A less nervous algae eater instead of tangs?

[mandarin417]

So I have gone through a lot of transitions in my reef tank since setting it up a couple of years ago. I am finding that I am drawn really to fish more than corals. I am fascinated by the captive bred scribbled angels and other on the market.

I have always kept a species of bristle tooth tangs to help with algae control. I haven’t found a tang yet that isn’t jumpy and I think that jumpiness creates nervousness in the whole tank. I do also have a lawnmower blenny and fox face in my tank. They act much less jumpy. My thinking is to just not have tangs in my tank and see if everyone calms down.

Any thoughts on other critters to work on rock algae other than fox face and lawnmowers in what is becoming a more fish than coral tank?

 

[KJ]

Blue tuxedo urchin or long spined

 

[eatbreakfast]

Usually foxfaces are far more jumpy and skittish than tangs.

Urchins and snails will do the trick though.

 

[AdamNC]

Turbo and Trocus snails.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Scribbled rabbitfish tend to be less jumpy than tangs or foxface rabbitfish.