Algae eater for a nano?

[Reefer Cat]

My 1.5 year old 28 gallon nanocube has been having some hair algae problems lately, and I was wondering what fish would be good to help get rid of the algae. All water parameters are fine. There are already 2 astrea snails in the tank but they don't do much. My current stock is 1 Liopropoma mowbrayi, 1 Chromis viridis, 1 Opistognathus randalli, 1 Amblygobius phalaena (small), and 1 Amphiprion percula.

 

[Reefer Cat]

Forgot to add that I also have a small Yellow Coris Wrasse.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I hate to be "that guy"... but 6 fish in a 28 is where your algae problem is coming from, adding another fish won't help that.

If you only have 2 astrea snails, I would get a few more, along with some ceriths. If you can find a small urchin (pincushion or tuxedo), that would help, there won't be enough food for an urchin in a 28 long term.

 

[jaybfresh]

Hector's or Rainford's goby will eat algae, but you are probably a couple fish over the edge of keeping a "clean" reef tank.

I'd say remove the coris wrasse at least

 

[Reefer Cat]

I hate to be "that guy"... but 6 fish in a 28 is where your algae problem is coming from, adding another fish won't help that.

I plan on taking out the Goby and/or the Yellow Wrasse soon so that might help with the overstocking...

What's weird is that I used to have 7 fish, but no algae (and the 7th fish was a carnivore so it didn't eat the algae).

Hector's or Rainford's goby will eat algae, but you are probably a couple fish over the edge of keeping a "clean" reef tank.

I'd say remove the coris wrasse at least

I'll look into those gobies when I fix the overstocking. And my tank isn't really a true reef, it's more like a FOWLR with 2 corals.

 

[amutti]

You probably have too many fish . . . but depends on your maintenance regimen. I've kept that many in a 29g without huge issues. I was also doing 15% water changes weekly, being careful with feedings, and running a reactor, protein skimmer and refugium too. All depends.

As for a great algae eater for nano, I like tail spot blennies.

You definitely could use a bigger CUC. Another 10 snails (a mix of cerith, turban, astrea, and 1 or 2 nassarius) wouldn't be overkill.