Blenny & Turbo Snail Combo

[marty55904]

Hi, I am very new to the hobby and I am looking for a form of algae control. I have a 55 gal with 4 damsels, sand substrate, live rocks, and a turbo snail. My snail can't seem to keep up with all the surfaces, so I have been cleaning off the front and sides but leaving the back for him. By the time he cleans off the rocks (2-3 days) the glass is getting thick again, not to mention the sand. I've heard blennys eat algae? Is that a good route, or is there something else that would be more beneficial? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thank You

 

[Anonymous]

Blennys do eat algae, especially the filmy stuff that grows on the glass.

I have had lawnmower blennys. The first one I had was a lovely blenny, ate algae and any food I fed him, had him for years, then he jumped out of the tank.

Got another lawnmower that never ate anything, including algae. He slowly starved to death. I tried everything to get him to eat. I occasionally hear reports like this from others. I would advise that you see the blenny graze or eat prepared food to avoid this tragedy.

I am on my 3rd lawnmower. He is as fat as a pig, he eats algae all day long and actually does a good job of keeping the glass cleanish, but keep in mind that no critter is going to keep it crystal clear, you will still need to clean the glass yourself for optimum viewing pleasure!

Also, keep in mind that new tanks are way more prone to algae. As your tank ages and matures, you will see less and less algea. So you don't want to go and stock heavily with so many algae eating critters that they starve to death as they eat everything.

 

[Anonymous]

I read you post again and see you only have one snail. You should probably go ahead and add a few more snails, see if that helps.

 

[marty55904]

Thank you!

 

[platapus]

I would add a few more snails, red scarlet hermits are good, bicolor bleenies, are also good, hardy, and fun to watch.

 

[saltjunkie]

you will always have to clean the algaes off the glass. i believe ime that all tanks get a skight brownish algae on the glass.........get alot more snails also though to help out... and a magnet cleaner!

 

[snowman5373]

try www.liveaquaria.com they have some nice alge package deals.