Good algae grazer?

[BJanecka]

Thanks for the responses. Looks like I need to beef up my cleanup crew. What's considered a good cleanup crew as far as numbers go? How many snails, hermits, etc. for a 75? What kind?

[GaryP]

My rule of thumb is a nice mixture stocked at 1-2/gal. Some clean up guys are better for cleaning glass, other are better for sand or rock. That's why a mixture is a good idea. I like astrea, cerith, nerite, and nassarius snails and micro blue leg hermits.

[saltcreepette]

just to be the black sheep I will throw in this link. Not that having a great cleanup crew wouldnt work.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hcs3/index.php

A guy on a board I was at recently (cant remember where) said "I had a problem with algae but then I got a foxface..."

Also fwiw upon investigation of the stomach contents of wild Kole tangs revealed very little filamentous algae (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...hcs3/index.php) but it does say they will eat more algae in captivity.

I had two different lawnmowers (at two different times) in my 120 which had plenty of algae growing on the back glass, and for some reason it never quite fattened up (despite the algae and supplemental feedings) and both of them died looking very skinny. I dont think I will get another due to that despite the fact they were lovely little fish with great personalities. I just didnt have good luck getting them to feed.

Lastly, my yellow tang does nothing to curb the amount of algae (albeit modest) in my current tank. He holds out for the nori, the picky swine.

I currently have four hermits and one snail (I just never bothered to replenish the cleanup crew since I bought it three years ago it has slowly dwindled....since I dont have too much algae in my tank.

[GaryP]

Kole tangs are more of a detritivore then an algae grazer. They would rather pick at the sand. Rabbitfish are great grazers. They have a really big appetite and will eat just about anything. They will also eat bubble algae. I have one in both of my tanks and the only place you will find any bubble algae is in the crevices that they can't get to.