Lawnmower Blennies

[smoney]

I have a pretty big amount of hair algae in my tank, and BOOM a thought came to my head to get rid of it? A lawnmower blenny, I know these guys eat algae, but will they eat hair algae?

 

[fishcrazy2]

nope

 

[fishcrazy2]

your tank is a big enough aquarium yellow tangs will eat hair algea

 

[gfk]

emerald crabs eat hair algae

 

[g-dude]

Would sea cucumbers help out?

 

[bdhough]

cucumbers will not eat hair algae. I'd say away from emeralds as they end up eating many other things like corals. Mexican turbo snails eat hair algae. Tangs will help with algae in general as will blennies. Why do you think they call it a lawnmower. BUT what you must be willing to do is trim the algae. Pull as much of it out as you can. You need to look at other factors of your tank was well. Water quality, lights, and what you are adding to the tank in general. If you have hair algae it means you have to many nutrients in the tank and youll need to figure out where its comming from. I'm dealing with it right now and its a pain in the arse. Mine came from a dead fish and to much feeding of algae strips for example.....

 

[g-dude]

So lets say the lawnmower blenny eats all the algea what will it feed off afterwards?

 

[bdhough]

You can always buy dried algae strips from a lfs for them to eat. I have seen them eat meaty foods as well so not to worry. Mix up their diet while they are eating whats in your tank. You shouldn't have any problems. And of course try and get a fish that's already eating if you do get it from the LFS.

 

[gkl]

Check your temperature too. I had a major hair algae problem several months ago and I tried everything. I got a wild hair and lowered my water temp to 74 degrees. Hair algae disappeared within a week. Just a thought. :jumping:

 

[rubberduck]

lawnmowers will also eat pods when supply is low. even when the food is high the will pick at rocks. plus i have had no problems with my emeralds. :notsure:

 

[adrock16]

Will a lawnmower blenny eat spectrum fish pellets or brine shrimp?

 

[gfk]

I'd say away from emeralds as they end up eating many other things like corals.

why do you say this, i have heard they are reef safe

 

[bdhough]

Well they are and aren't. Alot of times they are confused for other crabs. There are certain crabs that will eat other things than just algae. Better off getting a sally light foot for algae. The true emerald has a red spot on the inside of their arm so i've heard. Its hard to see. If they don't have the spot then use them at your own risk.
Keep in mind reef safe is just a general term. What type of reef safe? Corals? Inverts? Both? Some fish can be kept in reefs but you can't keep inverts, ie Triggers, some fish can be kept with inverts but not corals, ie Angels so you've got to go deeper than jsut "reef safe". There again certain corals such as sps with angels but softies should be ok. Hell coral banded shrimp are "reef safe" but are known killers of smaller fish too.
So before you ever put anything in your tank you should always understand the risks involved with doing such. Every invert/fish is different.

 

[loopy]

my lmb eat everything and anything...shrimp pellets, sea weed, mysis, eats off the rock, the bottom and the algae off the glass. He's a pic and hardly need a cleaning crew cuz he'll eat anything.