Lawnmower Blenny

[Playdope]

Hey all,

Seems like the Lawnmower Blenny is a popular weapon of choice for taking care of hair algae. However, I would really prefer to have something a little more colorfull in the tank. Is there anything with a bit more color (or that won't have such a large impact on my bioload) that will take care of the hair algae.

Do Watchman Gobies eat hair?

 

[chockablock]

lawnmower blennnys arer awesome.. you wont find yours plain, ugly or boring.. trust me..

plus, they can change color from like a rainbow-beige to dark cocoa . Watchman gobies dont eat hair algae.. or any at all in my experience.

 

[Playdope]

I dont intend to put down the lawnmower . I just know in the future I want a manderine dragonet, and other gobys or similar specimens... and i hear the lawnmowers are territorial towards similar others.

I'd also like something a bit more colorful than the mower if possible (like the watchman, if it also does a good job in cleaning
Thanks!!

 

[pcragg]

IME, lawnmowers don't eat hair algae. My Naso Tang loves the stuff though. If you have a big enough tank, you may want to try one. I think Nasos are quite colorful with their red lips.

 

[SpicyBalls]

how big is your tank? tangs are good at eating algae and can have some great color.. i also have a lawnmower.. love it! awesome dude..
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[KMC]

There is a beautiful golden yellow color morph of the black sailfin blenny (atrosalarias fuscus). They are also good algae eaters. They're pretty difficult to come by, but you may try some of the online retailers.

 

[Tackett]

The perfect hair algae grazer is a nudibranch that is reef safe that doesnt eat corals called the "lettuce nudibranch" scientific name escapes me at the moment. They are a beautiful bright green and a good amount of them (my friend has 5 in his 30 gallon reef and have been there for years.) they will wage absolute war on any amount of green in your tank. The only downside to them is that you will have to suppliment them with seaweed or another greenish thing for them to munch on because they will make short work of algae. They are also interesting because they are photosynthetic as well as herbivores. Jumbo mexican turbos do a very good job as well. Black sailfin algae blennys do a pretty nifty job and are easy on the eyes IMO. The thing I love the most about the lawnmowers are their personality. They are like most good women, their personality can make up for their looks. (no offense girls.) anyways. Lettuce nudibranchs are cheap too they cost about 12 bucks each.

 

[chockablock]

They are a beautiful bright green and a good amount of them (my friend has 5 in his 30 gallon reef and have been there for years.) they will wage absolute war on any amount of green in your tank. The only downside to them is that you will have to suppliment them with seaweed or another greenish thing for them to munch on because they will make short work of algae.

While this sounds like a good alternative, lettuce nudi's (tridachia crispata) have a short natural lifespan of under one year (your friend must be pulling your leg and just replacing the dead nudis.) Along with this, they are easily killed by wandering into powerhead intakes, overflows, and other mechanical hazards. I would stick to snails at this point.

 

[Anonymous]

Nothing gets rid of hair algae better than regular RO or RO/DI water changes, imho.

And what a lawnmower lacks in color, it sure makes up for in personality...again, imo.

Is it Friday yet?

 

[Tackett]

well he hasnt had them for exactly years, kinda exaggerated, but it has been a year and some change.

 

[Playdope]

I've got a 100 gal tank. Looking for a colorfull/interesting addition that will nail the hair for patches of hair I have. I'm going to see how it goes for a little bit though (just added astrea, sally light, hermits)

 

[HookedOnFish]

I've been battling a hair algae problem for about a month now. It all started when I sold my 15 inch carpet because he decided to start moving and I didn't want him to take out my SPS's. Anyway, I have a 200 gal and do 30 gal changes with DI every week. I've added sally light foot, emerald, sea urchin, and a lawnmower blenny. I also have many different snails and hermits. None of them will touch it. I have two tangs, a Blond Naso and a Redsea Sailfin. Neither of them have ever touched it either. I've been contemplating trying a sea hair. I've heard they go CRAZY for hair algae. Any other thoughts?

Mike

 

[HookedOnFish]

I've been battling a hair algae problem for about a month now. It all started when I sold my 15 inch carpet because he decided to start moving and I didn't want him to take out my SPS's. Anyway, I have a 200 gal and do 30 gal changes with DI every week. I've added sally light foot, emerald, sea urchin, and a lawnmower blenny. I also have many different snails and hermits. None of them will touch it. I have two tangs, a Blond Naso and a Redsea Sailfin. Neither of them have ever touched it either. I've been contemplating trying a sea hair. I've heard they go CRAZY for hair algae. Any other thoughts?

Mike

 

[sawyerc]

I once had a big hair algae problem and my lawnmower blenny did not do much about the algae nor did he last too long. (I'm wondering if he actually suffocated at night because the hair algae was so thick in places that it could have used up all the oxygen at night, while it clogged the powerheads preventing airation and circulation.) Anyway.... I've heard good things about tangs, in fact I just put one in my new 55. He seems to be picking at algae on the reef, but as of yet I don't have any hair algae (*crosses fingers). Best of luck whatever you choose. PS Reeftopia.com has the nudibrachs for real cheap I think.

 

[Anonymous]

they like some species of hair algae and dislike others just like most other fish. IMO fish are always the worst choice as a remedy to a problem. Address the issue at hand which is excessive nutrients.

 

[Playdope]

I don't get it, nothing in my tank right now will eat the same patch of what I THINK is hair algae. I have:

Sally Lightfoot crab
Hermits
Astreas
Mexican turbo
Nassarius snails
Pepperment shrimp

The deep green patch or two on the rock almost looks more smooth and spongey than it does hair. I don't see any stringy texture blowing in the current. Could it be something else? Anywhat have any idea what?

Do lawnmower blennys or yellow watchman gobies make a mess of the sand. Don't want anything that may loosen my rock structure (not on PVC). I'm also a little anal with the way the sand sits, and I don't want to have to keep putting it back the way I like it.

Thanks!