What Creatures Eat Hair Algae?

Reinhold · 03-24-2002, 03:34 PM

My tank disaster seems to have stabilized after daily water changes for 2 weeks. All of my snails are dead, as are several corals and fish. I have been diligent in removing the dead critters as soon as I know they are dead.

All of my previously beautiful, coralline encrusted live rock is now covered with an inch of hair algae.

What creatures will eat this algae? Is there something else I can do to remove the algae? I've tried unsuccessfully to scrape or brush it off individual rocks.

Elmo18 · 03-24-2002, 03:58 PM

I'd suggest some Turbo snails, a Lawnmower blenny, and or abalone.

-ILham

Those turbos should chow those up.

bongobrian · 03-25-2002, 10:20 AM

A lawnmower blenny would have a field day in there! you might also consider some type of tang or a foxface.

stang69 · 03-25-2002, 10:49 AM

Brian beat me to it. Do you know anyone who has a small Kole ya can borrow ehhehe..

Jeff

Atkins · 03-25-2002, 03:20 PM

Hi,

FWIW I heard Diadema urchins work also.

asmith · 03-25-2002, 03:25 PM

I feel for you my friend. We recently went through the same thing. We purchased a spiney urchin for the tank and it does a great job of eating the hair algae. If you get one, make sure you can unload it in the future. Once your hair algae is gone, it will make quick work of your coraline algae.

Andrew

Iron Crab · 03-25-2002, 07:49 PM

My lawn mower did great until it ran out of algae. Then he went downhill fast. Hate to say it but it died on me- first fish I lost in almost 3 years. If you get one I would make sure it will eat other foods first.
I tried every food I could think of. Even had food bounce of his head and it showed no interest. I spent as much on food as the fish costed -trying to get it to eat.
I now use turbos and my foxface. So far this is working.

icemark · 03-29-2002, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stang69
Brian beat me to it. Do you know anyone who has a small Kole ya can borrow ehhehe..
Jeff

actually Kole's don't normally eat algae unless they are starving...

popcorn · 03-29-2002, 11:23 AM

FWIW, our Lawnmover never touched the hair. He did keep the front glass clean, though. We had a yellow tang that mowed it down, though... I think it's just luck as to whether a given fish will eat it or not.

Danielle

SomeHairyOldGuy · 03-30-2002, 11:13 AM

I agree with popcorn "luck". I have 2 lawn mower blennies. One sitts in the hair algea all day ripping it apart. The other just kinda browses around nipping on rocks and what not.
SHOG

mr9iron · 03-30-2002, 04:26 PM

Wow, thats some hair algae!!!!!

I think that we should find out why you have so much and address the problem. If you have excess nutrients added with light this is probably the likely cause of the algae bloom. Heres what I would do, if your not you using ro/di water do it. Also you might want to start skimming heavily if possible. Also you can add some types of macro algae to your tank as they will uptake the nutrients also. You could also add a tuxedo urchin, I hear these little critters really love hair algae. And finally dont expect it to go away over night, it may take quite a while. I wish you luck and keep us updated.

03-24-2002, 03:34 PM	#1
Reinhold Mayor Join Date: May 2001 Location: USA Posts: 941	What Creatures Eat Hair Algae? My tank disaster seems to have stabilized after daily water changes for 2 weeks. All of my snails are dead, as are several corals and fish. I have been diligent in removing the dead critters as soon as I know they are dead. All of my previously beautiful, coralline encrusted live rock is now covered with an inch of hair algae. What creatures will eat this algae? Is there something else I can do to remove the algae? I've tried unsuccessfully to scrape or brush it off individual rocks.

03-25-2002, 10:20 AM	#3
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	A lawnmower blenny would have a field day in there! you might also consider some type of tang or a foxface. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

03-25-2002, 10:49 AM	#4
stang69 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Bremerton, WA; 98310 Posts: 952	Brian beat me to it. Do you know anyone who has a small Kole ya can borrow ehhehe.. Jeff __________________ Hmmmmm what to put here???

03-25-2002, 03:20 PM	#5
Atkins Mayor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Bucks,England Posts: 813	Hi, FWIW I heard Diadema urchins work also. __________________ Cheers Marc Checkout my webpage...... www.Reefland.co.uk www.Ultimatereef.com The best UK BB!

03-25-2002, 03:25 PM	#6
asmith Mayor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Lenexa, KS, USA Posts: 978	I feel for you my friend. We recently went through the same thing. We purchased a spiney urchin for the tank and it does a great job of eating the hair algae. If you get one, make sure you can unload it in the future. Once your hair algae is gone, it will make quick work of your coraline algae. Andrew __________________ Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

03-24-2002, 03:58 PM	#2
Elmo18 Governor Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,514	I'd suggest some Turbo snails, a Lawnmower blenny, and or abalone. -ILham Those turbos should chow those up.

03-25-2002, 07:49 PM	#7
Iron Crab Council Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: N.W. Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 434	My lawn mower did great until it ran out of algae. Then he went downhill fast. Hate to say it but it died on me- first fish I lost in almost 3 years. If you get one I would make sure it will eat other foods first. I tried every food I could think of. Even had food bounce of his head and it showed no interest. I spent as much on food as the fish costed -trying to get it to eat. I now use turbos and my foxface. So far this is working.

03-29-2002, 11:23 AM	#9
popcorn Citizen Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Lenexa, KS USA Posts: 191	FWIW, our Lawnmover never touched the hair. He did keep the front glass clean, though. We had a yellow tang that mowed it down, though... I think it's just luck as to whether a given fish will eat it or not. Danielle

03-30-2002, 11:13 AM	#10
SomeHairyOldGuy Mayor Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: OU Posts: 736	I agree with popcorn "luck". I have 2 lawn mower blennies. One sitts in the hair algea all day ripping it apart. The other just kinda browses around nipping on rocks and what not. SHOG __________________ BOOMER SOONER!!!!

03-30-2002, 04:26 PM	#11
mr9iron Citizen Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Clinton mo Posts: 203	Wow, thats some hair algae!!!!! I think that we should find out why you have so much and address the problem. If you have excess nutrients added with light this is probably the likely cause of the algae bloom. Heres what I would do, if your not you using ro/di water do it. Also you might want to start skimming heavily if possible. Also you can add some types of macro algae to your tank as they will uptake the nutrients also. You could also add a tuxedo urchin, I hear these little critters really love hair algae. And finally dont expect it to go away over night, it may take quite a while. I wish you luck and keep us updated. __________________ Nano Freak. Can you blame me? Vinces Nano

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