Natural algae eater needed

[putemup]

Can you guys give me some ideas about some decent reef safe natural algae eaters besides snails and hermit crabs. Although I have both, they are just not cutting it. Turbo snails are great for the month that they live. When they die because the algae growth can't support them I'm overwhelmed again. My levels are good and my corals are looking great. I just need a helping hand (so to speak) with the algae before things get out of hand.

 

[jc_k]

Sea slugs are really good. But you would have to have A LOT of algae to support one of those. I got a foxface and it cleared it up.

 

[mcphock]

Howdy! Before I can help make some suggestions, can you provide some objective numbers for your "good levels"?

 

[lsu_fishfan]

I recently added a kole tang and he is eating a lot of hair algae

 

[curtismaximus]

Blue leg hermits, tomini tang, GFO

 

[putemup]

I'm adding one small turbo snail and one sea hare this evening. I think that should do the trick. The funny thing is, is that my tank has about 20 plus snails but the only ones that will eat hair algae is the turbo's. Needless to say I have none.

 

[jc_k]

LOL. I am done with tubos. I've one through 15+ of them and they die of unknown causes.

 

[zerokilo]

The right foxface will eat most green algae like hair and bryopsis.

 

[miami dolfan]

zeroKilo;941135 wrote: The right foxface will eat most green algae like hair and bryopsis.

Which is the "right" foxface?

 

[rjrgroup]

You all are going about this wrong...fix the nutrient import problem first, remove accumulated phosphate with adsorption media then worry about what inhabitants you want, not need.
Oh and the turbos are probably not living long because of high temps, just a guess but traditionally they are colder temp creatures.

 

[zerokilo]

I agree with rjrgroup about nutrient removal, phosphate being the most important.

As far as the foxface goes, some will graze and some won't (or do then later stop). Best bet is to find one in the store that's fat and observe it grazing (nipping at rocks). Keep it well fed though because if its hungry enough it might decide to graze on your SPS.

 

[ringo®]

Be prepared to feed nori for the sea hare or re home it. They're like lawnmowers.

 

[heathlindner25]

JC_k;941127 wrote: LOL. I am done with tubos. I've one through 15+ of them and they die of unknown causes.

you know how many nitrates and po4 are introduced into your tank when 15 turbo snails die?
even if its one at a time.

 

[elfloyd]

Freshwater mollies acclimated to saltwater.

 

[jc_k]

heathlindner25;941200 wrote: you know how many nitrates and po4 are introduced into your tank when 15 turbo snails die?
even if its one at a time.

Mhhhmm. I know. I got all of them out but 3 as I think I still have the shells of them. For some reason they would always does in the sandbed. And it didn't really affect my nitrates at all.

 

[heathlindner25]

elFloyd;941203 wrote: Freshwater mollies acclimated to saltwater.

yeah but then you have fresh water mollies in your tank...lol

 

[jc_k]

heathlindner25;941205 wrote: yeah but then you have fresh water mollies in your tank...lol

LOLOL.... ^ that worked well for me. And now the mollies I have are back to freshwater.

 

[motoman]

my yellow tang keeps my entire tank algae free. Best algae control i've ever seen.

 

[kstyle13]

I had hair algea out the wazoo. I got a lawnmower blenny and a coral beauty. ... it's been a little over a week since adding them and I'll be darned it I don't I have single strand. I have nori to feed them now because the blenny lived up to his name. Even went up the glass cleaning it like a freshwater plecostomus.

 

[frag freak]

Coral beauty's are awesome eaters...but I agree w rjr and allen.