What tang is the best "worker"?

[Fliger]

I'd like to put one or two small tangs in my tank. I'd like for them to be grazers, or rock cleaners as well. I have a little bit of bubble algae, I heard some tangs will eat that - and I don't really have any hair algae, but I still want a tang to make sure none takes root either.

I was thinking of a purple or a chevron. Are there others that "work" hard.

Thanks in advance,

David

 

[Capt_Cully]

Kole tangs are power mowers!

 

[Mark]

The only tang that eats bubble algae, valonia, is a red sea sailfin. Unfortunately, they get pretty big. And even with them, it's a hit or miss whether they will eat it.

Convicts are insane grazers, and are also the least aggressive of the tangs. Scott Michael recommends a 75g, so it would proably be a good candidate for your tank. I have one in a 180, and eats non-stop.

 

[CamBarr]

i second the kole tang great fish

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

All of the bristletooth tangs (kole, chevron, Tomini, ect.) are great grazers, very reef safe and fairly hardy fish, hard to beat in this regard. There are more colorful tangs to be sure but I love this family for great all around fish.

 

[AcroSteve]

The only ones I have experience with would be a chevron 1st, then a purple.

 

[thor32766]

The kole is one of the most underated fish out there. Koles are awesome mowers for sure.

 

[BlueStag]

My purple is always working. I think you just need to target the algae that you have when deciding. I have that nasty brown algae that plates. No Tang will touch it but Naso Tangs. So for me the Naso is the hardest worker. Having had both in the past, I prefer the Kole to the Chevron also.

 

[Amphiprion]

It all depends upon the type of algae. Kole (Ctenochaetus strigosus) will primarily feed upon detritus and diatoms on glass, rocks, and sand. Common yellow tangs are great at eating a variety of small turf species, as well as fleshier algae. Purple tangs are similar, but not quite as active, IME. Red Sea sailfin tangs are often reported to eat Valonia sp. and others, but will not always do so (so be aware of that). It is not surprising that your Naso lituratus ate a brown alga, seeing as how that is their favorite "variety." In fact, they need it to do well in the long term.