which fish best to clear algae?

[hwcheong]

Please advise which type of fish is the best to clear algae and hot harmful to other livestock?

Thanks

[ah^siao]

algae benny?

[lightningstrike]

i agree with ah siao....... fish wise......

[chrislwp]

this fellow.

[lightningstrike]

that fella is the infamous algae blenny. alternatively, u can try using a hawaiian yellow eye kole tang. but that will cost about 5 to 7 times as much as a algae blenny.

IMHO, the best solution is to use a used phone card or expired credit card to scrap off the algae on ur tank panel....... at least, that's what Vinoth and i r doing.

[chrislwp]

Card is meant for flat surface. You can't scrap those on LR right.

[lightningstrike]

algae that grows on rocks r normally purple coraline algae. every one wants it dun they? who wanna get rid of them. if u get green, brown or red hairy algae, then good luck...... diatoms and red slime.

[andysho]

Get RowaPhos

a bit exp $$$ but very good

[lightningstrike]

i m using rowaphos.... but more or less, u will still hv algae problem.

[arcanehacker]

rowaphos is the best if you dun mind spending.. fish wise not many.. algae blenny is one of the commonly known ones but depends on the type of algae..

snails do a good job too .. but they leave marks all over the tank walls.

[andysho]

i used to keep this algae blenny

it chew my star polyps unitl botak @#@@

[Chris]

Best way to control algae is still rowa. Fish cannot eat away as fast as they grow if phospate and silicate is not controlled. For hair algae, try emarald crab.

[lightningstrike]

IMO, phosphate is not the only contrbuting factor to algae growth. high nitrate is oso another contrbuting factor, lights which encourages photosynthesis is also another factor to consider.

[arcanehacker]

there are also cheaper versions like contraphos or silicarbon (still waiting for FuEl's review on it ).

[hwcheong]

mine one is the green hairy type. Any solution?

And anyone have picture of emarald crab?

Thanks in advance

[AlfaRomeo]

Its a combination of things that you have to look out for. Get your nitrates very low, phospate and silicate too. Make sure your top-up water does not contain any of there.. dunt overfeed. Get an algae blenny to help consume the algae that grows. Emerald crabs would be good too but quite risky as its a crab....

Rowaphos does wonders for phoapate and silicate levels in your tank.

Always remember that a multi-prong approach is always best. better not to rely on only 1 method to control

I personally has a bit of hair algae in my tank but sumthing seems to be working with tha above approache I outlined. Hair algae is retreating fast..

[Marineman]

mine one is the green hairy type. Any solution?

And anyone have picture of emarald crab?

Thanks in advance

Hair algae is very difficult to control, like cancer, it spreads and if you don't scrub it very clean, it will grow again. Fishes does not like to eat this type of algae. If necessary, you need to change the LR or have it scrub very clean with a metal brush and whenever you see a tiny outbreak, take the piece of rock out and have it scrub. If you don't treat it early it will be very tough to control.

I need to change 30% of my LR because of this hair algae (initial cleaning was not thorough) and it kills your corals as well by growing over it.

Better reduce feeding, keep nitrates under control and don't add unnecessary addictives which can be the main cause of algae growth.

[hwcheong]

Mine one is only little portion, but the color is obvious. at the mean time the the coralline algae is growing quite well too. Does sunshine help in growth of hairy algae also? As my tank is near to windows but no direct sunshine to it.

[Chris]

ML still has emerald crab

[arcanehacker]

Mine one is only little portion, but the color is obvious. at the mean time the the coralline algae is growing quite well too. Does sunshine help in growth of hairy algae also? As my tank is near to windows but no direct sunshine to it.

yes.. dun need direct.. even if its thru tinted window, algae will bloom.. thats what happened to my tank last time.

[ben]

This blenny is call Sailfin algae blenny. It does clear algae on ur LR but not diatoms. It is not that hardworking but it very friendly to all the smaller fish mates. He even let me touch and catch hold of him! H even try to bite me, thinking can eat, LOL. Its not pain but shocked me when first few times when he bite. BTW he is very busybody type, same as my humbug, scooter blenny and red scooter. evrytime i goes to near the mirror, they will come over and see what am i doing. or what am i searching, LOL

[hwcheong]

Will the blenny destroy the coralline algae?

[ervine]

Huh my blenny occassionally gets into a small wrestle with my false clown... eats my flake food... hides from me most of the time but seldom do I see it chowing down on any algae

[Marineman]

Does sunshine help in growth of hairy algae also? As my tank is near to windows but no direct sunshine to it.

If you were to set up another tank in the future, kepp it away from heat (window) as you do not wanr your chiller to work overtime and if you don't have a chiller, you do not want the water temperature to fluctuate too much. Blenny does not eat coraline algae, not that i am aware.

[Michael Young]

Like what I always advocate; control the problem at its source:

1. Deionizer: gives you pure water.

2. Efficient water flow: prevents detritus from accumulating on your sand bed, LR etc which will leach organic phosphate slowly, which will be very hard to detect by conventional PO4 test kits.

3. Don't over feed: less waste = less nitrate/phosphate

4. Don't dose too many things: because you really don't know what you're adding to your tank.

Oh and to answer your original question, I prefer the Kole Tang. It'll eat your hair algae most of the time.