Which Tang is best for hair algae?

[tobster]

Which tang would be best for hair algae? Other tank mates would include…
Blue hippo tang
Fairy wrasse
Stocky anthias
2- clown gobies
Blue Gudgeon dartfish
Japanese Swallow tail angelfish
Fire shrimp
Fighting conch
A few hermits and snails
Pincushion urchin

Tank is about 150 gallons with sump.
Looking for one that would be peaceful and coral safe.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Do you presently have green hair algae?

 

[tobster]

Do you presently have green hair algae?

Yes. Thin layer on rocks and quite a lot on the back glass. The urchin keeps the rocks clean for the most part.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

So as wonderful as Tangs are, none of them are on the list of things to do when one is suffering from gha.

 

[littlefoxx]

A sea hare will eat that right up

 

[mh0ward]

A few Turbo snails will probably have that cleaned up within a few days.

 

[PotatoPig]

Bear in mind that GHA is a category of species of algae consisting of somewhere like 100 types of algae that physically present similarly under the banner of GHA - in other words, what eats GHA in one tank may not eat it in another, because it might not be the same GHA.

 

[tobster]

I guess I should have been more clear but I’m looking to add another fish and I like tangs but was looking for one that would pick at algae and just help out when needed.
I’m not really looking for them to be the main clean up.
Also curious if it would get along with the other tank mates I listed.
Thanks for the replies!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Which tang would be best for hair algae? Other tank mates would include…
Blue hippo tang
Fairy wrasse
Stocky anthias
2- clown gobies
Blue Gudgeon dartfish
Japanese Swallow tail angelfish
Fire shrimp
Fighting conch
A few hermits and snails
Pincushion urchin

Tank is about 150 gallons with sump.
Looking for one that would be peaceful and coral safe.

kole eye tang
lavender tang
chocolate tang
yellow tang

 

[UMALUM]

I guess I should have been more clear but I’m looking to add another fish and I like tangs but was looking for one that would pick at algae and just help out when needed.
I’m not really looking for them to be the main clean up.
Also curious if it would get along with the other tank mates I listed.
Thanks for the replies!

Funny I had no problem understanding your question.....

It seems like my zebrasomas and foxface lo spend all day picking off the rock. These might also help with possible aggression as regals in my experience can be hellions.

 

[tobster]

Awesome thanks for the input!

 

[john92708]

I had a sailfin tang and a yellow tang at different time and both kelp my tank clean of hair algae.
They out grow my tank and hair algae is starting to pop it's ugly head

 

[Naekuh]

foxface (lo/bispot/magestic/black)>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tang if you want something to mow the lawn.

My foxface works 10x harder then my Tang and competes with my lawn mower blenny over who can mow the lawn the best. I think my blenny has Temu tools, because he doesn't do a good job compared to the foxface.

Foxfaces are generally peaceful too, but they do have spines and can give you a nasty prick if you decide to be brave and try grabing at it.

 

[tobster]

I had a sailfin tang and a yellow tang at different time and both kelp my tank clean of hair algae.
They out grow my tank and hair algae is starting to pop it's ugly head

I’m not familiar with the sailfin tangs, how big do they get?
I’d like to have a yellow tang but the only ones I have seen are in the display tanks at fish store.

 

[tobster]

foxface (lo/bispot/magestic/black)>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Tang if you want something to mow the lawn.

My foxface works 10x harder then my Tang and competes with my lawn mower blenny over who can mow the lawn the best. My i think my blenny has Temu tools, because he doesn't do a good job compared to the foxface.

Foxfaces are generally peaceful too, but they do have spines and can give you a nasty prick if you decide to be brave and try grabing at it.

I do like the foxface but I like to be able to move corals around without risk of being stung.
Definitely keep him in mind if algae gets out of control. Thanks

 

[Naekuh]

Problem with tangs is some of them become complete utter jerks later on.
And you probably wont be able to add another fish after you added that tang, and it set up flags.
Your suposed to introduce tangs as juvi's together, and last, for the best chances of them not going postal one day and killing the entire tank.

 

[tobster]

Problem with tangs is some of them become complete utter jerks later on.
And you probably wont be able to add another fish after you added that tang, and it set up flags.
Your suposed to introduce tangs as juvi's together, and last, for the best chances of them not going postal one day and killing the entire tank.

I’ve had the blue tang since it was the size of a half dollar and is now about 4-5 inches. She definitely rules the tank and gets her food first.
Would probably use an acclimation box if I add anything else

 

[saltyfins]

foxface!!

 

[i cant think]

I do like the foxface but I like to be able to move corals around without risk of being stung.
Definitely keep him in mind if algae gets out of control. Thanks

All I’ll say is that risk is very little.
I work around 2 (maybe 3 after today…) in my own tank and have worked around countless in an LFS. If you just watch their behaviour and go slowly without any sudden movements they’re absolutely fine!
Here’s my Bicolour - I also have a Magnificent who is much larger (the biggest fish in the tank).

 

[randomfishdude]

I’m not familiar with the sailfin tangs, how big do they get?
I’d like to have a yellow tang but the only ones I have seen are in the display tanks at fish store.

Big. They can be kinda aggressive. Have one with a foxface