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I too am tired of pulling out my dark green hair algae every week or 2. Also, whenever I pull some out, little pieces float off and start growing on a new rock. Whenever I take a rock out and scrub, the algae grows back in 2 weeks covering an even bigger area of rock.

I am considering to buy a lawnmower blenny. I heard some people have great results. Anyone here agree from experience? I also plan to buy a dozen Mexican Red Legged hermits and some left handed hermits to add to my current population of 10 blue legged hermits, 6 scarlets hermits, and 2 emerald crabs.

[ 14 April 2002, 14:25: Message edited by: Sam W ]

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Sam, Salarias fasciatus aka the lawnmower blenny is hit and miss with hair algae. I suspect they eat certain species and not others. I had one that excepted prepared foods including nori. He never touched hair algae that I could see though he did eat diatoms consistently.

minimum required lighting period
 

Interesting to read about all the algae problems in BC. I wonder what the difference is here in Calgary? I, for instance never have an algae problem except for a bit of Bubble algae, but my sally Lightfoot takes care of that. I use only tap water, and have no idea about Alk, and Kalk, and whatever. I do nor worry about them, and do not test for stuff. I do have a refugium with Caulerpa. I also manage to suply my friends with Caulerpa, as it likes to grow. :D

[ 14 April 2002, 20:29: Message edited by: Bob Ipema ]

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My Yellow Tang does an excellent job at eating hair algae. I bought a piece of coral from J&L and the rock it was on was covered in hair algae. The Yellow Tang went at it right away and by the next day, the rock was perfectly clean.

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Hi,

I seem to recall that Christy's green algae is poisonous to most inverts and fish (I think...). I mentioned that we could add more crabs/snails to her tank; however, they seem to die once they touch the algae. The natural consumer of this type of poisonous is probably a special nudibranch or invert.

- Victor.

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Hi,

Floaty bits....easy solution for this one. Get one of those sponges from a fluval (or something like that) and stick in to one of the power heads (or the main circulation pump) -- do this just before you do your cleanup. Any floating bits will be caught by your little invention. After your clean up is done, let it run for a day or so (with the filter). Only let it run for a day (or else its a nice nitrate factory). To remove, take a fish net and net the sponge. When you remove the sponge and some floaty particles may detach from the sponge. The floaty particles will be contained by the net (that you put around the sponge). Remove both the sponge and net and wash. Done...no more floaties.

Hope that helps.

- Victor.

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I have a lawnmower blenny and he really goes on a rampage eating algae and is fat as a cow. Unfortunately he can't keep up with the stuff and has only certain areas where he spends his time eating, which made me wonder about the types of algae I have. I have come to the conclusion after seeing Darrens tank that I have bryopsis as well as the hair algae and the lawnmower only seems to go after the hair algae, but only the new stuff, the old stuff probly tastes like crap [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Also I've noticed that alot of my snails have been biting the bullet lately. I think its because I have quite a nice lawn growing on the sand bed and the snails either can't handle it or don't like it.

I'll figure out the answer eventually. Its just frustrating to me right now. As my friend (a non reefer) tells me "you just need to find a left handed widget for your fish tank and everything will be fine".

Christy [img]smile.gif[/img]