The Best SMALL Fish for Hair Algae Control?

[jshorter]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering what everyone's opinion was on the best SMALL fish for control of hair algae in a reef aquarium? I have a 40 gallon breeder with a 15 gallon refugium/sump (just finally got a nice clump of Chaeto yesterday to help reduce nutrient levels!), 37 pounds of live rock, 60 pounds fine live sand, 7 Tonga Nassarius snails for clean up/sand sifting, and a pair of 'Mocha' Ocellaris.

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance,
Jason

 

[natebedwell06]

I have had good luck with my starry blenny eating hair algae, dont know if they always do but he took care of mine in my tank

 

[jshorter]

I had looked at those as an option. Thanks!

 

[Moonstream]

starry, lawnmower blennies. I've heard of good luck with rainfords and court jester gobies, but I think they tend to starve off after the algae is gone.

 

[rssjsb]

Tailspot blenny.

 

[pmgaudio]

Lawnmower works great, (Unfortunately mine jumped out of the tank last night) And from what I have researched, there should always be just enough algae (Even when you think it is all gone) to keep him eating. I also read they can be made to eat flake or pellets but not wise to do cause the algae will become unappealing to them and grow... Irony
Try one out!

 

[davocean]

Lawmower's get my vote.

 

[UnoZeus]

Lawnmower works great, (Unfortunately mine jumped out of the tank last night) And from what I have researched, there should always be just enough algae (Even when you think it is all gone) to keep him eating. I also read they can be made to eat flake or pellets but not wise to do cause the algae will become unappealing to them and grow... Irony
Try one out!

+1 my lawn lower will not touch my hair algae. Keep the suggestions coming!

 

[jshorter]

Thank you all for the suggestions!

Jason

 

[Angel*Fish]

Do you really need a fish (or any animal) to control it? To me that doesn't seem like a reason to choose a fish when space is so limited.

 

[jshorter]

Do you really need a fish (or any animal) to control it? To me that doesn't seem like a reason to choose a fish when space is so limited.

Space is so limited? Two Ocellaris clowns in a 40 gallon tank doesn't seem like limited space to me...

 

[Angel*Fish]

Space is so limited? Two Ocellaris clowns in a 40 gallon tank doesn't seem like limited space to me...

I mean all of our tanks - even if it's a 240g tank, real estate is precious. I almost went back and clarified that - obviously I should have, sorry.

 

[natebedwell06]

also, my sally lightfoot eats hair algae in case you looking for some invert real estate

 

[Reefer_77]

A court jester goby. He is small colorful and with mow the turf.


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[NYCBOB]

trim the hair algae and get 2 mexican turbo snails.

 

[Angel*Fish]

Mexican turbos are not tropical animals - fyi

 

[elegance coral]

The Sailfin Molly http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...4biZBw&usg=AFQjCNHJ-T1qJ_lhVQzliyKvHnYrwOLhxQ

 

[NYCBOB]

Mexican turbos are not tropical animals - fyi

i keep 5 in my reef. as long as the temp of the tank is below 80, they will do fine. they do eat hair algae once its trimmed.

 

[jshorter]

I have had all types of snails over the past 14 years of reef keeping, and have never had any success using them for algae control...

 

[jshorter]

The Sailfin Molly http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...4biZBw&usg=AFQjCNHJ-T1qJ_lhVQzliyKvHnYrwOLhxQ

I personally think keeping any brackish fish in a marine environment is a horrible idea.

Jason