View Full Version : I.Y.O. whats the best algea eater
Dragon_Lord_Tia
06-29-2003, 1:02 AM
just as the title says but for anyone whos thinking of sayin pleco NO and other algea eater apart from that
CHINABOY1021
06-29-2003, 1:22 AM
ive had very very good experience with Ottos.
also SAEs are known as one of the best and they look nice too when in schools. but never had personal experience with em
wetmanNY
06-29-2003, 8:29 AM
IYO, what's the best algae?
NJ Devils Fan
06-29-2003, 8:32 AM
I think plecos are very good, either them or otos.
We spend so much time trying to eradicate the stuff that the best kind of algae is the invisisble kind :p
Oto's
True SAE's
Amano shrimp
Also, my CAE does a wonderfull job of algae control. (surprise, surprise!)
Which type of algae? All the algae eaters "specialize" to some extent, prefer some knids more than others.
Beyond that I'd go with the critters Matak listed (excluding the CAE ;) ) and add snails, and Cherry Barbs (for hair algae). I do not exclude Loricariids, so along with otos I use Peckoltia and dwarf Panaque - they are the best glass-cleaners for soft green alagae IME.
tnlguinn
06-29-2003, 3:12 PM
the SAE or CAE ore good eaters when young, but with age tend to be real bad fin and scale nippers, and also tend to eat the slime coat of other fish in the tank.
125gJoe
06-29-2003, 4:23 PM
I got SAE's since I hear the don't 'suck' the lime coatings on Discus....
Converseballer
06-29-2003, 8:46 PM
Pleco i had him for 3 years never had ANY algea he died loads of algea everywhere right now i have 3 CAE's that work pretty good....pretty good
NJ Devils Fan
06-29-2003, 8:56 PM
Woops, didn't see you didn't want a pleco as an answer.
TrashmanTodd
06-29-2003, 10:07 PM
I got a pleco that won't touch algea, but my Otto's and SAE's love the stuff. My tank has been clean, except for the stuff they can't get to.:)
Todd
maculosus
06-29-2003, 10:22 PM
I like Sicyopterus Halei it's a nice algea eating goby from Sri Lanka.
I guess it must vary from fish to fish. I have 3 ottos in my 20 gal planted , Im not impressed. Tim
somefinnfishy
06-30-2003, 12:53 AM
Originally posted by tnlguinn
the SAE or CAE ore good eaters when young, but with age tend to be real bad fin and scale nippers, and also tend to eat the slime coat of other fish in the tank.
Have you owned an adult CAE or SAE?
How old is an adult CAE? Mine is over a year old and still eats strictly algae. He might go for detrius, but he doesn't spend much time tasting gravel.
WolfPup522
06-30-2003, 7:20 AM
I also like Ottos. They do a pretty good job in my 29 gallon.
dave76
06-30-2003, 9:37 AM
My CAE seems to be fine, but I think that he matches what I have in my tank. I have no algae build up(got it because of a brown algea problem) and the agressiveness they display is fitting. They act all big and bad but turn tail and run when my Green Terror is around. If you have large CA cichlids I think CAE's are a good choice. If you are keeping tigerbarbs or other broad bodied slow moving fish that go dormant at night then they can be a target. Also CAEs WILL NOT TOLERATE same species, one will become dominant and force the others into hiding untill eventual starvation. They do have nasty fights, I orginally got two and had to separate them. My big one is around 4 inches or so. I have heard they can grow to 6".
Mine is constantly on the gravel sucking, he "crawls" around in it. He also digs kinda. Very good bottom feeder.
tricksterpup
06-30-2003, 1:14 PM
Originally posted by wetmanNY
IYO, what's the best algae?
ALGAE BALLS.. :D
As for the best alage eaters?
Gosh so many in my book.
SAE
Amano shrimp
Flag Fish
Guppies
Mollies
Sword Tails (other livebearers to many to mention here)
Ottos...
Many types of snails.
Daphnia, for that floating green alage (green water).
There are many different types of Alage eaters for different types of Alage.
I have a planted tank filled with Amano shrimp, Guppies, Sword tails and no visible alage on the plants. There will always be alage on the sides of the tanks, i just do my usual Sunday clean up on all of my tanks and the water/tank is crystal clear.
So all in all, I AM THE BEST ALAGE CLEANER for my tanks.
jim
RENEGADE
06-30-2003, 2:31 PM
i have a CAE and he eats anything always moving around the gravle. some times i move all the gravle in a area(about 1" or 2") that has algea on it. less then 3 mins later its GONE!!
cpr4cpu
06-30-2003, 2:38 PM
green algae on glass and broad leafed plants - Otocinclus cats (Otto)
hair algae on plants and decorations - Flag Fish
green algea on the substrate rocks and decorations - red ramshorn snails.
blue green algae - the often misunderstood Blackout Fish. No one has ever seen one nor has it been bred in captivity, but it sure will destroy Blue Green Algae (cyanobacteria) in three days.
dave76
06-30-2003, 2:49 PM
Originally posted by tnlguinn
the SAE or CAE ore good eaters when young, but with age tend to be real bad fin and scale nippers, and also tend to eat the slime coat of other fish in the tank.
How can CAE nip fins when they have a sucker mouth? My experience with thier aggression is that they ram and eat slime coats off of fish.
Originally posted by tricksterpup
So all in all, I AM THE BEST ALAGE CLEANER for my tanks.
jim Now isn't that the truth :D