wheres waldo trying to find it because it blends in so well with the rocks.

Chupakabra-King · 08/17/2006, 07:26 AM

Do these guys eat grape caulerpa ? I have wayyy to much of it and would like to get one to control it if possible . . .

MJAnderson · 08/17/2006, 07:52 AM

Different ones eat different things. I have red/green hair algae and I was told this guy was best:

http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=aplydact

I remember when researching some do focus on caulerpa. Try google and look in wetwebmedia.

CoMMaNdeR · 08/17/2006, 10:44 AM

Does this slug eat really the hair algae or does not touch it ?

NaClH20NMYVEIN · 08/17/2006, 10:52 AM

I have seen them eat hair algae

MJAnderson · 08/17/2006, 10:54 AM

He really eats it. He's not stripping it clean (yet) but will go in and thin some out. I was hoping he would stay in one spot and eat it down to the rock but he seems to prefer the short stuff. I'm going to scrub my rock to get rid of the longer stuff but I'm hoping he'll keep it clear after that.

bradleyj · 08/17/2006, 11:37 AM

I started up a 225g in june and bought live rock from another established tank. Well it sat in an LFS for about a month in garbage cans before my tank was ready and once I put it in my new tank , I had a major outbreak of hair algea. I added 150 snails, 50 hermit crabs and a sea hare.
He really mowed the stuff down. Now a month later, there is absolutely no hare algea left. So I tokk him back for store credit.

This is the sea hare I had.

And now the hair algea is completely gone.

s2k · 08/17/2006, 12:01 PM

I had a seahare before. Pretty good at cleaning up the hair algae. It somehow got sucked into my seio and died. My seio was touching one of the rocks in my tank.

CoMMaNdeR · 08/17/2006, 01:34 PM

Guys, what is the difference between the Sea Hare and the Sea Hare Giant. Both are (Aplysia.sp)

For both of them there are the sizes, I mean Small, Medium and Large, so don't tell me that's Giant is beacuse is the bigger one..

MJAnderson · 08/17/2006, 04:32 PM

Do you have the full latin name? Aplysia is the family. It could just be a large version of a type of sea hare. I didn't find anything under Giant Sea Hare

jdm0012 · 08/17/2006, 07:01 PM

are sea hares difficult to keep?
what if they ink in the tank?

CoMMaNdeR · 08/17/2006, 10:36 PM

MJAnderson no I don't have any latin name. I checked the LFS booklet of what he is going to import and there were 2 types of sea hares both aplysia.sp, but one was Giant.

I think you need to run the carbon 24/7 so if a sea hare releases the ink the carbon will clear everything quickly from the tank.

CoMMaNdeR · 08/22/2006, 04:32 AM

Guys, today I bought the Sea Hare (Aplysia.sp) and put it in the tank. On a book I have read that it doesn't like alot of current, is this true?

In my 180g I have 3 tunze streams, 1 is 6080 and 2 are 6060.
Do you think there is alot of flow for him?

CoMMaNdeR · 08/22/2006, 11:31 AM

So what do you think guys?

MJAnderson · 08/22/2006, 11:41 AM

I know mine likes the shade, but he has no preference on the flow. I've seen him right in front of my maxijet 900

CoMMaNdeR · 08/22/2006, 12:00 PM

Does it spends alot of time attached to the sides of the tank?

I am asking this because when I put mine and even after few hours, most of the time it spends them, attached to the sides of the tank..

and not eating the Hair algae from the rocks like I want.. lol

jmcmahon66 · 08/22/2006, 12:13 PM

When I was battling hair algae, sea hares were the best at cleaning it up while I tackled the root of the problem. My sea hare was big 3"+ and never climbed on the glass. It was fairly nocturnal and slept buried in the sand. Flow was not important, as I have Tunzes as well. Is your sea hare smooth or kinda hairy like the picture from bradleyj? I think the hairy ones rip up the hair algae. HTH

MJAnderson · 08/22/2006, 12:18 PM

Yes, he spent some time on the glass. Mine seemed to like to sleep there, right at the water line for some reason. Relax, nature takes a little longer than we usually like...

