Best Tang for Cleanup?

[gusmanda]

If you had to decide on a Tang based on it's ability to keep the tank clean, which would you choose? Which would you automatically eliminate?

 

[mike61289]

Ctenochaetus tangs always did the best job in my tank. Kole tangs have a lot of personality and graze all day long. Never kept the tomini or chevron though but have heard similar things.

 

[gusmanda]

had heard Zebrazoma where particularly good as well, wonder about Acanthurus?

 

[mike61289]

Acanthurus are pretty sensitive. They do a good job of cleaning, but require lots of extra care. Bristletooths are your best bet in my opinion. How big is your tank?

 

[ca1ore]

Depends on what kind of 'clean up' you need. The bristles are detritivores and slime algae eaters, will scrape the glass and rocks almost continuously, but generally won't do much for hair algae. Zebrasoma are hit or miss, in my estimation. I've had some that were very good at controlling hair algae and others that were completely useless. My personal favorite as an all-purpose cleaning machine is the convict, though it can be tricky to acclimate.

 

[anbosu]

Depends on what kind of 'clean up' you need. The bristles are detritivores and slime algae eaters, will scrape the glass and rocks almost continuously, but generally won't do much for hair algae. Zebrasoma are hit or miss, in my estimation. I've had some that were very good at controlling hair algae and others that were completely useless. My personal favorite as an all-purpose cleaning machine is the convict, though it can be tricky to acclimate.

Yes, mine is constantly cleaning rocks and glass.

 

[Typical reefer]

Tang

Tang

I would definitely recommend the yellow eye kole tang

 

[CoralsAddiction]

If I had a big enough tank I'd get a Desjardini due to its ability to eat bubble algae.

 

[scooter31707]

Ctenochaetus tangs always did the best job in my tank. Kole tangs have a lot of personality and graze all day long. Never kept the tomini or chevron though but have heard similar things.

All day long!! My Kole and Tomini (RIP) eat everything, even other fish poop.

 

[Kremis]

If I had a big enough tank I'd get a Desjardini due to its ability to eat bubble algae.

+1
also good for hair algae, I have one in my 180

 

[gusmanda]

Sounds like bristletooths would be the best bet for someone selecting a tang giving "clean-up skills" a big weight during selection process, I guess hair algae can be controlled via water quality more than slime algae. I was surprised Acanthurus wheren't really mentioned, are they not as usefull as the bristletooths or the zebrazomas?

 

[scooter31707]

IME, my Mimic Tang didn't really do nothing with the nuisance algae at all.

 

[ca1ore]

Convict = Acanthurus

My Achilles is also a good hair algae eater, though he needed to be taught.

 

[dallen2233]

If I had a big enough tank I'd get a Desjardini due to its ability to eat bubble algae.

They're great for algae, they'd pick the rocks clean

 

[gusmanda]

Sounds like Desjardini would get +points from a usefulness perspective!

 

[ca1ore]

Trouble with either Sailfin is size. When cramped they can get very aggressive.

 

[gusmanda]

What about the popular powder blue tang? Not good on a cleaning perspective?

 

[Achilles Torben]

For cleaning don't forget Siganus (rabbit fish). Somebody told me Naso elegans do a great job with bubble algae.

Grüße Torben

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[Gweeds]

Bristletooth and a shoal of convicts for the clean up... had them in my last tank and we're great... now got a regal and orange shoulder. The regal is crap... Orange shoulder has a go at eating everything (hair, slime, red turf) but not enough to actually get rid if it... that's still down to good maintenance and nutrient management

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[Dromon]

Than from Tidal Gardens in a recent video mentioned he liked the foxface for utilitarian work in his giant tanks. They do a great job cleaning but without the tang aggression.