What is the best bubble/hair algea eater?

[gadawg]

Just wondering what you guys thought on what the best bubble/hair algea eater is. Thanks

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Ummmm, Emerald crabs do a bang up job... Astra snails have been munching down in my tank as well... As far as fish, my Yellow tang have a taste for hair like you would not believe.

 

[vettesarebest]

Emerald crab. But I now do not trust them because I woke one morning and found him eating my maxima clam. He wasn't just eating things off the shell he was eating the actual clam.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

True, I do not keep clams so they have never messed with anything they were not suppost to.

 

[frank]

honestly, i've found the easiest thing is just gently pluck them bubble algae off it's perch and flush it... my emerald crabs just ignored it...

 

[gadawg]

O.K. Would a salfin tang fit in a 29 gallon tank.

 

[vettesarebest]

Thats so mean. A full grown oscar and a pacu in a 29! How the heck can they move?

 

[fishwhisperer]

Yes, anything is possible but just not right. Why not get to the root of what is causing your bubble and hair algae? Are you using RO/DI water? What is your phosphate level. It may be better to buy a phosphate reactor.

 

[vettesarebest]

Yes before buying critters to control it find out why this is happening.

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Maroons15 wrote: Yes before buying critters to control it find out why this is happening.

Good point. How long has your tank been set up? Do you have a stocked fuge? What is your NO4 and PO4 readings?

I forgot to meanton a Sally Lightfoot crab to take care of hair algae. That thing goes to town on it.

 

[vettesarebest]

Xyzpdq0121 wrote: Good point. How long has your tank been set up? Do you have a stocked fuge? What is your NO4 and PO4 readings?

I forgot to meanton a Sally Lightfoot crab to take care of hair algae. That thing goes to town on it.

Yeah sally's LOVE it. They eat much faster than the emerald crabs thats for sure. They also won't knock as many things over. However I don't believe they eat Bubble algae.

 

[george]

Maroons15 wrote: Emerald crab. But I now do not trust them because I woke one morning and found him eating my maxima clam. He wasn't just eating things off the shell he was eating the actual clam.

I have had an emerald do this as well in an old tank. If you have any precious clams, think carefully before you put a crab in the tank. Most crabs are opportunistic feeders and will go after tastier easy prey like clams, especially if the selection of algae withers. Once one is in your tank, it can be a pain to remove it.

 

[mojo]

GaDawg wrote: O.K. Would a salfin tang fit in a 29 gallon tank.

Absolutely not... you'd be doing this fish (or any tang) a disservice by putting it in a tank this small. Tangs swim miles per day in the wild - to house it in 29 gallons would be plain cruel.

 

[cameron]

Check out this article. It does a great job of explaining the difficulty in dealing with bubble algae