Algae eaters... what to get?

[soulbereaver]

I'm starting to grow brown algae on my sandbed, and also some green hair algae on the sides of my tank.

I have a 75 gal tank and really no clean-up crew to speak of. I only want to get what i currently need. The algae problems arn't that bad yet so i don't need a ton of snails or anything.

What do you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance.

[tewkes]

I know some people don't care for them ( I'm not %100 in love with them either) but hermits do a fairly decent job of cleaning up my sand. Also nassarius snails to a pretty good job too.

[soulbereaver]

yeah i'm not a fan of hermits... but nassarius snails sound good.

anything else you guys would recommend?

[VacavilleFC3S]

nassarius do not eat algae they eat meaty stuff only

[tewkes]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13368165#post13368165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by VacavilleFC3S
nassarius do not eat algae they eat meaty stuff only

I guess you're correct but in the process of them searching for food they help disturb the sand bed which helps clear up dead spots on the bottom.

[jobes]

Would a Sea Hare work?

[dmbnpj]

Sea hare wont last long and some(most)times wont even touch algae in a reef tank. Increase your water flow first.

[CAROLGYRL]

I tyried several sea hares, they disappeared quick!!the hermit crabs do work!!get 30 of them!!

[Flipper62]

WELL...you need a COMBO CREW..... Nass snails will be a great sand crew... Ya at feeding time...they will come out, but thier mostly sand cleaners.

You need some Turbo snails or Margarita snails....they will clean the glass & keep the aleage off.

I also like to have a few Emerald Crabs.......These little buggers love to eat the crap off the rocks &

[alphaferret]

yes emeralds/lawn mower blennie/ turbos

[Kdocimo90]

Diamond watchman goby is AWESOME for cleaning sand beds.
Lawnmower blenny is alright for hair algae

[Kdocimo90]

I would get some snails in there though.. algae will start growing on the glass

[Boostin S14]

+1 on the turbo's. I have a 75g as weel with no cleaner crew, once I started my diatom bloom (which is most likely what you are experiencing) I picked up 3 large turbo's and within 3-4 days my tank was pretty much spottless lol.

[HappySkittles]

astrea snails clean up well on the glass and rocks (thing ate hair algae like nothing)
i read margarita snails get "cooked" in reef tanks. too hot for them

our dwarf hermit cleans up well too...hes clumsy so make sure your stuff is all secure

nassarius snails....i wanted to make a little tank that was just sand (no live rock or anything else to block the view) and add a bunch of nass snails and that was it. so people will look at it and go what the heck is this for and i can say lemme show you....add the food and watch the zombie like action XD

[chimmike]

what does your CUC consist of?

sand sifting gobies will take care of the sand bed, as will nassarius snails, and mexican turbo snails. Margarita snails are good but mine spend too much time on the glass :/ Cerith snails are okay, but mine seem to die too quick.

I'm a fan of hermits........in my fuge.