fish for thick green hair algae

[snagged by reef]

hey guys,

any fish out there that would rid my tank of thick green hair algae or anthing for that matter? thinking a lawnmower blenny....

[snagged by reef]

bump...antthing guys?

[sasscuba]

Find what is causing it rather than something to eat it. Do you run a phosphate reactor? Use good RO water? I had a lawnmower when I had a bad hair algae bloom. He did not touch it. Got a phosphate reactor and all algae was gone in 3 weeks!

[nemoray]

I have a lawnmower blenny, a dragon sleeper goby (aka banded goby), and a purple tang. All three work hard at eating algae, but water changes and a phosban reactor have really done the trick. My tank is now about four months old and has been through all the normal algae blooms. The last of the green algae is fading quickly, and a few macro algaes have begun to grow.

If you want fish to help with algae control, the three I have are great and I highly recommend them, but I would not purchase fish unless you really want them for the long haul. These three are also reef safe and get along fine. They share the tank with a pair of false percula clowns.

If you do not have one, invest 50 bucks in a reactor and the phosban media. You'll not regret the purchase.

Hope this helps.

[idareefer]

yes it is good to find out what is causing the problem, however I had a bloom a while back when I added some new rock and my water was good, ph, O, NA, O Ca 460, Alk, 10.8, Mg, 1360, so I added a lawnmower and he loved the stuff, also a few more snails and hermits, 3 weeks later it's all gone, now I hope my lawnmower won't starve, good luck!

[ArgonDreams]

I agree with some of what has posted but I don't recommend putting in anything unless you research it and also identify the algae.

The Algae Page w/pics

I personally prefer a Tuxedo Urchin. Mine keeps mine very clean. I also run phosphate removal, RO/DI water and reduce feeding.

[capn_hylinur]

Originally posted by sasscuba
Find what is causing it rather than something to eat it. Do you run a phosphate reactor? Use good RO water? I had a lawnmower when I had a bad hair algae bloom. He did not touch it. Got a phosphate reactor and all algae was gone in 3 weeks!

I agree that you have to go after the source of phosphates---which is usually your feeding technique
feed a little less but more often
rinse all frozen food with r/o water or tank water prior to using.

[donald_202]

snagged by reef" do u have a pic of your tank?

[seapug]

fingerfish, tweezerfish, and toothbrushfish are good for taking out thick clumps. Once you do that you oughta look into what's causing it, as others mentioned.

[steven_dean17]

Phosphate, phosphate, phosphate! Kill the Phosphate monster and all your worries will disappear. It's a matter of opinion as to what will eat each type of algae, but nobody argues with what causes it!

[Salamander]

Originally posted by seapug
fingerfish, tweezerfish, and toothbrushfish

Not that's funny