What are the best hair algae eating snails to get?

[cvincenti]

My lawn mower blenny won't touch my hair algae. I guess it depends on your luck. He's too interested in the few diatoms I have on the glass between cleanings. Don't think he'll survive this way, but I have a ton of hair algae I was hoping he would help wtih.

 

[ton702]

My lawnmower blenny did a god job when i first got him.. between him and the turbos I have very little to no hair algae at all

 

[groan]

get a sea hare. i have owned 2 and in 2 weeks cleaned out my 55 gallon on 2 separate occasions.
you only need 1.
they work best when the algae is long. i found that the blenny/snails wouldnt touch mine if it's too long.
that will give you time to find the problem. when the hair is gone make sure you either keep it fed by target feeding it nori or sell it.

 

[RainbowTurtle]

i say trochus. i think they do a great job.

I vote trochus. Do everything turbos do and more, plus they can turn themselves back over if they fall and are not large enough to damage coral or knock over frags. I think they are the best. This is an old post, but for future newbies, stay away from venders and suppliers who don't know their stuff. These are the people who will say anything to sell anything. Like Carolina mud snails or whelks instead of nassarius snails because they don't know how to tell them apart or don't care. Carolina muds are black and die quickly because your tank water is too warm for them. Whelks will hunt in groups and attack and kill your fish at night. Although nassarius snails are a type of whelk, the true nassarius, as long as you get the right type, are great for the sand bed. Just be careful. Do your research so YOU know how to tell your snails apart and have a good idea of the behaviors of each type. Great looking snails like bumble bees are carnivores and will also hunt your fish. You gotta know what you are getting and if the snail is compatible with your tank. There are even snails that are dangerous to us, though it isn't likely to find them in the hobby, it's possible. Know your stuff before you buy.

 

[RainbowTurtle]

I have one mexican turbo and he literally mows it over. If i had about 50 of them, it wouldn't be a problem. How can i manually remove it with the rock left in place? How do i get it out of the tank so it doesn't just end up lodging some where else to grow on a new spot? Please explain.

anyone know where to get Mexican turbo snails cheap??

Pull it out by hand, rinse fingers in chlorinated water. Repeat. This way you do not redistribute pores back into your tank. Just keep pulling it out and rinsing your fingers in freshwater. The chlorine kills it. do this until you can't see any more. Than your cleaners will have a much better chance of eradicating the stuff.