best algae eater...
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best algae eater...
I know this has came up time after time but, really am debating on which one.... I know the bristlenose pleco is one, chinese algae eater is another, siamese algae eater, ottos, am i missing anything? Just got a 100g tank and want to keep if algae free. Any info would be great thanks in advance for any replies!
Different fish eat different algae, so there is no one 'best' algae eater. Consider water parameters, temperature, tank mates and species of algae that you want to control
Most of the Loricariads eat the flatter sorts of stuck-on algae. Some eat driftwood and some are more carnivorous. I do not think any of them are really good at the hairy sorts of algae.
Among the best:
Bristlenose Pleco- Thrive in a wide range of water conditions, and are big enough for tanks from about 30 gallons on up (30 gallons as juveniles)
Rubbernose Pleco- A bit smaller than the BN.
Otocinclus- Smaller, more delicate. Thrive in soft, acidic water.
Common Pleco- Good algae eater when young. Actually several fish are sold under this name and the adults may reach 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) depending on species. Some will attack other fish, latching on and sucking the slime coat. They may do this for the protein; they seem to eat more high protein types of foods as they mature.
Peckoltias (there are quite a few available) are wood eaters, and do little against algae.
www.planetcatfish.com is a good resource for catfish info.
Chinese Algae Eater (not a catfish) is a good algae eater when young, but may need more protein as they mature. They get aggressive, and have also been caught in the act of sucking the slime coat off other fish.
Several unrelated fish are pretty good at the hairy sorts of algae.
American Flagfish. Can handle a wide range of conditions, but optimum is a cooler tank with hard water.
Siamese Algae Eater- Get too big for tanks under 30 gallons, and even a 30 only when they are young. They are related to the 'sharks' and may be attacked by Red Tailed Black Sharks, Flying Foxes and similar fish. SAE are usually peaceful enough among themselves, though.
Mollies (also eat Diatoms) Can be a bit pushy toward each other. Optimum water conditions: Warm, Hard, Alkaline water. Salt is optional.
Rosy Barbs: Social fish, cool water.
Most of the Loricariads eat the flatter sorts of stuck-on algae. Some eat driftwood and some are more carnivorous. I do not think any of them are really good at the hairy sorts of algae.
Among the best:
Bristlenose Pleco- Thrive in a wide range of water conditions, and are big enough for tanks from about 30 gallons on up (30 gallons as juveniles)
Rubbernose Pleco- A bit smaller than the BN.
Otocinclus- Smaller, more delicate. Thrive in soft, acidic water.
Common Pleco- Good algae eater when young. Actually several fish are sold under this name and the adults may reach 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) depending on species. Some will attack other fish, latching on and sucking the slime coat. They may do this for the protein; they seem to eat more high protein types of foods as they mature.
Peckoltias (there are quite a few available) are wood eaters, and do little against algae.
www.planetcatfish.com is a good resource for catfish info.
Chinese Algae Eater (not a catfish) is a good algae eater when young, but may need more protein as they mature. They get aggressive, and have also been caught in the act of sucking the slime coat off other fish.
Several unrelated fish are pretty good at the hairy sorts of algae.
American Flagfish. Can handle a wide range of conditions, but optimum is a cooler tank with hard water.
Siamese Algae Eater- Get too big for tanks under 30 gallons, and even a 30 only when they are young. They are related to the 'sharks' and may be attacked by Red Tailed Black Sharks, Flying Foxes and similar fish. SAE are usually peaceful enough among themselves, though.
Mollies (also eat Diatoms) Can be a bit pushy toward each other. Optimum water conditions: Warm, Hard, Alkaline water. Salt is optional.
Rosy Barbs: Social fish, cool water.
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.
Happy fish keeping!
Happy fish keeping!
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For the really hard, flat green algae, that needs a razor blade to remove, Nerite Snails are better than any fish. Not a good choice in tanks with Loaches, though. Loaches tend to pester snails, even if they cannot kill and eat them.
Brown Algae, Diatoms are easy for the fish to eat, and most do.
Mollies in a warm hard water tank, Otos in a small community of soft, acidic water, Bristlenose in many sorts of water, larger tanks...
Brown Algae, Diatoms are easy for the fish to eat, and most do.
Mollies in a warm hard water tank, Otos in a small community of soft, acidic water, Bristlenose in many sorts of water, larger tanks...
38 tanks, 2 ponds over 4000 liters of water to keep clean and fresh.
Happy fish keeping!
Happy fish keeping!
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both my Garras (rufa and flavatra) graze most of the time, but I took one algae-stone out of the tank with garras into the sicyopterus tank and the sicyo's made that stone even brighter than the garras did. But they are more active swimmers than stiphodon and need a larger tank (like garras).
Wolfram
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IME, stiphodon are fine with clown through modesta in aggression. RTS and tiger loach gave drama early on, but have since forgotten about the little gobies.
NB: when the gobies were tiny (1-1.5cm), the (then a lot younger/smaller) modesta ate a lot of them. Some gobies are still that small but are now ignored by all.
Mahalo? If that means you're writing from Hawaii then stiphodon should be available in local streams. If so, please get/post photos. They're difficult to catch in a dip-net.... and a lot of fun.
A
NB: when the gobies were tiny (1-1.5cm), the (then a lot younger/smaller) modesta ate a lot of them. Some gobies are still that small but are now ignored by all.
Mahalo? If that means you're writing from Hawaii then stiphodon should be available in local streams. If so, please get/post photos. They're difficult to catch in a dip-net.... and a lot of fun.
A
"I can eat 50 eggs !"
Should be Sicyopterus & Lentipes.
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/streams_native_animals.html
Those nerites will help if they'll live in fresh water.
http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/streams_native_animals.html
Those nerites will help if they'll live in fresh water.
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