Who eats hair algae?

[andyaz]

I'm having a bit of an outbreak of hair algae, I think mainly as my cleaning crew's numbers have dwindled over time and I need to refresh. I have a smattering of blue leg, scarlet leg, and zebra hermits and a few snails. I know Emerald crabs like algae, any other critters have a good taste for the hair?

 

[thereefer9]

lawn mower blennys love the stuff

 

[fishrul11]

turbo snails are great at demolishing hair algae!!!!

 

[motorcity]

i got a green emerald crab and he ate the heck out of it!!!
He is an eating machine !!!!!

 

[big]

Originally Posted by THEREEFER9
lawn mower blennys love the stuff
I have not had any in a long time, but back when I did, my LMB never touched the stuff..

 

[kedabo]

Originally Posted by big
I have not had any in a long time, but back when I did, my LMB never touched the stuff..

I had a LMB as well and he never touched my hair algae before he disappered from the tank. I had to use a soft bristle toothbrush (recomended by my LFS owner), then I got some Mex. turbo snails. They love the stuff, also cleaned up my Cyno problem.

 

[jamparty]

go with the mex. turbos.
My LMB will pick at the rocks but only the smaller stuff...he really shines when it comes to the glass though.
for the large hair algae and cyano...turbos all the way!

 

[andyaz]

I've got a lawnmower blenny in there, he never developed the taste for it I guess. He's been in there for a while, and I've never had an algae problem before, so I guess he just got used to the other things in there to eat. Always had a running battle with cyano, and you'll see his little lip marks on the glass all the time. I knew I could use more turbos, but wasn't sure if they would like the hair or not. I had some emerald crabs once before, but that was before I realized they would be my ex-porcupine puffer's midnight snack. Don't have the puffer anymore, but I think the clowns like the taste of crustaceans now as I caught them and my hippo tang having a hermit crab for breakfast a couple of weeks ago.

 

[rhino]

I think the best band-aid I have ever used for hair algae is to get a couple of Tangs. A couple of years ago i had an out break and purchased 2 yelow tangs. They got rid of it in less than a week and its never returned. Low phospates and nitrates will cure the problem. Get some macro algea and a good skimmer.