CoMMaNdeR · 08/22/2006, 12:21 PM

Yes very true. It spends alot of time nearly the water surface. Mine is Medium size, about 3 inches I think.

MJAnderson did it ate the hair algae from your tank? If yess how long it took ?

flyyyguy · 08/22/2006, 12:37 PM

I just started up a 225 and hae one coming today to help with asmall outbreak before iut gets out of hand....i hope he helps....

phosphates were up in the first week but now at zero so hopefully no more will grow

CoMMaNdeR · 08/22/2006, 01:01 PM

Yes me too that's why I bought him. I am wondering if you can put more then one in a tank?

MJAnderson · 08/22/2006, 01:11 PM

He's been in a week. Making a dent. He's about 3" in my 72g with 110lbs of LR so I'm willing to let him get fat on my algae over time.

CoMMaNdeR · 08/22/2006, 01:15 PM

But it is eating hair algae or not ?

And can you make more then one sea hare in a tank?

flyyyguy · 08/22/2006, 01:21 PM

I didnt mention it....lol i HAVE TWO of them floating at this second. FWIW, i have two people in line to take them when im done with them.....my hair algae is already receding on its own.........im impatient what can i say LOL

08/17/2006, 04:44 AM	#1
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Sea Hare (Aplysia.sp) Is this invert Reefsafe and it is good to control bad algae like hair algae etc ?

08/17/2006, 07:10 AM	#2
picnic Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Surrey,B.C.,Canada Posts: 119	Yes its reef safe I have 1 in mine.I have a basket up in the top corner of my tank that gets lots of algae in it and when he goes in there within an hour its all clean.I have alot of algae for him to eat but hes slowly making headway with my conchs and other inverts and a phosphate absorber.I think they are great and it like wheres waldo trying to find it because it blends in so well with the rocks. __________________ I hate fish that do the Houdini on ya!!! Current Tank Info: 33gal salt,29gal fresh,10 salt

08/17/2006, 07:26 AM	#3
Chupakabra-King Mmmmmm Goats ! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 408	Do these guys eat grape caulerpa ? I have wayyy to much of it and would like to get one to control it if possible . . . __________________ If I get more obsessed with reefkeeping I will be divorced, living in the back of my LFS ! Been keeping fish (salt and fresh) since the 1970s. Started reefing in 1998 . 40 Breeder Club AP24 Club Current Tank Info: AP24 soft coral tank & JBJ Nano 12DX, 40 Breeder

08/17/2006, 10:52 AM	#6
NaClH20NMYVEIN Red Dragons! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 5,897	I have seen them eat hair algae __________________ The planet needs a 50% water change. Current Tank Info: Pacific Ocean

08/17/2006, 11:37 AM	#8
bradleyj Reefkeeping Mag Staff Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Murray, Utah Posts: 3,454	I started up a 225g in june and bought live rock from another established tank. Well it sat in an LFS for about a month in garbage cans before my tank was ready and once I put it in my new tank , I had a major outbreak of hair algea. I added 150 snails, 50 hermit crabs and a sea hare. He really mowed the stuff down. Now a month later, there is absolutely no hare algea left. So I tokk him back for store credit. This is the sea hare I had. And now the hair algea is completely gone. __________________ Murray, Utah 335G reef, 72" Maristar, Deltec AP702, PF601S , 2 Darts 4Vortech MP40's 18,000 Gph Feb, 2012 RC TOTM Current Tank Info: 335g Leemar

08/17/2006, 07:52 AM	#4
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	Different ones eat different things. I have red/green hair algae and I was told this guy was best: http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=aplydact I remember when researching some do focus on caulerpa. Try google and look in wetwebmedia.

08/17/2006, 10:44 AM	#5
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Does this slug eat really the hair algae or does not touch it ?

08/17/2006, 10:54 AM	#7
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	He really eats it. He's not stripping it clean (yet) but will go in and thin some out. I was hoping he would stay in one spot and eat it down to the rock but he seems to prefer the short stuff. I'm going to scrub my rock to get rid of the longer stuff but I'm hoping he'll keep it clear after that.

08/17/2006, 12:01 PM	#9
s2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sgv Posts: 2,520	I had a seahare before. Pretty good at cleaning up the hair algae. It somehow got sucked into my seio and died. My seio was touching one of the rocks in my tank. __________________ #1 Rule: Curse is real... Passion comes and go, but destiny will define your love!!!

