Zoa frags, hair algae, coral rx.

[Zoalander]

So at a frag swap I bought a bunch of frags and several of them had hair algae growing in between the polyps. I've read that coral RX does kill hair algae but I wanted to see if anyone has had luck with it. I may also try removing it physically. All the zoas look great and are open but I just hate hair algae.

 

[coralsfriend]

You don't have any tangs or emerald crabs? Lawnmower blenny would work also. What do the zoa's look like?

 

[coralsfriend]

Double post...

 

[SIR PATRICK]

I have tried this....and meant to post my findings, so far....oops!

As I have only tried it once, I cant say it does, or will, or doesnt, or wont. It does help though, for sure. There are benefits- and you will see results. Just not complete 100%- every time.

Give it a try, and post your findings here. I will also.

 

[Zoalander]

I do have an lawnmower blenny but just got him 2 days ago. I'm so scared to put in an emerald crab, I've heard some have ate zoas but others have had no problems.

 

[mallorieGgator]

Lawnmower blennies don't really eat the hair algae. They just kind of pick it. Don't add an emerald crab. I have watched the ones I had in my tank eat polyps as well as chalices. I would pick it out and then do a dip in revive. In my experience revive kills the algae making it easier for you to remove. If you don't remove it though it can grow back from the base of the algae.

 

[RokleM]

Red scarlett crabs are about as reef safe as they get IMO. They're good at picking in between polyps without damaging anything.

 

[ParanoidObseshn]

I was weary about getting an emerald crab as well, but after multiple times of having the algae grow back after picking it off I caved and bought a real small one. Thinking the smaller wouldnt be as risky. After a few days the frags that kept having the algae grow back were cleaned off. I recently got another frag that had hair algae on it and inbetween the polyps. After 5 minutes of being in the tank the emerald had already picked it clean.

 

[Jarred1]

I have an emerald crab in both of my tanks and I have never seen them pick at any of my zoas. They have clean the frags of any algae for me and never harmed a single polyp.

 

[MAVX]

would emerald crabs be ok with cleaners, conch and hermits?

 

[Zoalander]

Emerald crab it is!

 

[gh0st]

Just stick with smaller Emerald Crabs.

They don't seem as likely to go feral and eat polyps unless they are pretty large to start with.

 

[DanRhomberg]

Just stick with smaller Emerald Crabs.

They don't seem as likely to go feral and eat polyps unless they are pretty large to start with.

+1^^^

I once tried an emerald for bubble algae......big 1......mistake!!! lol

all he did was eat my zoas and diddnt touch the bubble algae!

here he is dead......crawled to the top like King Kong and died right there...

 

[j.p. harrington]

ive got about 8 emeralds in my 75 gallon. and have never seen them harm any of my corals.

and my tank is mainly dominated by zoas

 

[nano51]

red scarlett crabs are about as reef safe as they get imo. They're good at picking in between polyps without damaging anything.

+1

 

[Scopus Tang]

I've had great luck battling hair algae with a 50/50 mix of H2O2 and salt water. Use the standard 3% solution commonly available and dip frags for 4 minutes, rinse in tank water and return to tank.