best hair algea eater?

[Herndo]

emerald crab?

red legged hermits?

snails?

 

[dorkfish]

Have you looked through this: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84749 yet?

 

[oscar83]

i think a better question would be "why do you have hair algae in the first place?" it is much better to treat the problem rather than the symptoms. what are your water params? specifically nitrate and phosphates, also what lighting do you have?

 

[plah831]

I totally agree with oscar. If algae has gotten so bad as to be a problem, you should figure out what's out of balance (I'm guessing water quality). Getting an animal to solve a problem that one should be handling themself is not fair.

 

[Herndo]

what happened was I finally got my Harlequin Tusk

the whole reason I got into the SW game. Tank had been up about 2 years and I finally got him. I tried to keep him full but he really liked my hermit crabs and snails. I tried replacing them but they were like potato chips to him I guess.

So after 2 times of having to use dechlorinated tap water for emergency top offs, (my tap water is high in phosphates) and little to no crabs to eat the algea I did have a hair algea outbreak.

I've got most of it cleared up, (pulled out and brushed off the rocks) phosphates down because of water changes and no more tap water and was just wondering if any critters were better for the finish up and prevention of what's left.

 

[rbell219]

You could try a lawnmower blenny...mine does wonders. I also have a snail that has a hard spot in the opening when he closes. My trigger can't eat him!!! I don't know what kind it is though...I can't catch him out to get a picture.

 

[Max]

I'd do major water changes to deal with the excess phosphates. If you still have the tusk it's going to eat pretty much any snail or hermit you put in there with it. You could try urchins but,the lawn mower should be safe. The thing is you want to get your parameters in line before you add anything to your clean up crew. Do you have anything else with him in there they are neat fish .

 

[no_sugar]

a foxface will do wonders. Has worked well for me.

 

[devil san]

You could try a lawnmower blenny...mine does wonders.

i agree, they are a cool little fish, that love to eat algae, i am lucky that i can catch them on the beach where i live at low tide, and you will be amazed just how acrobatic and friendly they can be !