{"id":3083,"date":"2024-06-04T01:04:34","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T01:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.net\/?p=3083"},"modified":"2024-06-30T01:05:15","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T01:05:15","slug":"saltwater-algae-eaters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fishtankadvisor.net\/index.php\/2024\/06\/04\/saltwater-algae-eaters\/","title":{"rendered":"20+ Effective Saltwater Algae Eaters for Your Marine Tank"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When setting up your saltwater aquarium, consider how you will manage keeping the tank clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to a quality filtration system, adding algae-eating fish, snails, urchins, and invertebrates can help keep your tank in top shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capable of handling algae outbreaks as well as routine tank maintenance, the following species are sure to be excellent members of your aquarium cleanup crew.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Cleaner
Trochus cleaner snail crawling and grazing on algae\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

1. Bristletooth Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Ctenochaetus<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 70 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bristletooth tomini tang is one of several tang species so named for their mouth structure and feeding method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This small tang reaches an adult length of 6<\/strong> inches<\/strong> but needs a large aquarium for swimming space and adequate algae growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Pacific reef native, it feeds off algae, micro-fauna, and detritus<\/strong>. Add plenty of live rock for them to graze and supplement with dried seaweed or vegetable preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tomini are reef safe and do not pick at SPS corals<\/a>, LPS<\/a> or invertebrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can be semi-aggressive toward other tangs<\/a>, but a large tank and plenty of hiding spaces can temper that aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Tuxedo Urchin (Mespilia globulus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Mespilia<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 40 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuxedo urchins have beautiful blue centers surrounded by tan or red spines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These slow growers live up to five years and reach 3 inches<\/strong> in size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have a funny habit of placing items from the tank on their head to act as camouflage, the urchin equivalent of putting on a hat and silly glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their toothy mouths are exceptionally effective surface cleaners. Reef safe<\/a>, they will eat green hair algae and coralline algae<\/strong> in a large, mature tropical fish tank with established algae growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supplement your urchin\u2019s diet with an algae sheet every one or two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Sea Hare (Dolabella Auricularia<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Dolabella<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 75 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sea hare, specifically the dolabella, is a slow-moving invertebrate that is by far one of the most effective cleaners<\/strong> for saltwater aquariums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will quickly devour all the hair algae in your tank. Once that is gone, they will eat coralline algae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are so thorough that once the algae is under control, they often must be removed or risk starvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are reef safe<\/strong> but grow to a large adult size of 16 inches<\/strong>. When purchased, they are usually between 2 to 3 inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This species is also sensitive to rapid pH and salinity shifts in aquarium water<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Lemon Peel Angelfish (Centropyge flavissima<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Centropyge<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 70 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lemon peel angelfish is a brilliant yellow with light blue outlines on its eyes and fins. Native to the western Pacific, it reaches 5.5 inches<\/strong> in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It eats filamentous algae and microalgae<\/strong> on live rock and needs more algae in its diet than other angelfish species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The omnivorous lemon peel also needs spirulina and meaty foods to supplement its diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take caution when considering this fish for a reef aquarium. It may nip at large stony coral polyps and clam mantles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, it may be aggressive toward other angelfish species and can bully slower or more peaceful fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Stenopus<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 30 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its beautiful red and white bands, it is easy to see the appeal of the coral-banded shrimp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This species is also known as the boxer shrimp<\/a>, as it frequently holds its claws in a \u201cready to fight\u201d position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are hardy and reach an adult length of 3 inches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This shrimp can be aggressive with others of its kind, so keep it as a single member of its species or as a mated pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are considered reef safe but can attack snails or small hermit crabs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A nocturnal feeder, it eats everything from algae to detritus and even parasites from fish<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Quoyi Parrotfish (Scarus quoyi<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Scarus<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 150 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quoyi parrotfish is a slow-growing species that gets up to 10 inches<\/strong> in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beautifully colored, this herbivore grazes non-stop on all types of macro and micro marine algae<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will snack on coralline algae as well and needs a significant amount of algae in its diet. Its constant eating necessitates robust aquarium filtration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is one of few parrotfish that is reef safe<\/strong> and will not pick at corals. It has a peaceful personality and cannot be housed with aggressive fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fish is best for those with experience in aquariums as they are somewhat difficult to keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Mexican Turbo Snail (Turbo fluctuosa<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Turbo<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 10 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mexican turbo snail<\/a> is a voracious, scavenging herbivore suited to cooler water aquariums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their spiral shells come in a range of colors with white and dark brown patches. An operculum, or trap door, closes off the shell entrance for protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The peaceful turbo is an excellent glass, sand, and surface cleaner that grows to 3 inches<\/strong> in size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These nocturnal, slow movers are reef safe in that they do not eat corals but may knock them around while searching for food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turbos eat several types of saltwater algae<\/strong>, including hair algae, filamentous algae (or slime algae), and diatom algae, such as brown diatom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Coral Beauty Dwarf Angel (Centropyge bispinosus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Centropyge<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 70 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The coral beauty dwarf angel reaches an adult length of 4 inches<\/strong>, is a hardy species<\/strong>, and adds beautiful color to an aquarium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fish is an Indo-Pacific reef omnivore that eats hair algae on live rock as well as diatom algae <\/strong>and micro-fauna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dwarf angel is easy-going if kept in a large enough tank; otherwise, it can be territorial. Do not pair two males in a tank under 100 gallons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These angels generally leave invertebrates alone but can pick at coral polyps and clams if they are not well fed. They need a mature tank with established algae growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Lysmata<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 10 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The peppermint shrimp<\/a>, or candy cane shrimp, has a unique transparent body covered with red stripes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Caribbean native is active and playful, grows to an adult length of 2 inches<\/strong>, and can live up to two years in a warm water aquarium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An omnivorous scavenger, this is a cleaner shrimp<\/a> that eats almost anything<\/strong>, including leftover food, detritus, and occasionally hair algae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It needs an iodine supplement in the water to aid in molting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This species is not considered completely reef safe<\/strong> as it may nip at softer corals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While peaceful with other fish and its own kind, it can be aggressive with other saltwater shrimp species<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Pincushion Urchin (Lytechinus variegatus<\/em>)<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Lytechinus<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Minimum Tank Size:<\/strong> 30 gallons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pincushion urchin is a hardy species, and captive-bred urchins tolerate varying aquarium water conditions better than their wild brethren.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They can be pink, blue, or green and have dull spines that make them easier to handle. Their toothy, highly mobile jaws scrape surfaces clean of algae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pair your urchin with snails for the ultimate cleanup crew. Urchins mow down the big stuff while the snails take care of the leftovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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