08/17/2006, 01:34 PM	#10
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Guys, what is the difference between the Sea Hare and the Sea Hare Giant. Both are (Aplysia.sp) For both of them there are the sizes, I mean Small, Medium and Large, so don't tell me that's Giant is beacuse is the bigger one..

08/17/2006, 04:32 PM	#11
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	Do you have the full latin name? Aplysia is the family. It could just be a large version of a type of sea hare. I didn't find anything under Giant Sea Hare

08/17/2006, 07:01 PM	#12
jdm0012 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 76	are sea hares difficult to keep? what if they ink in the tank?

08/17/2006, 10:36 PM	#13
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	MJAnderson no I don't have any latin name. I checked the LFS booklet of what he is going to import and there were 2 types of sea hares both aplysia.sp, but one was Giant. I think you need to run the carbon 24/7 so if a sea hare releases the ink the carbon will clear everything quickly from the tank.

08/22/2006, 04:32 AM	#14
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Guys, today I bought the Sea Hare (Aplysia.sp) and put it in the tank. On a book I have read that it doesn't like alot of current, is this true? In my 180g I have 3 tunze streams, 1 is 6080 and 2 are 6060. Do you think there is alot of flow for him? Last edited by CoMMaNdeR; 08/22/2006 at 04:52 AM.

08/22/2006, 11:31 AM	#15
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	So what do you think guys?

08/22/2006, 11:41 AM	#16
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	I know mine likes the shade, but he has no preference on the flow. I've seen him right in front of my maxijet 900

08/22/2006, 12:00 PM	#17
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Does it spends alot of time attached to the sides of the tank? I am asking this because when I put mine and even after few hours, most of the time it spends them, attached to the sides of the tank.. and not eating the Hair algae from the rocks like I want.. lol

08/22/2006, 12:13 PM	#18
jmcmahon66 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chicago. Illinois Posts: 439	When I was battling hair algae, sea hares were the best at cleaning it up while I tackled the root of the problem. My sea hare was big 3"+ and never climbed on the glass. It was fairly nocturnal and slept buried in the sand. Flow was not important, as I have Tunzes as well. Is your sea hare smooth or kinda hairy like the picture from bradleyj? I think the hairy ones rip up the hair algae. HTH __________________ I ain't no hula-hoop-eyed, chicken-necked lookin' jive turkey. Current Tank Info: 150g RR Oceanic, 750W 20K MH with 300W 14K MH, Deltec Turbo 1060 skimmer, Tunzes with controller, all types of corals-but mostly SPS and Acans

08/22/2006, 12:18 PM	#19
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	Yes, he spent some time on the glass. Mine seemed to like to sleep there, right at the water line for some reason. Relax, nature takes a little longer than we usually like...

08/22/2006, 12:21 PM	#20
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Yes very true. It spends alot of time nearly the water surface. Mine is Medium size, about 3 inches I think. MJAnderson did it ate the hair algae from your tank? If yess how long it took ?

08/22/2006, 12:37 PM	#21
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	I just started up a 225 and hae one coming today to help with asmall outbreak before iut gets out of hand....i hope he helps.... phosphates were up in the first week but now at zero so hopefully no more will grow __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach

08/22/2006, 01:01 PM	#22
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	Yes me too that's why I bought him. I am wondering if you can put more then one in a tank?

08/22/2006, 01:11 PM	#23
MJAnderson Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: East Bay, CA Posts: 2,633	He's been in a week. Making a dent. He's about 3" in my 72g with 110lbs of LR so I'm willing to let him get fat on my algae over time.

08/22/2006, 01:15 PM	#24
CoMMaNdeR Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 703	But it is eating hair algae or not ? And can you make more then one sea hare in a tank?

08/22/2006, 01:21 PM	#25
flyyyguy King of the white corals Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,239	I didnt mention it....lol i HAVE TWO of them floating at this second. FWIW, i have two people in line to take them when im done with them.....my hair algae is already receding on its own.........im impatient what can i say LOL __________________ I like holding hands, snuggling, and long walks on the beach