Limpets Extraordinary

[Clinton]

Is it just me, or are limpets one of the most underrated amazing addition to a clean up crew? I'm still battling an extreme case of hair algae I thought I had gotten ahead of and these limpets leave a definitive wake of algae destruction in their paths. It also seems like they're growing at an extremely quick rate.
Is this common with these bad boys or am I just out of my mind?

 

[Katrina71]

I love them too. They sure did clear a path when I had algae.

 

[Clinton]

I love them too. They sure did clear a path when I had algae.

I'm thinking in a month if i'm still looking rough i'm adding another 40 Haha

 

[Clinton]

I'm also taking any recommendations for help with hair and bubble algae

 

[Dsnakes]

I’ve got hundreds of them in my breeding tank sump. They are a very cool little crew.

 

[Clinton]

I've got a definite up hill battle

 

[lejeune981]

Rabbit fish / tang/ sea hair an option ?

I've got little limpets bout 1/4 inch diameter and smaller..

Thousands in my existing reef... and a dozen or so in the new build already


Stomalla snails are underrated too in my opinion.. they are in both systems too... and leave a clean streak through film algae..

Those may be the only snails I add to the new build... i hope to find some of the black ones too

 

[Clinton]

I have a fox faced, and a young blue hippo in there, I newly added a pencil urchin, a bunch of hermits, a couple hairy chitons, a sea cucumber, those limpets, a few nerite snails and 100 cerith snails...the tang and hippo don't seem to like the hair.

Rabbit fish / tang/ sea hair an option ?

I've got little limpets bout 1/4 inch diameter and smaller..

Thousands in my existing reef... and a dozen or so in the new build already


Stomalla snails are underrated too in my opinion.. they are in both systems too... and leave a clean streak through film algae..

Those may be the only snails I add to the new build... i hope to find some of the black ones too

 

[Sailingeric]

Now you want to make me watch The Incredible Mr Limpet

 

[Will Milberger]

I have several. Just having to look every day to flip one or two back over.

 

[Clinton]

I have several. Just having to look every day to flip one or two back over.

Better than turbo and nerite snails

 

[lejeune981]

Better than turbo and nerite snails

I dispise my 3 turbo snails in my existing reef.. they always steal the nori from the tangs

 

[norfolkgarden]

I dispise my 3 turbo snails in my existing reef.. they always steal the nori from the tangs

Wow, that is some Gangsta turbos.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Clinton, I know this is an awful difficult suggestion to follow, but have you tried going in and pulling the hair algae out by hand? It can be a very laborious project, but I found the more often I pulled it off the rocks, less of it would grow back. And there was less of it for my algae eaters to go after and finish the job. It took me about a month of pulling algae every 3 or 4 days as it grew back, but eventually it was removed completely to the point that the algae eaters kept the tank clean.

Good luck.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Clinton, I know this is an awful difficult suggestion to follow, but have you tried going in and pulling the hair algae out by hand? It can be a very laborious project, but I found the more often I pulled it off the rocks, less of it would grow back. And there was less of it for my algae eaters to go after and finish the job. It took me about a month of pulling algae every 3 or 4 days as it grew back, but eventually it was removed completely to the point that the algae eaters kept the tank clean.

Good luck.

OMG. I had blocked that part out from my memory!
[emoji23]

But yeah, what he said.

It makes a noticable difference.
Just think of it as cleaning your ATS.
Algae
Turf
Scrubber

Reminds me, I need to talk to Bud and finally get one.

 

[norfolkgarden]

I've got a definite up hill battle

"I have a fox faced, and a young blue hippo in there, I newly added a pencil urchin, a bunch of hermits, a couple hairy chitons, a sea cucumber, those limpets, a few nerite snails and 100 cerith snails...the tang and hippo don't seem to like the hair."

Your picture looks like where I was at a few years ago.
It will get better.
[emoji4]

Thats a lot of snails. Has it made a difference yet?
New pic?

The good news, Wherever you had the worst green hair algae, you should end up with some of the best coralline algae

4 turbos and 3 trochus keep our 75 gallon tank in line.
But they are huge compared to the ceriths.

Would love to hear more about the hairy chittons. They look so cool!

I keep forgetting them when I order from KPAquatics.
(Shameless plug)
[emoji4]

 

[Ron Reefman]

The good news, Wherever you had the worst green hair algae, you should end up with some of the best coralline algae

4 turbos and 3 trochus keep our 75 gallon tank in line.
But they are huge compared to the ceriths.

Would love to hear more about the hairy chittons. They look so cool!

I keep forgetting them when I order from KPAquatics.
(Shameless plug)
[emoji4]

I collect the odd limpet when I find one while snorkeling in the Keys. You almost never see them for sale.

I collect chitons as well, but I almost never see any but the ones that are 'tidal' and like to be at the surface of the water. The 2 I collected years ago actually climbed out of my tank! And I'd buy them from KP Aquatics (good people) but $9 each is kind of steep just to get an algae eater.

 

[dbl]

Interesting timing I stumble on this thread. For the first time, I've noticed some green hair algae forming...maybe I've just been lucky. I implemented the @Ron Reefman method just this afternoon by pulling the few clumps out manually. Maybe adding some Limpets in the near future to handle the rest.

 

[norfolkgarden]

I collect the odd limpet when I find one while snorkeling in the Keys. You almost never see them for sale.

I collect chitons as well, but I almost never see any but the ones that are 'tidal' and like to be at the surface of the water. The 2 I collected years ago actually climbed out of my tank! And I'd buy them from KP Aquatics (good people) but $9 each is kind of steep just to get an algae eater.

Lol, our money cowrie was $12, 6 years ago.
Cheaper than a coral frag and unusual enough I didn't mind the price.

Only downside was I don't want to buy more of what I already have because I want to see how long my inverts live. Wish I bought 3 or 4 at the time.

6 years so far for the various hermits and money cowrie.
2 for the turbos and trochus bought after the tank crash.

 

[Clinton]

Aye, the battle is going slow and tedious. I'm contemplating some more urchins as they seem to really clean their paths. I known I really need to go nuts with water changes. Alas, I may work too many hours to get this tank pretty again. As long as the fish are happy and the parameters are tight since the algae takes it all up.