hair-algae-eating fish

[dnjan]

My system must have been iron-limited, because when I started adding iron to stimulate macro growth in the sump, it also stimulated hair-algae growtih in the main tank.

So, time for an algae predator. I would like to know what people's experiences with various hair-algae-eating fish have been, including whether or not the fish would take other food when the hair algae was wiped out.

 

[cvp7900]

It all depends on the size of your tank, but Tangs and Lawnmower Blennies worked great for me.

 

[dnjan]

How are the lawnmower blennies after the hair algae is gone? Do they readily take to flake?

 

[cvp7900]

sometimes, but if they don't get some nori from the LFS and they love that.

 

[cvp7900]

If you do decide to get the Nori, you are going to have to get a suction cup plastic clip also from LFS to clip the Nori, otherwise it will breakup and be all over your tank.

 

[dnjan]

I normally feed nori attached to a small plexiglas cube, suspended in the water. I didn't know that lawnmower blennies would eat nori, though.

thanks!

 

[loohunter]

rabbitfish of any type are cool as well

 

[btuck]

I always use the nori for sushi from the grocery store...it's the same stuff as in the LFS and you get twice as much for half the price.

 

[cvp7900]

I was told that it was asian lettuce, so yes I would say to get it if you can find it cheaper.

 

[Krish]

My yellow tank is a good landscaper I think?(LOL) Well, he picks on the rocks all day, never had hair algae in my tank except for this one rock that my Tunze blows on so I moved the Tunze and he cleaned it up for me. I put the tunze back because it was the best spot and the hair started to slightly come back, so I just move it every once and a while and let him clean it up for me. He aslo loves Formula flakes (every one) and nori

 

[MarineTeng]

yellow tang did for me, though he stopped after i started him on nori and this fattened him up well, looked a little skinny on my algae only, he only left a little hair algae after i started the nori though, but now he's gone

 

[cvp7900]

Don,

what size tank you have?

 

[dnjan]

It is a hundred-gallon. I am leaning towards the lawnmower blennie. Those tang-turds are huge!

 

[cvp7900]

Good choice, but your tank would be big enough for a tang.

Crissy