A small green algae eater

[ckoral]

getting hair algae because of improper care. This gives me an excuse to buy another fish to handle that algae buildup.

I enjoy a yellow tang, but should not get such a big fish for such a small tank. Can you suggest a fish that would handle green hair algae as well as a yellow tang, but is small but hearty like a tang?



30g oceanic
HOB skimmer
softies:
kenya tree
mushroom polyps
zoanthids
random other stuff

stonies:
green monti cap


fish:
false perc
skunk cleaner shrimp

hermits and snails cleanup

 

[breederforlife]

i would go for a lawnmower blenny even though they are not as colourfull as a yellow tang, they do quite a good job.

 

[RayL]

I would suggest figuring out was is causing the hair algae and fixing the issue.

If you want a fish that can help, a bicolour blenny should help. If you want a chromis or damsel, they would also help but they are very aggressive.

 

[ckoral]

@Ray, yeah I know what is causing the algae - poor maintenance schedule. I don't care. I had a much more complex system with more complex corals. This lil 30g jobber is just something to satisfy my reefin desire.

Just want another fish that would be as hearty as my false perc. I go days without feeding often, so it has to be able to survive my feast or famine style feeding.


Lawnmower Blenny - maybe it was the one I had, but in the past I saw that cute little drab color bugger picking at stuff, but not really eating much. That was the candidate that I was thinking of, but wondered if there was something else. Also, would prefer a column dweller to sex up my tank a bit. I just can't stop thinking... .yellow tang (not nice in a 30g & they are so dependent on algae that I would want to feed nori often)

i'm a lazy reefer. I clean it, enjoy it, then forget it for a week and a half.

 

[breederforlife]

Fish are not the only things that will eat algae, you could also get an urchin. They do nice job at cleaning up algae.

 

[faithenfire]

the lawnmower blenny is good for your situation.
they are drab but they have good personality. and they will eat your algae for you.

and find out why....why you have algae

 

[ca1ore]

and find out why....why you have algae

OP appears to know why ....

I'd go with the Benny if it's a fish you want. Hermits, snails, ect. as well. Personally I stay away from urchins - too likely to bulldoze my rockwork.

IME, algae is not just about low nutrients. Sure, a high nutrient tank will grow more than a low one, but GHA will grow in the latter also. Key is to have animals in the display that will eat it before it can gain a foothold.