Algae eaters

[fj40fax]

I have a 20 gal and I am having a lot of algae grow in there. I am wondering if any of you have had any small herbivores that have eaten grape caulerpa? I also have a short brown algae that is really tough. I would love to have all of it eaten too. I will try ot post some pics next week of the brown algae and of the tank on my website. I'll post on here when pics are up.

Thanks,

[Prismaco]

Lawnmower blenny....there so cool...they like hair algea though...


-Paul

[meiamcool]

I would buy a Mexican Turbo Snail for the glass and maybe 4-5 Nassarius Snails. That's what I have in my tank right now and they keep it pretty clean. The Nassarius Snails are fun to watch. The Turbo Snail does a good job but he hasn't cleaned all of my glass yet. Of course he's only been in there for like 2 days maybe. I also just added a Peppermint Shrimp to take care of this little Aptasia problem I've been having. I hope that helps some. The Nassarius Snails are great for your sand and LR but they don't do hardly anything for glass. Just look for a snail with a horn poking out from under his small shell. Let me know if that helps and also what kind of algea growth your having.

[ckreef]

Originally posted by meiamcool
I also just added a Peppermint Shrimp to take care of this little Aptasia problem I've been having. I hope that helps some.

Pepermint shrimp will only eat small Aptasia and then it is hit or miss.

I bought a small Pepermint shrimp and it only took him a few days to rid my tank of the few small aptasia I had. Unfortunatly through a sick twist of fate I accidently killed him. Fortunatly for me he had taken care of my aptasia problem and no new aptasia has come back so he must of did a really good job. I will always have a fond memory of him because of the great job he did.

You might have to nuke the big Aptasia and let the Pepermint take care of the small ones. If he's not doing his job properly try starving your tank for a week or so. A hungry shrimp does a much better job than one thats fat and happy off of frozen food.

[bri7795]

For my 20G I have:

19 Nassarius Snails:
4 Turbos
6 Margarita
13 blue legged hermit crabs

All are doing well. I do not clean the back glass and let the snails keep it clean. My glass grows a thin green film every day and the crew keeps it in check. I brought my tank up to that number slowly over time and matched the crew to tank demands for cleaning.

meiamcool: I would add some more turbos down the line. Maybe about 6 total if the one you have does not cut it.

[fj40fax]

Pics of the tank and algae are up on the web page. My website
You can see the red algae in the pictures. I have hundreds of small snails in my tank, but my hermits kept eating different things (like my other snails) so I took them out. I am afraid a hermit will eat my shrimp (coral banded) if I put one in there now. I may still get some tubo snails now that I don't have a hermit. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Fax

[Cookie_Monster]

Check out keycritters I've never shopped there but I believe someone on this site owns them.

[ckreef]

Originally posted by fj40fax
I am afraid a hermit will eat my shrimp (coral banded) if I put one in there now.

I know this doesn't answer your question but I would definatly NOT worry about the coral banded shrimp especially if it's a regular one (NOT a Yellow CBS). Coral Banded Shrimp are some firece shrimp and can definatly look after themselves except if you have a large predator fish of some sort. A hermit crab will not take a CBS down for the count.

[ruhspolostar]

Yeah I would be more afraid for the hermit than the shrimp in that instance...

[ckreef]

ruhspolostar

Why does you 7 gallon Nano suck ???

Is it a Minibow 7 --- if so check out Minibow.com anw we will get you fixed right up. For that matter tell us your worries and we'll fix you right up here.

[fj40fax]

I got a lawnmower blenny and 3 turbos today. I will keep you all posted on the progress. Thanks for the tips.

[meiamcool]

Yeah, I don't think that a hermit can take down a CBS. The hermits were eating your snails because they wanted the shells, most likely. I personally don't have an crabs in my tank at all. I'd just stick with snails since they seem to eat non-stop. Those turbo snails really do the trick. I'm going to take some pics of my tank and post them later on tonight. It is just about algea free. (with the exception of my coralline algea) Some sandsifters like Nassarius snails will really take care of that red algea you have on your sand. The turbo snails will erradicate the stuff on the glass and the LR.

[fj40fax]

Who has the best prices on 20 Nassarius Snails shipped to Utah? They will eat the red slimy stuff, but will they eat the tough stuff i posted on my website?