Lawnmowers VS Tangs

[kirkwood]

Just wondering what people use for those tiny bits of hair algae that pop up now and again? I've always kept 1 yellow tang, but recently someone told me that a lawmower blenny is much better for minor hair algae. I've never kept a lawnmower just because they are kinda ugly with no color, but i've heard they've got great personalities...

 

[KrisDeitz]

I love mine he is a character. He loves to chase my Net and jump for food

 

[crewdawg1981]

Personally... I've had both and nothing compared to the cleaning power of a tang.

 

[rdnelson]

Sounds like a new reality show on Discovery. In my opinion, the lawnmower is going to win unless the tang lays very flat on the ground. But, if he is lying on the ground most likely he will be flopping around and the lawnmower is going to get him. Ok, I will shut up now.

 

[frantz]

I do love the personality of my lawnmower. He has a set cave he always sits at and his a huge pig on the fish food (considering I'ver read they are sometimes picky). I do see my tangs picking at rocks more though, but if you have space, they still provide a nice show.

 

[cr500_af]

Just my experience, but my lawnmower only worked the thin film on the glass... never rocks or sand. The "bristletooth" tangs (Ctenochaetus spp) have a different mouth structure than the others that supposedly lets them pick the rock cleaner... and they are true omnivores, consuming some fauna out of the sand also. Chevron and Tomini are popular ones.

 

[crewdawg1981]

cr500_af;732893 wrote: Just my experience, but my lawnmower only worked the thin film on the glass... never rocks or sand. The "bristletooth" tangs (Ctenochaetus spp) have a different mouth structure than the others that supposedly lets them pick the rock cleaner... and they are true omnivores, consuming some fauna out of the sand also. Chevron and Tomini are popular ones.

Don't forget the kole tangs (also a bristle-tooth). My kole and yellow tangs keep me algae free.

 

[patrick]

Both do a great job. Lawnmowers are awesome fish. What they lack in color they make up for in character. They are great for smaller tanks that tangs would not do so well in.

 

[jeffmuse]

I have owned both, and I think that while both will attack the algae, however, the Tang is the superior algae eater. Tangs are literally eating machines... they cruise around all day and look for sources of food.