View Full Version : Best algae eating fish?
yhbae
10-11-2003, 10:11 PM
My tank is now 10 weeks old, working out nicely, except for one thing - algae. I do have two otos in the tank and they seem to eat all the time. The front glass is really clean, but the side ones are somewhat green and the rear glass is completely covered with a green carpet of algaes. Personally I don't mind the look of it, but I'm not sure if I want much more than what I have already. My 25g only has 20w light and I have decent amount of java moss and ferns. Although both are growing at nice pace, obviously they are not outcompeting algae by judging from the rate at which the green algae is multiplying on the rear glass.
I don't feel I am overfeeding - I only feed flakes 3 times a week and each time they dissapear within a minute or two. Other times, I feed freeze-dried blood worms, tubifix worms, algae tablets and live hatched BBS.
So would any of the following work?
- SAE
- Bristlenose Pleco
- More Otos?
I have yet to find SAE in my region and I believe I've located one LFS that sells Bristlenose at $10CA each. I'm not concerned about Bristlenose overgrowing this tank as I have other (larger) tanks that are being setup right now that probably will need their help eventually.
Appreciate any feedback.
gregg604
10-11-2003, 10:17 PM
The SAE seems to work best for me, especially on glass. He is always giving it a good cleaning.
Tetratastic
10-12-2003, 3:23 AM
Why not just get more otos? I think they look really neat sucking on the glass in groups ;)
i have a similar problem, my otos refuse to eat algae other than brown (diatomic) algaes. to get rid of the thread and green algae that pops up i just get into the tank and manual pull or scrub it clean when i do water changes.
Originally posted by Tetratastic
Why not just get more otos? I think they look really neat sucking on the glass in groups ;)
I think Otos are supposed to eat these green algaes but they don't want to even touch them in my tank! They clean the front glass all the time for some reason, yet these thick carpets, they don't want to have anything to do with them... :mad: That's why I was looking into SAE or Bristlenose Pleco...
Originally posted by rich
i have a similar problem, my otos refuse to eat algae other than brown (diatomic) algaes. to get rid of the thread and green algae that pops up i just get into the tank and manual pull or scrub it clean when i do water changes.
Weird though - I don't think there's any brown algae in my tank any more, but their stomache seem full and they don't touch algae wafers - I'm assuming they are finding enough food to eat...
Personally, I don't think I like the green algae background any less than the black one I had before (to certain extent, looks more natural now). Only if it doesn't get any thicker, it would be ok, but I can clearly tell they are... :D
ROLLIN
10-12-2003, 9:16 AM
I personally would scrape it off.
stik6shift98
10-12-2003, 12:33 PM
get a bristlenose pleco or a clown pleco
Originally posted by stik6shift98
get a bristlenose pleco or a clown pleco
Clown pleco? This is the first time someone suggested this one to me. I'll research into it and see if it looks good... Thanks! :D
[QUOTE]Originally posted by yhbae
[B]
Weird though - I don't think there's any brown algae in my tank any more, but their stomache seem full and they don't touch algae wafers - I'm assuming they are finding enough food to eat...
yeah there wasnt any brown algae left after a couple days after introducing 3 otos to my 29 gal. i started dropping in algae wafers and cucumber to make sure they still had stuff to munch on.
Originally posted by rich
[QUOTE]Originally posted by yhbae
[B]
Weird though - I don't think there's any brown algae in my tank any more, but their stomache seem full and they don't touch algae wafers - I'm assuming they are finding enough food to eat...
yeah there wasnt any brown algae left after a couple days after introducing 3 otos to my 29 gal. i started dropping in algae wafers and cucumber to make sure they still had stuff to munch on.
Have you actually seen them eat algae wafers? Almost all the time, cories swam around those wafers. Ocassionally, platies come too. I have never witnessed otos eating them...