Clean up crew

[kreblak]

All of my turbo snails have died now, leaving me with very little in the way of glass cleaning. My scarlett hermits are fine. I have a cleaner shrimp also. My question is, what can I get to really put a hurt on my green hair algae infestation?

I have two kinds of green hair algae growing in the tank. One is light green, and the other is dark green. Both grow long strands that flow in the current. All of the algae seems to be concentrated on the surface tank corners, the heater (?), and part of the live rock. I have seen my cleaner shrimp go after this stuff, but he's not getting the job done.

I was thinking of getting some blue legged hermits. I understand they do a kick butt job on green algaes. What about snails? I have no experience with anything but turbo snails. Oh, and I am aware of the cause of all my algae problems. I overfeed.

[mogurnda]

How many scarlets have you got? I would try bumping them up a bit before adding blue legs.

Have you got a sump or refugium that you could put some macroalgae into. A big wad of chaetomorpha or caulerpa will absorb a good bit of NO3. What is your nitrate level, by the way?

Naturally, it might be good to cut the feeding down a bit, but you already know that. Because I have a lot of suspension feeders, I also feed a lot, and accept the consequence of weekly water changes.

[Ray Pollett]

Losing trubos is not unusual. A lot are takeing form cooler water than we have in the tanks.

Personally I do not mind some green hair aglae. Just not out of control takeing over a tank. It is good food for a number of fish.

If you want something to rid the tank of algae you can try: Urchins (Diadema spp. or Mespilia spp.), Blennies (Salarias spp., Atrosalarias spp. or Amblyygobius spp). Surgeonfish, Angelfish (Pomacanthidea), Rabbitfish ( Siganidae) or the usual crabs, starfish, sea hares etc...

Ray