TO ALL Blenny owners!!!

[b0bby1]

i am currently looking for an algae eating fish gor my 20 gallon. i've read that the bicolor DOES eat hair algae somewhere. is that correct??? dont sugesst gettin a lawnmower, they will outgrow my tank. thanks!

 

[sprinj76]

I would get a tail spot blenny, or at least that's what i am planning on getting for my 20 gallon. They only get about 2-2.5".

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=2229

 

[b0bby1]

lol i was thinkin the same thing, its either the tailspot or the bicolor. do they both eat algae???

 

[m2434]

I have a bicolor, who does eat algae, but this is a small fish, so don't count on miracles. Does supplement GFO and other methods well. Lots of personality though and all around great fish.

 

[Trigeek]

I have a bicolor, too. He'll pick at the rocks and glass, but don't count on him to clean up a hair algae problem. I would be one or two trochus snails. Those things are lawnmowers. Also, my bicolor has turned into a bit of a coral and clam nipper.

 

[KDodds]

IME, the Tailspot nor Bicolor, or any of the Ecsenius spp. Blennies really, are not an effective means of algae eradication/control. Find the source, the source of nutrient introduction/build-up, and you'll resolve the "problem". Problem is in quotes because, in a new tank, you can expect things in terms of species diversity, including nuisance algae, to bloom and die back regularly within the first year or so. FWIW, adding more, and significant at that, bio-load to a tank already experiencing algae/nutrient problems is usually counter-productive, especially in small tanks.

 

[Alarmguy66]

Forget a Canary Blenny. Mine is my favorite fish, but an algae eater he is not. Neither is my bicolor.

 

[b0bby1]

i dont have much of a bioload, i feed once every 2-3 days. i dont weekly 3 gallon water changes, only fish are a sixline and perc

 

[KDodds]

How long has the tank been set up?

 

[pelochas]

how about a coral beauty? my cb constantly eat and eat algea from my tank. its rated for 30 minumum so its probably not a good idea.

 

[Dingo Dog]

IMO, it depends on how much alge you have. If you're talking about GHA, take KDobbs advice and balance your water out. Do water changes and if you're dosing phytoplankton, cut back a bit. Also cutting back on your lights will help. If the alge is really bad, I'd suggest running PhosBan in a reactor.
You'd do good to try and determine why you're having an alge issue. Fish aren't the cure-all for alge issues.

Best of luck to you on this. I've been there and have the T-Shirt. I used the reactor route which took about 3 months to remove the alge but it worked great.