favorite algae eater?

[sagitariuscbc]

what is your favorite algae eater in your tank?

what is your favorite hair algae eater?

what is your favorite valonia algae eater?

what is your favorite overall algae eater?

please share your first hand experience.

thank you kindly!~)

shawn!~)

 

[tfp]

heya shawn

what is your favorite hair algae eater?
i'd say its those HUGE mexican turbo snails for any algae growing on the rocks. they mow down everything and can upright themselves. downside...they are big and will knock over frags

what is your favorite valonia algae eater?
by far...i've had best results with the yellow and magnificant foxfaces for valonia. my red sea sailfin does pic on it as does my emperor angel? but the rabbits always worked the hardest for me.

what is your favorite overall algae eater? i'd say its a combo for what ur dealing with. for stuff on rocks...tangs and mexican snails. best sandsifter fish for me are my orange spotted gobies. they doesn't lift and spit the sand as high and messy as my blue/yellow jawed goby.

hth,
tim

 

[sagitariuscbc]

thanks tim!~)

keep them coming!

!~)

 

[Freed]

Mine is my Sea Hare. It has almost all of the hair algae gone in my 180 gallon tank now. 95%-99% gone already over just two months or so give or take.

 

[Sheldon337]

I second large Mexican Turbo snails.

 

[duec22]

My favorate overall eater are the Stomeltella snails. Just because they breed...free snails and free coral food...

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I got a couple of Purple urchins from John's the other day and they eat any algae they can get to. Macro, hair, bubble, ... It is really interesting to watch them clear a path. Of course they also eat coralline algae but you can't have everything.

 

[LanDoctor]

Urchins

Urchins

I'm glad the urchins are working out for you.
They are a different breed than the one's usually found at the LFS's.
They have been breeding in my tank for quite some time now, and I take my "extras" to him.
Donovan

 

[Freed]

Here's my Sea Hare and what the tank looks like now after he has eaten almost all the hair algae in about 2-3 months:

 

[Sk8r]

Conchs, for the sand, and hermits for most places else. Plus nerites, margarites, trochus and strombus grazers.

 

[Freed]

You can see the death and destruction the hair algae caused in my 180. I have had the Sea Hare since July of last year but have had him mostly in my 75 gallon but did have it in the 180 several months ago.

 

[sagitariuscbc]

freed- thank you greatly for taking the time to post the pics. and sharing your experience.

shawn!~)

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Re: Urchins

Re: Urchins

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7222240#post7222240 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LanDoctor
I'm glad the urchins are working out for you.
They are a different breed than the one's usually found at the LFS's.
They have been breeding in my tank for quite some time now, and I take my "extras" to him.
Donovan

Ya, he said he got them from someone local that had them breed in his tank. That is awesome, will they breed in my tank (assuming good conditions) or do you do something special to get them to breed? BTW your CaCl2 will be at John's tomorrow after 12:30.

- John

 

[wombat2]

Just a thought....

If you inject any sea urchin with a 5 molar concentration of potassium chloride (KCl) they will immediately begin releasing eggs/sperm. Add it back to the tank, and the others should begin doing the same.

Hope this helps!