Jestersix

Hair algae, what inverts should I get??

Klems

Klems

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First time in like 6 years having hair algae on my rocks...bought a nylon brush to scrap some off....but wanted to know which inverts( snails, crabs, etc) to get to tackle this issue.

TIA
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@Invictus was selling a sea hair on bst (if he still has it). That would solve your issue. Just would have to be sure to rehome it once job is done.

Most inverts won't eat it when it gets really long. I think the sea hare would from things I head about them.


*** sorry looks like he sold it recently.
 
Sea Hare is a great option but you have to be ready and able to remove them once the hair algae is gone or they will die.

Turbo snails are the other common option, although they wont eat it when it gets too long.
 
If looking for snails some combination of Turbo, Trochus and Asterina would likely help. I try not to keep too many Turbos since they can get large in size (that means they are doing their job) and my tank has historically gotten to a point where there is little algae on the rocks and I fear the Turbos starving.
 
My pitho crab has been eating bryopsis, I feel like it would probably eat hair algae too. It's pretty fast at it too, when it decides to eat algae. Other times it just eats fish food

They are fun to watch as well, they put sand and things on their heads to "hide", it's pretty entertaining.
 
tribbitt said:
My pitho crab has been eating bryopsis, I feel like it would probably eat hair algae too. It's pretty fast at it too, when it decides to eat algae. Other times it just eats fish food

They are fun to watch as well, they put sand and things on their heads to "hide", it's pretty entertaining.
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You have the big or small claw type?
 
Klems said:
I have one urchin in my 50 gallon.....but I haven't seen him munching on any yet....is 2 too many for a 50 gallon?
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I don't think much will eat established, long, hairy algae. The idea is to keep it managed before it gets to that point, which urchins are very good at doing. You may need to engage in some manual removal if your stuff is getting long and funky. Tangs don't really touch it usually either.
 
Thọ Key said:
I have a blennie and there is no more green hair algae for him to eat! What i got to do?
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I had a lawnmower Blenny that was great at eating algae. Unfortunately once my tank matured there was not much algae for him or the 9 large turbo snails I had to eat. The Blenny passed away and I rehomed the turbo snails :oops:
 
I love urchin and emerald crabs. I have 4-6 urchin in 75g. 2 bigger pincushions and 2-4 small tuxedo. In my experience Pincushions are workhorses while tuxedo get in tighter spots. The emerald can reach into tough spots and into stony corals.

Have never tried pitho or seahair. I imagine I will try pitho if an emerald ever eats a coral or a coral I like. Hasn’t happened yet.

Hungry herbivores will eat the older tougher algae when they run out of their favorite type. Hungry herbivores will also eat nori if you provide them the opportunity.
 
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