Lawnmower blenny

[monalisa]

I'm at the end process of getting a hair algae outbreak under control in my 46gal bowfront reef tank. The outbreak began in my tank when I "upgraded my lighting from 14,000k halides to my T5 HO set up. Slow process getting rid of that stuff!!
I noticed that SWF.com has lawnmower blennies for sale, and I was wondering if one of those little guys would be a real help in eradicating the rest of the hair algae that I can't seem to get to mostly because of aquascaping.
Has anyone had one of these and had luck with them taking control of their hair algae? I appreciate any input.
Lisa

 

[btldreef]

They're great for getting rid of algae. The problem is keeping them well fed and healthy once they rid you of the algae.

 

[bang guy]

I think Lawnmower Blennies mostly eat Diatoms.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/3211797
I think Lawnmower Blennies mostly eat Diatoms.
I don't think hair algae is their favorite, but I have had two that did eat it. Although my blennies would also eat your hand if you left it in the tank long enough.

 

[spanko]

Have a read in the first link here.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Algae-Eating+Bl...d+Atrosalarias

 

[flower]

My blue spotted Kole tang eats hair algae. Him and the lawnmower blenny keep my tank very nice and clean.

 

[dragonzim]

Had a LMB that never touched hair algae at all, so I think its hit or miss with them.

 

[monalisa]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't think I'm going to attempt a lawnmower blenny if there's a chance that 1) he won't help get rid of the hair algae and 2) if it's difficult to keep him fed after the outbreak has been taken care of.
Onward and upward.
Thanks again!!
Lisa

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
http:///forum/post/3212068
Thanks for all the replies. I don't think I'm going to attempt a lawnmower blenny if there's a chance that 1) he won't help get rid of the hair algae and 2) if it's difficult to keep him fed after the outbreak has been taken care of.
Onward and upward.
Thanks again!!
Lisa

What about a Kole tang? They eat hair algae and regular fish food.

 

[eerie]

I've had a lawnmower blenny for a while now and so far he is doing great! He keeps my tank spotless and is quite entertaining to watch! If by chance you don't have enough algae to feed the little guy, you could always try feeding it algae wafers.

 

[monalisa]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3212186

What about a Kole tang? They eat hair algae and regular fish food.
Mmmmm, no tangs here...I only have a 46 gallon bow front tank. Thanks though. I'll keep researching. I can't really add anything all too soon anyway, because I just added a gorgeous coral beauty angel on Sunday...biggest, most color coral beauty I've ever seen. Now hopefully she'll come out to play once in a while.

Lisa

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by MonaLisa
http:///forum/post/3212442
Mmmmm, no tangs here...I only have a 46 gallon bow front tank. Thanks though. I'll keep researching. I can't really add anything all too soon anyway, because I just added a gorgeous coral beauty angel on Sunday...biggest, most color coral beauty I've ever seen. Now hopefully she'll come out to play once in a while.

Lisa
She should do a decent job, but can't do it on her own. You might want to consider a small blenny. Large lawnmowers eat A LOT. If you can get a young one, once the algae problem is under control, you may be able to train him to eat pellet and algae sheets. He'll eat pretty much the same diet as the dwarf angel.

 

[bang guy]

A Pencil-Streak or a Scribbled Rabbitfish should do well in a 46 bow as long as you have lots of rock. In my experience they will eat any nuisance algae including hair and Valonia.

 

[wfd1008]

If you do get one, after it does it duty with your algae, then you can buy some seaweed sheets and it'll eat the heck out of that stuff.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by wfd1008
http:///forum/post/3212579
If you do get one, after it does it duty with your algae, then you can buy some seaweed sheets and it'll eat the heck out of that stuff.
Not all will accept seaweed/algae sheets. I've owned 4 blennies (2 lawnmowers, 1 tail spot and 1 black combtooth) and none of them would/will touch the sheets, whether they're tied to a rock. or on a clip.
The younger they are, the more likely they are to eat the sheets.