algae

[sharpie]

could i just get some macro algae to add to the tank to help control algae or will i still need to get snails? are sea hares or sea slugs good for the home aquarium? will they eat algae?
thanks
sharpie

 

[fsn77]

Macro algae will help to compete for nutrients, but not to the extent of getting rid of all the unwanted algae. It can also take off and overrun a display tank if not kept in check. Snails are a more common clean-up option for reasonable algae problems. Sea hares are typically good for helping to clean up hair algae, but most of the people I know that have kept one didn't have long term success with them staying alive.

 

[sharpie]

will snails eat macro algae? could they be kept in the same tank?
thanks

 

[fsn77]

I put 2 turbo snails in our refugium at one point to help keep the glass clean. After they accomplished that, they started on our cheato (without me knowing it at the time). It took me a couple of weeks to figure out exactly why the cheato had shrunk to 50% of its original size. I caught them in the act, eating it.