Is this hair algae?

[Lylelovett]

Hi all,

As this is my first reef tank I'm learning as I go.

I assume this is hair algae? (see attached)

It's currently just on that rock, but I'm sure will spread if allowed.

Thanks!

 

[Hemmdog]

Hi all,

As this is my first reef tank I'm learning as I go.

I assume this is hair algae? (see attached)

It's currently just on that rock, but I'm sure will spread if allowed.

Thanks!

Yep! Time to grab a few hermits.

 

[Lylelovett]

Awesome! Been waiting for the right time.

A herbit crab over a lawnmower blenny?

 

[Hemmdog]

Awesome! Been waiting for the right time.

A herbit crab over a lawnmower blenny?

Both if you like! If a lawnmower was on your long term stocking ideas then yea might as well!

 

[Lylelovett]

Both if you like! If a lawnmower was on your long term stocking ideas then yea might as well!

Rock on. Thanks!

 

[Evan28395950]

Yep! Time to grab a few hermits.

What type of hermits do you suggest?

 

[Hemmdog]

What type of hermits do you suggest?

Blue leg, they stay small.

 

[Lylelovett]

Blue leg, they stay small.

I have a 150g. Still stick with blue leg or something a little bigger?

 

[Hemmdog]

I have a 150g. Still stick with blue leg or something a little bigger?

Yea stick with blue leg. A big hermit crab can cause issues for coral and even fish. Blue legs are always a safe bet to be purely beneficial.

 

[408Dartfish]

I’d do blue legs also. Don’t be surprised if you get a lawnmower blenny and doesn’t eat your hair algae. Mine won’t but likes film algae. Cool fish tho.

 

[wesman42]

I’d do blue legs also. Don’t be surprised if you get a lawnmower blenny and doesn’t eat your hair algae. Mine won’t but likes film algae. Cool fish tho.

I'll also chime in here ...when I had a lawnmower blenny (my cat at the time nommed him) he'd only eat fine algae such as fine algae. Never touched GHA.

 

[Seaqueen1!]

Yuuup ! go with emeral crabs and astrea snails they work wonders on hair algae don’t do large hermits. blue legs might help a little and lawnmowers don’t eat much hair algae especially if it get really long and plentiful(in my experience anyway)

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

If you need a lawnmower get a Tang

 

[Lylelovett]

If you need a lawnmower get a Tang

Oooh, that could be my fun next fish to get!

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

Oooh, that could be my fun next fish to get!

Just do the fish a favor and try to stay within size limits, example Hippo Tang needs 180 they say but I’d say bigger. But there are a ton of tangs that would keep that rock clean for you. My Powder Blue doesn’t let a single strand of green grow anywhere.

Also do yourself a favor and QT because Tangs are very succeptible to disease.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

@Hemmdog hit it , bit why not red too? Animals got eat right

 

[Frtdrmrose7]

@Hemmdog hit it , bit why not red too? Animals got eat right

I have all types in mine even a Halloween.

 

[Lylelovett]

Thoughts on a pincushion urchin? Supposedly they eat hair algae?

Or non-related to algae, are they fun to have?

 

[DJ H]

Can you comb it?

 

[Lylelovett]

I ended up getting a convict tang and a few hermit crabs. Let me tell ya, this tang is an algae eating machine. Just unbelievable. He is voracious. And he loves mysis shrimp also. Thanks for all your helps!