red legs or blue

[alphaferret]

what would be your choice for hair algae removal

 

[dalbrecht]

I've always used blue. But the spiny bulldozers (AKA urchins) do an amazing job as well.

 

[alphaferret]

ya I do not have alot of coral but I heard they knock down stuff- any probs w/ that

 

[thriceanangel]

Red are better IMO because they don't bother the snails. Blues are like little velociraptors in the tank, see a shell, want a shell, take a shell. Doesn't matter who is living in it at the time.

 

[dalbrecht]

I've had both kinds go after shells. You need to keep the tank stocked with shells for them no matter which kind you get. I also have a nice strain of stromatellas to handle my algae problem instead of snails.

If you go with an urchin. They do knock stuff around a bit. If you have a solid stack it isn't a problem. You just need to secure things until they've had a chance to secure themselves. They also eat a bit of coraline leaving behind bare rock in some places. It's not too big a deal as they wander around the tank but is something to consider. Personally, I like urchins. Think they're interesting and beautiful so I think they're worth it for what they add to the tank. Some of the better behaved urchins like tuxedos are probably more than adequate for your tank.

 

[Stephany]

Snails.

I'm tired of the shell game with crabs. Any kind.

 

[alphaferret]

Ya I like a variety of stuff so I've had all those except the urchin-I see alot of red legs pulled from thier shells never see the culprit- might be the blues

on a side note I have a huge red leg lil smaller than a golf ball

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7423726#post7423726 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Stephany
Snails.

I'm tired of the shell game with crabs. Any kind.

I agree. I'd avoid any kind of hermit crab in a reef aquarium.
FWIW I've had the tiny blue legged hermits live for several years in a reef aquarium, but they can do some (relatively minor) undesirable damage.

 

[gary greguire]

my choices for hair algae removal are mexican turbo snails & a sea hare

check out this article

http://www.janetsreef.com/sea_hare.htm

 

[bdamon]

I have some of the Red Scarlet crabs and they seem ok, so far. I rather like watching them.

 

[Teraphage]

Re: red legs or blue

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7423173#post7423173 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by alphaferret
what would be your choice for hair algae removal

Truth be told, hermit crabs are pretty poor for eating hair algae. They're generalized scavengers, so IME you'll never see a targetted change in any type of nuisance algae from them. 1 mexican turbo snail will perform better on hair algae than 100 hermit crabs ever could. They will help decrease any overpopulation of small snails you have though (ie stomatella)

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, hermits aren't the best at hair algae. Of all the things I've tried, a lettuce nudibranch and cerith snails do the biggest number on hair algae. The lettuce really only likes the green stuff, but the ceriths seem to be very indescriminate grazers. Just drop em down where you want stuff gone and watch swaths cleared in a few hours

 

[bigkev76]

I still have snails, hermits, emerald crabs, and a sea hare if anyone needs them. All eat a good variety of algaes.

 

[Kent E]

I would like some bigkev76, sent you a PM

 

[mark fanara]

Cosidering the size of your tank you may want to try a Rainford's Goby: http://oceanarium.8m.com/rainfordg.jpeg or a Hector's Goby: http://www.petsforum.com/cmas/s_old_photos/p16_l_040701.jpg
They both eat hair algae and stay small and peaceful.

 

[alphaferret]

i have an algae blennie- I have to work on my parameters and maybe need a new ro.di

 

[bigkev76]

Kent E pm returned

 

[mark fanara]

Algae blennies generally eat the green and brown slime algae. Hair algae is different. You arer right though, clean, good water quality is your best option. Good luck.