algae eater fish

[Luis]

Hi guys I have a Blue tang in my 60 gal tank and he is always eating any kind of algae but I have a 30 gal tank too with an algae problem but I don't want to place a tang in there because I know they like a lot of space to swim, my question is; do you know an small algae eater fish that could be happy in a 30 gal tank? Thank you for any reply.

 

[pathos]

algae blenny

 

[Anonymous]

Or some snails

 

[Doughster4]

Algae blenny. Great personality too!

 

[DEADFISH1]

emerald crabs, I have 3 in a seven gallon, I'm going to move one soon to the 58 gal., there's not a lot algae left.

I bet 10 Emeralds in a 30 would take care of it, when you see that they have done their job you can move some into your 60 gal., the good thing about emeralds is that they don't solely depend on algae like some blenny's do.

 

[Luis]

thank you guys for your replies!, I've been buying emerald crabs for a while and they suddenly dissapear and later I discover their "shells" in my sand bed. I have 1 damsel and 1 clown fish lots of hermits and that's it, I don't have any clue... I will try those blennies.

 

[karlas]

the alge blennies (lawnmower) are great fish. but a lot of them do starve in the tank. sometimes they use up all the alge or need more supplements in their diet. if you pick one up ask if it eats prepared foods. they may look ok if you look at the top of it but take a look at its belly. if it looks pinched at all its lacking food. i have one that started looking like that but tried alge disc and he took right to them. also accepts dried nori, flake and pellet containing some sort of alge. hes fat and healthy now.

 

[Luis]

Thanks guys for all your help!

 

[royy]

Does the algae blenny eat critters in the sand bed too? I was thinking of purchasing one becuase I have algae on my sand bed, but I am afraid he will eat all the little critters in the live sand.

Thanks,
Roy

 

[Desert Fish]

Lawnmower blennies seem to prefer the rocks and glass. They rarely stay on the bottom. I've found that a pearly jawfish is grear for removing algae on the sand - does a good job of sand sifting as well. You only need one of each for up to 250 gal tank. Any more and they will probably starve