blue tang question

i have a 55 gallon reef, and im currently having a random brown hair algae and dinoflagllate problem, so i was wondering should i purchase a blue tang to clean up the brown hair algae? would the blue tang eat the dinos too? my tank is 1 and 1/2 years old, 0 nitrates, 0 nitrites, 0 ammonia, 1.024 salinity, 8.2 ph, 1350 mag, 420 calcium , 0 phosphates. i think i got both of the algae from some live rock that i bought with some corals. my current stocking is a sixline wrasse, scooter blenny, a green chromis and a yellow clown goby. all 4 are roughly 1 year old. how long would i be able to keep this tang in my 55 gallon for?

 

I don't think blues eat much algae. Mine prefers mysis actually. Now a yellow on the other hand, they will eat the heck out of your algae. And as a bonus, you will be able to keep a yellow longer than a blue.

 

alright thanks, ill look into a yellow

 

Be careful with a yellow tang; you don't want an Ich outbreak. Take it slow, and let it adjust. I hear the bristle tooth tangs are fantastic algae eaters too. Not sure how large of a tank they need...

 

why not just snails and hermits? IMO better if you get a CUC from John at reefcleaners instead of stressing out a fish that'll eventually get too big

 

A Lawnmower Blenny would also decimate any algae in your tank and never outgrow your system. I figured a CUC was a given, but if you don't have an adequate one, contact John. Also you may want to address the root of the problem. Are you using RO/DI water? What is your feeding like?

 

That tank isn't big enough for a tang, but fish are never the answer for algae problems anyways. If you aren't using RO/DI or at least distilled water then that is the source and the only real way to get rid of the problem is to start using water that isn't full of the nutrients algae needs to grow.