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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please wait... Rating: 8.5/10 (11 votes cast) Submit

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

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please wait... Rating: 7.9/10 (9 votes cast) Submit

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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please wait... Rating: 7.8/10 (12 votes cast) Submit

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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please wait... Rating: 7.6/10 (10 votes cast) Submit

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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please wait... Rating: 6.4/10 (7 votes cast) Submit

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

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please wait... Rating: 3.3/10 (6 votes cast) Submit

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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please wait... Rating: 7.0/10 (3 votes cast) Submit

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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please wait... Rating: 6.6/10 (7 votes cast) Submit

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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please wait... Rating: 8.8/10 (10 votes cast) Submit

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

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please wait... Rating: 7.8/10 (13 votes cast) Submit

Popularity: 22% [?]

Related Posts

1. Best Algae Eaters For The Freshwater Aquarium
2. Blue Green Algae Control in Freshwater Aquarium
3. Green Hair Algae Control In Freshwater Aquarium
4. Brown Diatom Algae Control
5. Getting rid of Green Dust Algae (GDA) on aquarium glass