Alge eater

[Cat]

I have a problem with alge in my tank, the glass isnt a problem but there is a lot on the sand and rocks, in particular stuff that looks like very fine green grass growing in mossy lumps. and its taken over my xenia and when I try to pull it off it damages the coral. I there a fish or something that will eat this? as nothing in my tank at the moment will!

[OrionGirl]

Water parameters? Any snails in the tank?

[Cat]

1 Massive turbo snall which is great with the glass but thats about it and hermits that do nothing except bumble about much to my amusement.
The blennie picks at the alge but not a lot. Water perameters are as they should be, all at about 0. Its not really out of control, but the alge I do have I cant really get rid of as it anchors itself on very well.just two rocks have it on, but like I said its taking over a coral and when I try to pull it of with my fingers it damages the coral. I could do with something that will graze on it. like I have one rock covered in a purple tangle of alge all spindly stuff but its confined to one rock, none of the others have any. I did wonder about getting a Tang in the hope that would eat it all.

[OrionGirl]

Sounds like a hair algae. I'd try a mithrax (emerald) crab--they do fairly well on hair and bubble algae, and usually are well behaved with other inverts and corals. Oddly enough, if you can find some marine acclimated mollies--they are great for algae control.

[Cat]

I have never seen emeral crabs at any of my LFS's they are a bit limited on snails and crabs. Im not a mollie fan and dont really want to waste the small number of fish I can keep on having them. I was wondering about getting a Cherub Angel as I understand they are alge eaters, will they eat my type of alge?

[OrionGirl]

Cherubs are more grazers on corals and polyps, only moderately reef safe. I wouldn't bet on it eating much in the way of algae. A lawnmower blenny might, but they tend to eat only algae, and so can be tough to maintain. Crabs or snails are really a better bet--have you looked online for someplace that will ship to you?

[Cat]

There is not much in the way of mail order companies in the UK. Will tangs eat this sort of alge?

[DansMarineTank]

Im in the UK, in fact Ipswich not that far from Norfolk (home of our bitter rivals ;-) ), I got some hermits crabs from ebay. theres loads of marine algae eaters on UK ebay. So much so they have thier own category.

I used the seller "Reef Critters" all arrived alive and well.

Also there are Fish superstores one in Ipswich one in Colchester called Seapets thats where i get most of my marine stuff from although they havn't had much lately

[Cat]

yeah I have hermits, blue legged ones are pretty easy to find, but they dont seem to touch the alge. I like Orion girls suggestion of a lawnmower blennie, however if I run short on alge can I suppliment his diet with nori seaweed or something like that?
I have been looking a bit on ebay, so I will havve to check out 'Reef Critters' I just find the LFS' I go to always have the same choices, red or blue legged hermits or turbo snails.

[Cat]

Okay after a bit more research I have found that another blenne isnt a good idea as they dont like each other very much. And it looks like the cherub is out of the question :(
How about either a lemon peel angel or bi-colour angel?

[mogurnda]

Herbivores are certainly part of the equation, but nutrients are important as well. Keep in mind that most herbivores don't like hair algae. My tang would rather starve than eat it.

Have you checked phosphate? Nitrate is often demonized, but phosphate can appear in many forms and seems to be more of a problem when I have had algae blooms.

Although I am loath to recommend chemical solutions to problems, you might try a bag of RowaPhos or PhosBan. I recommend these, because they are iron based; the alumina-based products irritate soft corals. Along with grazers, careful food control, water changes and scrubbing with a toothbrush, phosban has helped get my hair algae problem under control.

[Cat]

okay will have a look at that, I dont have a phospate testing kit so I dont know what my levels are like, Im gradually stocking and buying more equipment etc as I go along and I only have the basic tests for NO2 NO3 Ammonia KH and Ph at the mo. I am not adding anything to the water at the mo except photoplankton, although I will shortly be getting an all in one calcium iodine etc formula.
Will either of these chemicals kill of the algae that has already formed or just prevent it from forming in the future?

[mogurnda]

If you get phosphate levels below a certain point, the algae won't grow. It will probably not all die off immediately, though.

I would be inclined to skip the all-in-one supplement. Calcium and alkalinity additions need to be balanced (and measured), and it's probably best not to link iodine additions to them.