Fish for sump to eat algae?

[ojonas81]

Have a 20g remote sump with various macro algae in it. Would like to add a fish in there for macro control. What makes this interesting is that the fuge also contains a mantis shrimp so it has to be taken into consideration.

Maybe such a fish does not exist?

 

[hotelbravo]

imo no fish that is a large consumer of macro algae can fit in that size. you would be better to just remove it yourself when your macro is overgrown.

 

[strike2867]

imo no fish that is a large consumer of macro algae can fit in that size. you would be better to just remove it yourself when your macro is overgrown.

+1.

Some species of Sea Hares would eat it, but I don't know how good they'd do with the shrimp.

So let's say the fish eats the macro algae, doesn't it just defeat the purpose since all those nutrients are released back into the water?

 

[ojonas81]

+1.

Some species of Sea Hares would eat it, but I don't know how good they'd do with the shrimp.

So let's say the fish eats the macro algae, doesn't it just defeat the purpose since all those nutrients are released back into the water?

Did not think about that aspect. Yes it would be a zero sum game and not remove anything from the water. This is probably a dead end. Have a feeling that the Sea Hare would be an expensive snack for the shrimp too.

 

[JoeVandal49]

a couple turbo snails, or a long spine urchin would take care of the macro algae, but after a couple days in the sump you wouldn't have anything left.