Hair Algae Eater Suggestions?

[Vegas_ReefMan]

I have a 225 gallon full blown reef with tons of lps and some coral banded shrimp, and tons of blue legs and sand sifting starfish. My fish are: Broomtail Wrasse (8"), Kole Yellow Eye Tang (3"), 2 Zebra Gobies (3"), Hectori Gobi (1 1/5"), 2 pairs of mated neon gobies (1") and a Mandarin Goby (2"). However the Kole Yellow Eye doesnt eat any green algae in the tank that is starting to grown on the rocks. The Kole will not eat seaweed that is placed in the tank. The Hectori Goby sifts the sand and eats off the top but doesnt eat any leafy green algae growing on some of the rocks and corals in the tank. I need one last fish which will handle this problem for me. Please advise, thanks again Reefers!

^_^

 

[dippin61]

my sailfin tang loves the stuff. he eats almost nothing but green algae atm. but i doubt thats an option for you since you already have a KYE tang.

 

[perrl]

my lawnmower blenny does an excellent job on the short stuff. He won't touch it once it get long but that I can remove by hand.

 

[Koralkid]

i have a scopas tang they are great algae eaters but to avoid another tang a foxface is also a great algae eater prob better than the tang they both nibble aglae off the back wall glass in my tank

 

[Shekki]

My scribbled rabbit wiped out an entire tank's worth in two days.

Robb

 

[Monkeyfish]

Rabbitfish - peaceful and voracious algae eaters. Algae blenny may work for you as well. I've also seen emerald crabs (mithrax) eat hair algae. And don't forget a sea hares, though you'll need to cover intakes of filters and powerheads.

 

[Vegas_ReefMan]

Thanks guys, My Kole eye only eats detritus and no green algae, and i would not like to add another tang unless i had to. Due to their ick issues. Which would be better on the green algae, a rabbitfish, blenny or a tang? Thanks guys!

 

[Vegas_ReefMan]

After looking at Rabbitfish at Live Aquaria, I noticed that it says:

Rabbitfish are generally reef-safe if they are well fed. If not, it is possible for them to nip at and consume some species of LPS and soft corals.

I have a 225 gallon full reef full of lps corals! What would you suggest given the statement above? Would something work better on the green algae than a rabbitfish, without the possibility of damaging my LPS corals? Thanks guys!

 

[Monkeyfish]

If you don't want to take a chance (and on second thought I wouldn't either) on the rabbit try the blennie and emerald crabs. If you don't mind screening off the in-takes get sea hares.

 

[Vegas_ReefMan]

My broomtail will eat the crabs... Which blennie would you go with? As the sailfin blenny and algae blennies are rumored to also bother LPS...

 

[petoonia]

Lettuce sea slugs are good. How many snails do you have?

 

[Vegas_ReefMan]

I have about 100 nasarius and super tongan snails and about 50 turbo snails...

 

[Vegas_ReefMan]

Please advise, as I still need to know whether a tang would be a lawnmower blenny in terms of eating hair algae...

 

[petoonia]

I would say go with the lawnmower blenny, a few emerald crabs, and maybe some small hermit crabs. Maybe throw in some astrea snails they're small but they do a good job on algae.

Good Luck!!!

 

[bluerug]

Starry Blenny will do the job in no time.

 

[Angela Short]

True, tangs are the worst for ICK but any fish can carry it in to the tank. Get a tang and QT him first. They chow down on alage!

 

[JStorey]

i have had a foxface rabbit in my reef tank for 6 months and has never touched any of the corals. a very peaceful good looking fish.

 

[Chasmodes]

How about trying a Rainford's goby?

http://www.marinecenter.com/fish/gobies/rainfordsgoby/

Anyone have experience with them?

I don't know if they'd wipe it out but they might keep it cropped down without hurting SPS corals, but they will do well in tanks that have hair algae. Veggie eating blennies (lawnmowers, rock skippers, red lipped, bicolors) are supposed to be reef safe but sometimes they (or at least some individuals) will nip at SPS corals. But then again, any fish could develop a taste for stuff that they aren't supposed to eat...I guess it really depends upon the fish.

 

[Vegas_ReefMan]

I have a hectori which is like a rainford and it does nothing... I am leaning towards a starry blenny... Is there a better hair algae eater out there than a Starry Blenny? Thanks guys!

 

[maro1]

Go with the rabbitish or foxface. You won't be sorry.
It doesn't take much to keep them fed. Get a small one.


Mar