firefightered
Active Member
I have a 46gal. bf and a hiar algea problem. I have read that a yellow tang or a foxface will help with hair algea. Which would be better for my tank. I have 4 fish and some softies in my tank now.
Best fish for hair algea?
- Thread starter firefightered
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Tab28
Valuable Member
I do not know if there is any one type of fish that eats hair algae. You may get lucky and get a tang or rabbitfish (foxface) to eat the stuff but it is not a certain by any stretch. I have both of those fish and tried many other type of tangs and blemmies and none will eat the stuff. The best they will do is somewhat keep the glass clean of the new soft algae that grows on your glass daily.
Hyprviperx
Well-Known Member
best thing ive ever seen eat hair algae are turbo snails, i know its not a fish but they are effective
OP
OP
firefightered
Active Member
For some reason I cann't keep turbos alive for more than a couple of months... That is why I'm looking at something diff.
Dashhills
New Member
I am sure that it depends on the type of algae, but I was having an outgrowth of some hairy type algae and Scott Fellman recommended that I put in a Kole tang. I did and in three days later the algae was gone. I can't say that for certain that it would do it for you, but it did for me.
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
Algaefix marine.. that is the best thing I have found for true HA.
That tank is to small for any tang in my opinion, I don't know much about foxfaces...but it is gonna be a shot in the dark whether it eats it or not.
Last edited:
If you want to go the fish route, consider a Lawnmower Blenny. Right size for your tank.
"The Lawnmower Blenny, a.k.a. Algae Blenny, is a very popular algae eating blenny. These fish have a long slender body with a long dorsal fin that extends the length of their body. They are usually tan and white in color and love to perch on rockwork. The Lawnmower is aptly named for its ability to mow down hair algae."
"The Lawnmower Blenny, a.k.a. Algae Blenny, is a very popular algae eating blenny. These fish have a long slender body with a long dorsal fin that extends the length of their body. They are usually tan and white in color and love to perch on rockwork. The Lawnmower is aptly named for its ability to mow down hair algae."
OP
OP
firefightered
Active Member
Thanks everyone!!!!! I'll take another look at my nitrates again. I checked the other day it was 0. I have been getting them from pet-co since my lfs got blown away in April. I figured it was that.
fish&corals
unregistered
hey fire i would also try maybe a sea hair it might eat it .. your tank is way to small for any kind of tang .. also check your phosphates too your rock i dont know how old it is might be leaching out ...
You also have to realize that some fish that will keep the hair algae at bay when it is short will not make a dent in it or even touch it at all when the hair algae is long. Most bristle tooth tangs and fox face will eat hair algae. I have had both including a lawnmower blenny. Like stated above, I think any tang or fox face will quickly outgrow your tank. Hands down the best fish I had for hair algae was a banded gobie. Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Aquariums: Sleeper Banded Goby ,this thing would take huge mouth fulls of hair algae and rip them off the rocks. It is a messy fish and gets sand all over the tank though. You need to address your nutrient problem first and manually remove as much as your can. Several years back I had a huge issue in my 75g and at that time had a purple tang, lawnmower blenny, fox face, banded dragon gobie and about 3 other small fish. All of them together couldn't put a dent in it once it got out of control.
caudill187
Valuable Member
I have a pink-tailed trigger that eats hair algae better than any other fish I have kept....weird I know. I had a starry blenny that was pretty good with the filamentous stuff.
