Tang question

[Rob6311]

Do all tangs eat algae?

 

[kw22]

All tangs need algae in their diet.

Do not expect them to eat nuisance algae.

 

[Rob6311]

So they wouldn't eat hair algae?

 

[Crooked Reef]

Not at all.

 

[ca1ore]

Some of them will certainly eat hair algae. Certain species better than others, though not all individuals will cooperate. I have a GHA problem in my frag tank, and if I put a plug with GHA on it into the main display, my tangs will clear it off in no time.

Yellow and scopas have been the best choices for me for GHA.

 

[drmrp17]

I would look at your nitrate/nitrite levels along with how long your lighting cycle is. When I have had hair algae problems I was running my lights too long.

 

[ahmed_iAM]

Some will* but Crooked is trying to say don't depend on it for algae control. My had a phase where it did and then a phase where it has been ignoring everything that isn't nori, red macroalgae or the algae that grows on this specific rock in my tank which it seems to farm.

 

[kw22]

If you have hair algae,check your phosphates.

Zebrasoma and bristletooth species are best for algae,but they are a hit and miss and will not solve the problem long term.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

The root of the problem is likely overfeeding or using tap water for top offs/water changes.

 

[pyithar]

my kole tang and one spot foxface both eat hair algae.

 

[ca1ore]

IME the best route to defeating algae is a COMBINATION of low nutrient levels together with animals that will eat anything that tries to grow. Heavy feeding per se is OK as long as you have adequate export mechanisms. Rising nitrates and phophates are a sure sign that input/export is out of whack. I have seen plenty of tanks with low measured nutrients that have algae problems, but very few low nutrient tanks with herbivores that have algae problems. Take it for what you will .......

 

[TARACCO]

the two fishes that eat the most nuisance algae is either a yellow tang or foxface (well thats what i had as a success)

 

[project1004]

I have four tangs (yellow, purple, salfin, kole) in120 gallon and they do eat green hair algae along with anything I put in the tank. However, I believe hits hit and miss. Because yellow tang who has been in the tank for the longest don't eat them.

 

[mikeoif08]

My baby yellow tang got rid of my green hair algae.

 

[supervdl]

it really depends on the type of tang and the individual tang. I have bubble algae growing in the overflow but in the display my mag. foxface and the naso clean it up. I recently had hair algae in my main tank despite all my tangs. getting rid of the phosphates took a while but then it disappeared as quickly as it came. I guess the tangs can keep a lit on a certain amount but if it grows too quickly due to high nutrients they can't keep up with it.

 

[AquariumNut]

I could have sworn tangs and Surgeon Fish were Detrivores ( not sure if I spelt that right ) and algae was supplemental . Idk why . Im sure I read that in a textbook somewhere and it stuck with me . I could be wrong

 

[Nanighan]

All my tangs eat any kind of algae in my my tank. I have a kole, hippo, and mata tang.
If eating algae is your primary goal, you need to get a kole tang, as they are absolutley amazing in clearing algae (well at least mine is).