what eates hair algea

[new_world_disor]

just wandered if there are any fish/inverts that eat hair algea.... i seem to remember hearing that yellow tangs do. but i may be imagining it.

ad

 

[mattleycrue]

my blue hippo tang cleared my ebntire tank of it in 2 days when i got him. haven't had any hair alge since.

 

[new_world_disor]

blue hippo is a bit big for my tank me thinks

 

[Don-Coraleone]

you could put in a blue spotted dolabella and he would mow it dowm.

 

[tami1024]

Some lawnmower blenny do, mine eats red slime algea. Better than nothing I guess.

 

[mattleycrue]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12277197#post12277197 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by new_world_disor
blue hippo is a bit big for my tank me thinks

Oops, just read your sig. I think you're right. In that case i would second the lawnmower blennie idea

 

[nanO352]

Your tank is abit small. But Kole tangs I have seen eat it before.

 

[sk8rreefgeek]

yesterday there were 2 snails next to each other, both with algae "fros"

my lawnmower took a big chunk out of 1, then the other, then back to the first and so on. it was pretty funny

good sized chunks too. he's a good worker

 

[new_world_disor]

haha. ill see if i cn get hold of a lawnmower blenny.

 

[abulgin]

I think I read somewhere that a Kole Tang will eat hair algae, but not sure on that. That's a nice tang that gets only about 5".

 

[nate1414]

turbo snails and hermits will mow it down..

 

[Jon Evans]

my lawnmower blenny will ignore all the delicious hair algae and risk his life nipping at the power head outputs. I think it has a few screws loose.

 

[kar93]

If you have trouble finding them try Rare Ocean, they are a bit pricey but ive heard great things.
http://www.rareocean.co.uk/rareocean/

 

[downhillbiker]

rainfords gobys are small, gorgeous, and eat the stuff like machines.

 

[SabrinaJean]

If i have a 27G, do U think I can get a rainford goby? Because I have hair algea too and I thought it was Median's hair ...

 

[SabrinaJean]

SO i got 2 Emerald Crabs because they eat hair algae too! My buddy at the LFS told me so, you should get some too

 

[downhillbiker]

sabrinajean: yes a rainford's goby would be perfect for a 27 gallon. they are really small, like 1.5 inches. plus they are sand sifters. good fish, i got some emeralds today, 6 of them, hopefully they will help.

 

[spartacusFL]

I tried everything from sea hares to lawnmower blennies and then I got a yellow tang and it was gone in 2 days.

 

[tybox]

foxface rabbitfish, have not seen a trace of algae of any kind since i addeed one.

 

[Hop]

I can tell you that IMO just about everything is hit or miss. My Fox Face didn't touch the stuff, nor did any of my cleanup crew which consists of emerald crabs, blue legged hermits, zebra legged hermits, yellow legged hermits, scarlet legged hermits, turbo snails, zebra snails, as well as the typical snails.

I feel that anything such as yellow tangs etc, may be a rather large addition that may or may not eat the hair algae, but may contribute to it. Hair algae is a tough tank rival and I've had better luck combating the source (limiting feeding, eliminating waste, reducing nutrient build up and worrying about parameters) over finding something to eat the stuff.

Either way, good luck and keep us posted