What Best At Eating Hair/thread Algae?

[lowee]

As the question says, what fish/nvertabrate is best at eating hair/thread algae? Mybe snails, shrimp or ottos?

Thanks

 

[jesseoneill]

Siamese Algae Eaters will mow that stuff down like nothing. However, do a little bit of research before buying because there is are a few other fish that look very similar that some LFS will try to sell as a SAE. Unfortunately, the look-alike doesn't have anywhere near the algae eating ability.

If it's a true SAE, the black line on the side will extend all the way through the tail fin, and the scale pattern on the side will be very defined.

SAEs are generally good community fish, but they can show aggression towards other fish that look similar. For example, I introduced a SAE into a tank of mine that had black neon tetras in it and the SAE violently chased them around the tank for about 30 minutes before I realized that it wasn't going to stop. I took the SAE out and returned it to the LFS.

 

[lowee]

Ok, thanks for that. Is there any smaller fish that would do the job?

 

[RadaR]

Mollies may have a go.
Prevention is better than cure though. If you find why you are getting this alage then you can you can fix it and no need to get a fish that eats it.

 

[lowee]

I have already taken steps to prevent it, but they may take while to take effect and i will need something just to keep it under control in that period

 

[amagphoto]

I have 2 flying foxes (sae's) in a 55 gall planted tank, and never had a problem with them getting aggresive....a few times they've "sparred" at each other...but that's about it.

 

[three-fingers]

I find amano shrimp to be very effective at eating hair algae .

 

[SuperColey1]

I find amano shrimp to be very effective at eating hair algae .

If and when they aren't being invisible. lol

Gotta go. I'm in the third hour of trying to locate mine so I can give them all a dressing down for not turning up for work at all for the past week.

C U L8r

 

[wei0204]

I used amano shrimp to get rid of it... and it works well...

 

[iroc]

I added some shrimp to eat mine and they ended up lunch for some other members of the tank.

However if your using the Excel method to rid yourself it will basicly all just go away, and there is no need to have something eat it.