Whats the best fish/ Invert/ whatever for algae control?
- Thread starter Mick411
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some species of snails, tangs, rabbitfish, blennies, some sea urchins, some hermit and other crabs, triggers, filefishes
I'd say it depends on the tank and the algae.
For a bigger tank, a tang will do a very nice job on most types of algae. Including hermits and snails is a good idea as well.
For small tanks, snails and hermits are the way to go, and each has its own preference. Turbos and astraeas tend to go for diatoms and hair algae to some extent. Hermits will eat some cyano and hair algae. Hermits will also scavenge, helping to keep nutrient levels down.
If you have a serious algae outbreak, herbivores will help, but will not eliminate it IME. Good skimming, circulation, careful feeding and refugia all help.
For a bigger tank, a tang will do a very nice job on most types of algae. Including hermits and snails is a good idea as well.
For small tanks, snails and hermits are the way to go, and each has its own preference. Turbos and astraeas tend to go for diatoms and hair algae to some extent. Hermits will eat some cyano and hair algae. Hermits will also scavenge, helping to keep nutrient levels down.
If you have a serious algae outbreak, herbivores will help, but will not eliminate it IME. Good skimming, circulation, careful feeding and refugia all help.
mogurnda said:
A lot of people swear by otocinclus catfish, which reportedly mow down diatom and soft green algae. I've never had any, so I wouldn't know. They won't work on that hard green algae that is flat on the glass, though. I occasionally feed mine sinking hikari algae tabs, and they seem pretty fat and happy. They also seem to poop in spurts, sometimes not producing much for a week or more. When they do, they create a fair amount of it.
thanx for all your help i was also wondering if the snails aren't moving is there something wrong???
If they have stopped moving for a long time, yes. People often post about snails mysteriously slowing down and dying, and I have yet to hear an adequate explanation. Some say it's acclimation that went too fast, and the snails suffered internal damage and slowly died. Another possibility is a toxic species of algae that knocked them out. Somemay starve because there isn't enough of the right kind of algae. All great theories, but I know of little data to support any of them.Mick411 said:
I have had snails that lasted 3 years, going through all sorts of abuses, and others of the same species that didn't make it 2 months. No idea why.
snails
hmm I bought a snail ,grew attatched to it in no time & it died
in the main tank,where on the other hand my refugium has @ least 3 types of healthy wild snails from lake & pond. I think we need a microscope 2 solve this 1.
hmm I bought a snail ,grew attatched to it in no time & it died
in the main tank,where on the other hand my refugium has @ least 3 types of healthy wild snails from lake & pond. I think we need a microscope 2 solve this 1.
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There is also some kinds of sea slugs that you may add to the tank, Keep in mind you must have the experience in feeding and caring for them. It is possible but they are a lot of hard work. Also they will most likely suffer with tankmates that will nip at them and are not reccomended for the newb aquariast.
SERIOUSLY
SERIOUSLY