Blennies and Macro tanks

[rivoth]

My Macro tank won't have much in the way of fish, but one fish that I think would mesh well is a micro algae eating blenny. Here are some that I can find and I would like to hear about experiences with them, or any other blennies that eat micro algae. The biggest questions are, will they bother my Macro algae? Will they bother any soft corals that I add to the tank? How well do they control micro algae, and hair algae? What is their personality like?

Black Sailfin Blenny (Atrosalarias fuscus)
Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)
Black Combtooth Blenny (Ecsenius namiyei)
Horseface Blenny (Ophioblennius atlanticus)
Linear Blenny (Ecsenius lineatus)
One Spot Blenny (Crossosalarias macrospilus)
Segmented Sailfin Blenny (Salarias segmentatus)
Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus)
Tail Spot Blenny (Ecsenius stigmatura)
Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas)


Right now I'm leaning a bit towards the Black Sailfin Blenny since it has a reputation for munching on hair algae as well. I'd love to hear from others before making a decision though.

Thanks,
Frank

 

[bluenassarius]

Frank,

My experience w/ blennies are they are safe w/ macroalgae. I haven't had them bother any macros. They eat diatom, and hair algae.

 

[rivoth]

Thanks bluenassarius, which ones have you directly tried, or known the owner of? I know not all Blennies are herbivores and would like to avoid those that cannot live primarily off of the micro algae that my tank produces.

 

[slowECUdiver]

Lawnmower Blenny (Salarias fasciatus)
Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)

i've had both of these. the lawnmower is long gone but was a model citizen in my 75g tank--when i downsized to a 40breeder, it became a bit aggressive and would attack nassarius sp. snails. never bothered my macros though and i grew 3 kinds in the display.

i still have the Bicolor in a 10g macro/zoanthid tank. he occasionally picks on the halimeda sp. macro; but leaves the others alone (mostly reds and a few other greens). a very personable fish and doesn't bother any motile inverts--though he did make a move towards a pom-pom crab i just added to the tank but the crab popped him in the mouth and that was a pretty strong deterrent. eats just about any prepared foods that i feed the tank including my homemade frozen food and even flake foods.

 

[rivoth]

Thanks slowECUdiver. That is very helpful feedback.