In our effort at keeping algae away from our tanks, algae eaters can be great allies. Here is a short list of some saltwater algae eaters I know (more will be added later). If you know any other fish or invertebrates that should be added to this list or would like to add some information to this list, please use the comment box bellow. Thanks!

Also, don’t forget to rate those you know using the star rating system.

Names:Foxface Rabbitfish – Siganus vulpinus
Pros: Will eat most algae, including cyanobacteria, diatoms, hair algae.
Cons: Poisonous dorsal spines.

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Names: Surgeons or Tangs
Pros: Good algae grazers.
Cons: Not suitable for small tanks

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Names: Turbo Snails
Pros: Excellent against green hair algae.
Cons: Will bulldoze loose rocks. They cannot right themselves if they fall and land on their back.

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Names: Astraea Snails
Pros: Eat cyanobacteria, green and brown film algae (maybe not green hair algae).
Cons: They cannot right themselves if they fall and land on their back.

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Names: Trochus or Turban Snails
Pros: Eats green hair algae, slime algae, green algae, cyanobacteria and diatoms. They leave nothing behind.
Cons: NA

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Names: Nerite Snails
Pros: Eats cyanobacteria, green algae and algae film on glass.
Cons: They are intertidal

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Names: Abalone
Pros: Some say it is the best herbivore for the reef aquarium.
Cons: May become somewhat of a nuisance.

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Names: Scarlet Hermit Crab
Pros: Will eat red, green, brown, green hair algae.
Cons: Can do significant damage if introduced in large numbers.

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Names: Emerald Mythrax Crab
Pros: Popular to control bubble algae (valonia).
Cons: May knock a few things over, so make sure to secure things down.

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Names: Tuxedo Urchin
Pros: Will graze on algae at night
Cons: NA

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Popularity: 36% [?]

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4. Black Brush Algae (BBA) Cause and Treatment
5. Solving Green Water Problems In Freshwater Aquarium