what fish eats hair algae?

macawmagic · Dec 9, 2008

I just started growing tons of hair algae in my frag tank. just bought a yellow eye kole. hopefully he starts eating. also going to pick up some snails tonight.

what else should I do to get rid of this stuff. I've done 1 waterchange so far. any blenny's eat hair algae?

thanks.

mpoletti · Dec 9, 2008

What is your PO4 and what test kit are you using?

macawmagic · Dec 9, 2008

lol...probably high...and i haven't tested. I don't know what i'm thinking. LOL I can test it...know that its high and then throw in some phosban. LOL

AquaWorldPSC · Dec 9, 2008

Sea Hares Work really good! (but sometimes they knock over stuff)

mpoletti · Dec 9, 2008

AquaWorldPSC said:
Sea Hares Work really good! (but sometimes they knock over stuff)

So does elevated levels of magnesium

Saltysteele · Dec 9, 2008

mexican turbo snails work very well! both for taking care of the algae, and for knocking off anything that is not glued down

Team Aussie · Dec 9, 2008

I second sea hares, or try redlip blennies.

cparka23 · Dec 9, 2008

A lawnmower blenny is one that eats hair algae. I've heard similarly for the ember blenny (maybe it's the same fish as the red lip) but have no experience with one. A sea hare will get it done too.

roshi719 · Dec 9, 2008

I tried everything when I had it. The sea hare is the only thing that actually worked for me.

macawmagic · Dec 9, 2008

yea...but sea hares are soooo big and this is my fragtank...aka no room for a sea hare to walk around unless they walk on the corals. looks like i'll be going to buy a lawnmower blenny. just through in some phosphate remover. and I guess I'll just have to keep hacking at it! LOL

roshi719 · Dec 9, 2008

I have a nano that had horrible hair algae when I set it up. Second week I threw in 10 astrea snails and 10 blue leg hermits and I haven't seen anything but coralline since.

AquaWorldPSC · Dec 9, 2008

Sea Hares sometimes come smaller.

Saltysteele · Dec 9, 2008

i think the hermits are supposed to eat it. unfortunately, they don't read, so not sure if they know it

i believe one is supposed to be better than the other, and i think someone told me the red ones were.

AquaWorldPSC · Dec 9, 2008

For a out of control tank i would use sea hares to take care of it then use the hermits and snails to keep it down. (Get rid of the sea hare since it will get bigger and smother all your coral in a frag tank.)

jules11vb · Dec 10, 2008

red legged hermit crabs b/c they are small and won't knock everything over. Lawnmower blennies are awesome for eating algae. Also, do some research on Algaefix...its suppposed to be reef safe and work well.

Kate · Dec 16, 2008

How much Magnesium?

droblack · Dec 16, 2008

Over 1500ppm. Use Kent Tech M, not sure if it works with other mag additives.

NewBeeMommy1 · Dec 16, 2008

my yellow tang eat it up in like 3 days...and has started on the bubble alge

TyreeUM · Dec 16, 2008

yeah its such a gamble with fish - When I used to set up tanks in Boston we used to use fish that were "suposed to" naturally controll whatever was the problem and several times had to swap out individuals of the same species until we found one that would target the issue, what a pain