What kind of algae eating fish should I get?

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mcps95

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I've got a 55 gal, non-planted tank with a TetraTec 300 filter and the following inhabitants:

3 Bala Sharks
3 Clown Loaches
3 Pictus Cats
3 Blue Gouramis

I'm looking for an algae eating fish (not necessarily a CAE or SAE) for my tank. At first I thought that the stuff growing on my glass was a hyrda infestation (hence the Blue Gouramis), but I've had them for over a month now and the stuff is still there. I'm also noticing a slight green tinge to the surfaces, (especially noticable when looking at an angle). So I'm assuming that the problem is actually algae. I scrub the tank just before doing water changes/gravel vacuuming with an algae brush, but it comes back within a couple days.

What kind of algae eating fish or other animal can I get that will work with the other inhabitants of the tank and how many should I get?
 
First, I think it's important to determine why you have algae problems. Resolving that problem will usually negate the 'need' for a fish.

Check your nitrates and phosphates. Let us know how often, and what size are your water changes. How old is the tank? Any plants?
 
True SAE's are nice!
If you have no algae problems (now, or later on) you will need to buy "algae wafers" to help supplement their diet.

On SAE's, the stripe on them must go all the way through the tail, not just stop at the tail.

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Hey OrionGirl,

Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday about this. I was planning on going over and picking up nitrate and phosphate test kits at Petsmart last night, but got tied up with work. (My Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Freshwater Master Test Kit seems to be last year's model, which doesn't have a nitrate test like they do now.)

As for water changes, I typically do a 50% water change and gravel vacuuming about every two weeks. The tank is about 3.5 months old. No plants in the tank, except for the plastic variety. :)

Other params:

pH = 6.6
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
 
I would try increasing the water changes to weekly, and see if that reduces the amount of algae you see. I tend to discourage people from using fish to deal with algae for a couple of reasons. First, once purchased, the fish is a new obligation, and very few tanks produce enough algae to keep an algae eater alive in the long run, requiring additional feedings and care. Second, most algae problems are easily solved by changing maintenance routines/frequency. Algae usually only reaches problem levels when there are too many nutrients in the water. More water changes will help--or you could try adding some low light plants, such as java ferns, that will compete with the algae for the nutrients.
 
I would agree with the weekly water changes too

Are you going to get a larger tank? those Bala Sharks and Clown Loaches will get very large and the 55 isn't big enough for all of them. 12 fish in the 55 with 6 fish that are going to push 12" not enough room. but It won't happen over night. So you do have some time.
Does the tank get any sunlight this would be a large factor in promoting the algae
 
The tank is on the opposite wall from two windows (room is about 15 feet across) with the blinds always closed. While some diffuse sunlight does get through, I wouldn't consider it a significant amount.

And yes, I do plan to get a bigger tank sometime early next year. Right now the fish are all relatively small and the tank size shouldn't be a problem until I have a chance to get something larger.
 
Check your nitrates and phosphates.....
I've had a very over stocked 30 gallon at one point and any light would turn the water green. Overstocked could be one problem
Infrequent water changes could be another........weekly large water changes will help the overstocked problem, any nitrate,phosphate problem a little.
 
Since you say it is growing on the glass have you tried just using an algae scraper pad from the fish store. Practically every tank I know has some algae growing on the glass. A little hard work should get rid of it. But do it before a water change so that you catch most of the spores with a water change.
 
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