A method for providing efficient use of a read cache by a storage controller is provided. The method includes the storage controller receiving a read request from a host computer and determining if a host stream size is larger than a read cache size. The host stream size is a current cumulative size of all read requests in the host stream. If the host stream size is larger than the read cache size then migrating data to a first area of the read cache containing data that has been in the read cache for the longest time. If the host stream size is not larger than the read cache size then migrating data to a second area of the read cache containing data that has been in the read cache for the shortest time. The host stream is a consecutive group of sequential read requests from the host computer.