algae eater for a 24g

[Kigs]

What can I add to a 24g aquapod to control caulerpa? I dropped a few for aesthetic reasons but now it's starting to cover everything.

I don't want to do hermits or emeralds, I rather do a fish. 24g meaning no tangs or algae blenny.

These are my current inhabitants:
2 perculas
1 diamond goby
1 scooter blenny
1 chromis
1 sexy shrimp
5 nassarius
5 turbos

thanks in advance,

 

[the_anti_honda]

You already have too many fish..

Use your fingers..

 

[SMS76]

How about tuxedo urchin?

 

[drummereef]

I agree, manual removal is probably best here. I never see any posts, even in large tanks, about caulerpa eating fish.

 

[Kigs]

I don't have too many fish. Everything's under 2'' except the diamond. It's a well balanced ecosystem that's thriving.

I had an urchin way back but it would just knock over everything. Maybe a juvenile algae blenny?

Picking them off worked in the beginning but now they are just everywhere, wrapped around in every crevices of LR. ;\

 

[Jordan55]

I also think you're about maxed out on fish. If you mean lawnmower blenny when you say "algae blenny" then I don't think it will work. they get like 5 inches.

Not to mention, most of your fish now can reach lengths of 3+ inches. So you may think your tank is fine, but down the road in a few months.... everything starts getting big.

Try and urchin, emeralds, sea hare, or some type of other non fish animal.

 

[BCreefmaker]

uh isnt it a possiblity that all that extra caulerpa growth is caused by the high amount of fish you have? cuz if your water nutirnets are under control i thought it really didnt grow that fast?

 

[Kigs]

it could be the 70w hqi?

 

[jazzmanb]

5 fish in 24 gallon is a- ok...im new to reefs, but ive been into saltwater fish for awile...your bioload well be a bit on the high side, but a 10% water change a week will suffice...check your parameters once-twice a week...i know you mentioned you didnt want an emerald crab, but they are amazing at eating most bad algae[hair etc.]...there probably the most effective small invert...at least in my experiece...on a side note i used to have a 20 long with eight fish...and guess what? all the fish thrived,until of course i got lazy, and didnt keep up on my end of the bargain..so if you keep your passion for the hobby up, you could keep more fish in a tank than you think....its best to get bottom dwellers,mid dwellers and top swimmers...to keep fish happy and non territorial....brandon

 

[eternal880]

Hi all,

Me too having the same problem as my reef tank is full of red hairy alage on the sands and glass.

What can I do too to remove them using fishes?

My tank is 46G with soft corals and clownfishes 3X only

 

[waterfaller1]

Caulerpa will continue to grow, and about the only thing I've ever seen eat it is sailfins and possibly a foxface. Neither belong in this tank obviously. So manual removal may be your only choice. Take each rock out, scrub them or use tweezers to pull all of it off or it will grow back. If you allow it to grow unchecked, it could even go sexual and crash your tank. Good luck.

 

[fras]

imho there isn't a nano sized fish that will seruiously help with algea. I have a blenny and love it, but it has made virtually no overall difference to any algea issues I've had.

I have read of large tangs eating caulerpa but obviously that's not suitable here. I agree with the others, use your fingers and most importantly get control of the excess nutrients causing the growth. If you do regular water changes, skim and run phosphate media there's no reason you should have any algea problems.

 

[Kigs]

should've stuck with chaeto what a pain :lol: