Does anyone know of something that will eat Valonia?
I started with just a few and pulled them out then had a bunch and kept pulling them out but now I have too many that I can't get to. It seems like a never ending battle that I am destined to lose alone. I have tried emerald crabs but they only last a short time and are never seen again. I wouldn't mind trying a few more if they will eat the stuff.
I have had this problem for a while too. I added 3 emerald crabs about a month ago but I'm not sure how much help they are. Some people say fox face rabbit fish will eat it but I'm sure that is hit or miss also.
If I add a fish to keep the Valonia in check I will have to take one fish out. That is the only reason I haven't tried that route. I have a yellow tang and a regal tang and they don't touch it.
I looks like there are several options that may work:
Some tangs (Naso and Red Sea sailfin were two that were specifically mentioned)
Emerald crabs
Urchins
manual removal
I am going to be looking hard at urchins in my new tank for algea control. Unless you really have a ton of snail they don't seem to help much. I am just worried about them knocking thing over.
That is the reason I don't have any now. I think I am going to borrow one to see if it will help. I will have to move all my frags mounted on smaller rocks to the sandbed though.
Not only will they knock stuff over, (well, mine isn't too bad about knocking stuff over) they'll pick stuff up and carry it around. Mine does that. Or did that til I banished him to the refuge. He's happy down there.
"You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, `My God, you're RIGHT! I NEVER would've thought of that!'" - Dave Barry
40 gallon tall
15 gallon refugium
2.5 gallon mantis tank
All of what was mentioned before may eat this algae. It is particularly noxious. Only certain individuals of these species may actually eat it, depending on collection location, previous diet, food regimen in the aquarium, etc. May want to consider mechanical removal of these algae as the only reliable option.
