snails that eat brown algae the best?

[nathenvan]

I have brown algea now and then, at different spots in the tank. what is the best brown algea eating snails?

 

[kass03]

Ive found astreas or mexican turbos will eat it.
Mexican turbos get big and knock things over but IMO are the best algae eating snail.
Astreas are ok but Ive always read they sometimes die from falling over and can't right themselves. Ive had some in my nano for a few months and that has'nt been a problem so far.

kass

 

[mleinart]

I've found stomatella varia pretty good for cleaning up brown algae.. they dont seem to eat it until it becomes plentiful, but then one day i'll look and a dozen babies (they multiply nicely) will be finishing a large patch off.

 

[ducati1212]

I had a ton of brown algae and my astreas took it out quick. They are really good at it. One rock I though I might have to take out and scrub is clean enough to eat off now.

Of course now I have hair algae but I'm fighting the good fight

 

[Avi]

Brown "algae" is usually diatoms and not really algae. The diatoms thrive on light, like algae, but need silicates to live. Some diatoms from time to time in the first year or so of a reef is a common issue and not much to be concerned about other than that isn't so nice to look at. But it also could mean that your's won't go away because there is a constant source of silicates being put into the tank. It might be coming from sand substrate, and in that case it most likely ill stop showing up eventually. But it also could be coming in with the water you use for water changes. If you're using tap water, you can test it with a silicate test kit and see if that's it. If it is, then you can switch over to RO/DI water which would be free of silicates. You could also put a phosphate reactor on your sump and use it with Rowaphos which is a good medium that removes silicates as well as phosphates.

 

[NCreefwannabe]

I never had high light, or nitrate isues with my last setup. But i couldnt get rid of all of the diatoms. They would go away and slowly come back.

I had finally got 6 trochus snails. they kept my tank clean of everything.