best thing to eat hair algae ?

Ginzo · #1 10/17/2007, 12:24 PM

I have around 40-50 astrea snails in my tank (120g) and they have done a wonderfull job of eating almost all of the hair algae on my barebottom tank. But they don't seem to want to attack the hair algae on my liverock ? What could I add in my tank, that would eat up all the hair algae on my rock ?

TitusvileSurfer · #2 10/17/2007, 01:17 PM

Hermit crabs and tangs might clean it up a little bit. Lawnmower blennys and sea urchins work well also.

SUPERHERO2943 · #3 10/17/2007, 01:19 PM

Lawnmower blennies are awsome, sailfin tangs, kole tang, hermits.....

scubajsm · #4 10/17/2007, 01:41 PM

Foxface is really good too.

Ginzo · #5 10/17/2007, 01:44 PM

Can I keep a Lawnmower blennies if my tank is a bb (barebottom) ?

newb · #6 10/17/2007, 02:03 PM

my lawnmower always hung out in my rock work, never really saw him on the sand. he will be fine just make sure you have some sort of top.

thor32766 · #7 10/17/2007, 02:45 PM

yeah he will be fine in a BB.

Ginzo · #8 10/17/2007, 02:49 PM

some sort of top ?? what do you mean ?

Quote:

Originally posted by newb
my lawnmower always hung out in my rock work, never really saw him on the sand. he will be fine just make sure you have some sort of top.

barrysalt · #9 10/17/2007, 02:52 PM

dI'm really surprised no one has mentioned the hair-eater specialist--SeaHares. They are efficient, climb everywhere, and are voracious eaters of all types of algaes. I put one in my 65 gal tank, all hair algae gone in a few days!

jeffjets · #10 10/17/2007, 07:36 PM

I put 2 turbo snails in my 40 gallon tank a couple months back and they ate it all in about a week and have kept it nice and clean since. They are another alternative.

Mavrk · #11 10/17/2007, 07:47 PM

The best hair algae eater has to be a phosban reactor

Quote:

Originally posted by barrysalt
dI'm really surprised no one has mentioned the hair-eater specialist--SeaHares. They are efficient, climb everywhere, and are voracious eaters of all types of algaes. I put one in my 65 gal tank, all hair algae gone in a few days!

I think that is because they are too good at what they do. Don't they tend to starve to death in most tanks?

uscharalph · #12 10/17/2007, 07:49 PM

My LFS recommends an urchin, but I'm not sure I want my corals rearranged by it.

shelbiesdaddy · #13 10/17/2007, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mavrk
The best hair algae eater has to be a phosban reactor

I think that is because they are too good at what they do. Don't they tend to starve to death in most tanks?

I feed mine a sheet of Seaweed Salad every couple of days and he is doing just fine. Not sure everyone wants to go though that much trouble though. Plus they are very clumsy and will knock things down.

HDAlien · #14 10/18/2007, 08:42 AM

Tangs are no guarantee, nor is a foxface, I have: kole tang, sailfin, and a foxface, and persistent hair algae....

Alaska_Phil · #15 10/18/2007, 11:52 AM

My lawnmower blennie keeps the couple rocks around his favorite perch spotless, does nothing for the rest of the tank.

My Yellow Tang will starve before touching hair algae.

Snails and hermits eat a little, but will go after any other algae present first.

I finally got new test kits and determined my phosphate was over 0.5ppm. Have a phosban reactor and media on order now.

Phil

davidryder · #16 10/18/2007, 12:10 PM

I have heard phosban reactors do a great job... my kole tang though keeps my rocks spotless. But like mentioned nothing is a guarantee and may end up fixing one problem and causing another.

luke33 · #17 10/18/2007, 12:20 PM

I wouldn't suggest the hermits with that many snails. You'll be swapin snails for hermits eventually. LM Blenny's are awesome as long as you get a good and healthy one.

scubajsm · #18 10/18/2007, 06:46 PM

My Foxface will even eat bubble algae, so I guess I'm lucky. I do have to feed him nori everyother day to keep him satisfied, but other than that he's my little blessing!!

demonsp · #19 10/18/2007, 06:54 PM

Long spine urchine will work great but can bother coral.
After i removed a long spine for that reason the green hair aglea came in fast . 1 conge snail took care of it fast. I love this guy.
Also low flow can help with the growth.

ReefGirlSara · #20 10/18/2007, 07:37 PM

How much should I pay for a phosban reactor? Is getting rid of algea/reducing phosphates all they are used for?

Alaska_Phil · #21 10/18/2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefGirlSara
How much should I pay for a phosban reactor? Is getting rid of algea/reducing phosphates all they are used for?

I just ordered mine from Marine Depot, they have a combo with the Phosban reactor and 150g of phosban for $46.99. I also ordered a minijet 606 powerhead to supply it for $16.49.

Phil

Mavrk · #22 10/18/2007, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefGirlSara
How much should I pay for a phosban reactor? Is getting rid of algea/reducing phosphates all they are used for?

they are about 35 bucks. check drs foster and smith as well as marine depot. they usually have good deals. the combo deal at md is a pretty good start. i ordered mine from f&s because i was getting some other stuff they had on sale.

get the TLF 150, some 1/2 inch tubing, and a minijet 404 or 606

GatorWPB · #23 10/18/2007, 10:22 PM

I just bought one from my lfs at a discount and it has made a difference in the algae in my 65 in just 4 days. Ive had to clean the glass of the tank less. I use a Rio 150 pump with it.

Ginzo · #24 10/24/2007, 02:17 PM

Well good news ! My 50 astrea snails have cleaned-up quite well my tank of all the hair algae on the bottom of my tank.

Also, I added a bag of RowaPhos to help the algae fight ! The only remaining hair algae is on my rocks. But it's getting slowly removed by the snails..

The fight is still raging..but almost over

Alaska_Phil · #25 10/24/2007, 02:50 PM

LFS wanted $135 for a Kent phosphate reactor!

Phil