Who is better: YT or snails

[SMS76]

For my next 90g tank, making a fish list and wondering, who might be better at keeping tank algae free, Yellow Tang or lots of snails?

In your experience, have you had more success keeping tank algae free with yellow tang or with lots of snails. I am trying to keep this tank with low bio-load so i prefer not to have any big fish.

Also does yellow tang eat hair algae? What other algae do you think yellow tang will eat? Do snails do good job with eating hair algae or no?

I will have orange spotted blenny who will also help to keep algae down.

What do you think? Should i get Yellow Tang or should i get bunch of snails and also what kind?

 

[ChickenCannoneer]

Have you considerd urchins? They do wonders in terms of algea. Just a thought.

 

[Salty Brother]

why not get both? Lots of people have a yellow tang and snails, there are some places snails cant get that a tank can, visa-versa.

 

[SMS76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8065102#post8065102 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Salty Brother
why not get both? Lots of people have a yellow tang and snails, there are some places snails cant get that a tank can, visa-versa.

I am thinking about getting small fish for low bioload as this tank will be skimmerless. I think i can have yellow tang but prefer not to have it if snails can get the job done but not sure if they will be enough or not.

 

[graveyardworm]

They each have their own place and purpose on the reef and one cant replace the other. Too many snails and they end up starving until a balance is reached.

 

[SMS76]

^^^^

 

[SMS76]

^^^^

 

[SMS76]

^^^^

 

[SMS76]

^^^^

 

[RichConley]

I second the first guy. Nothing. And I mean NOTHING comes close to what an urchin will do.

 

[SMS76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081517#post8081517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I second the first guy. Nothing. And I mean NOTHING comes close to what an urchin will do.

-> Is there certain type of urchin do you recommend?
-> What type of algaes do they eat?
-> Are there any cons for having urchin?
-> Are they reefsafe?
-> Do they bother any fish/inverts in the tank?

Sorry no experience with urchin, any info would be helpful.

 

[RBomm]

IMO turbo snails are great(I have never had urchins, so I can't compare) but 12 turbos cleaned 200 pounds of LR and glass covered in brown algae bloom within 2 weeks.

 

[rjwilson37]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081517#post8081517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I second the first guy. Nothing. And I mean NOTHING comes close to what an urchin will do.

I think a few turbo snails will do a great job, I don't think you need a lot of snails, just the right kind of snails. I just have one turbo in my 24g Aquapod and I never see any algae for the most part.

An urchin can probably be introduced later, but not to early, because they will take out all of your coraline algae before it has a chance to get a good start.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8081517#post8081517 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
I second the first guy. Nothing. And I mean NOTHING comes close to what an urchin will do.

3rd that.

Get a type labeled pincushion, tuxedo, rock-boring, or short spine.

 

[Holmie_D_Klown]

I'd go with a Diadema (long-spine) urchin and snails. I would not add any fish just for the reason of adding to your clean-up crew. Not necessary when you can get the job done with a much smaller bio load.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I would not go with a longspine unless you have a 180 gallon plus tank. They get huge fast. They are the coolest urchins readily available though...

 

[affan]

Yellow Tangs are much more aesthetically pleasing :lol:

 

[SDguy]

IME, snails eat mostly micro. Tangs will eat micro and macro too. Urchins will scrape rock down to the white limestone skeleton, eating micro, macro, coralline...

Tough to pick one since they provide different services.

 

[nathan_unsane]

if you like white rocks go with an urchin...

i took mine back to the lfs for credit... and got a yellow tang which had black ich... (always somthing)

i don' t have a suggestion on what type of animal to use... yellow tang kept all the hair algae clean, but i keep other plants in my tank... so those were also eaten...

snails are the safest easiest... if you can get the right snails... so far ive had no luck...