I want to reinforce figuring out what the cause of the algae is and not depending on the fish to clean it up. That being said, amano shrimp are terrific at eating algae and are terribly fun to watch.
Who eats algae...And alot of it ?
- Thread starter NCalien
- Start date
I've never seen BNs or otos go after BBA, hair, string, clado, GDA, or staghorn. I personally love the fish but their algae-eating abilities are far overrated IMHO. 
^ Actually my one otto alone has almost cleaned my entire tank he loves that suff
So if my algae still isnt going away should i just not turn the lights on anymore
So if my algae still isnt going away should i just not turn the lights on anymore
I bought this food from http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com Nutrafin Max
This food contains low phosphorus content to minimize the risk of algae blooms in the aquarium. They all are low phosphorus and come in different types, livebearer, bottom feeders, community fish.
I have a friend that said that Swordtails will eat hair algae and she keep a few in her tank to control that.
Another way to control algae is don't have your lights on for over 8-9 hrs and feed less food, even skipping one day without food is good for your tank. I have a bushy nosed pleco in each of my tanks and the green algae that is on the tank is cleaned and on the decorations. BN only get about 4" inches. If they get a bit bigger you can always rehome them and they will out live most of your fish in your tank as they have a live span of 10-12 yrs or more with good care.
I clean the front of my tanks glass and leave the rest on the sides and back for the Bushy nosed plecos or dwarf shrimps. Also new tanks seem to get the algae bloom until the tank cycles fully. Adding to many fish to soon will throw off the cycle also.
Once your bio-filter kicks in the tank will clear up. If the tank is by a window it will have more algae then placed away from a window. I have 1 Hex 5 gal. tank by a window in the kitchen and it has algae all the time. My Bushy nose takes care of it and i keep the front clean and let it grow on sides/back areas. What is the temp of the tanks water. If you have the temp set so high more algae will form. Mine is set at 72 and the watts on my light is only 13 watts for that tank. Higher watts will add more heat to your tank also and the light intensity will add to the algae problem. Algae is always present in aquariums and simple measures is all it takes to control it. I do not like using chemicals to control algae as it is not good for the plants and fish and will kill any dwarf shrimp or snails that you might have.
This food contains low phosphorus content to minimize the risk of algae blooms in the aquarium. They all are low phosphorus and come in different types, livebearer, bottom feeders, community fish.
I have a friend that said that Swordtails will eat hair algae and she keep a few in her tank to control that.
Another way to control algae is don't have your lights on for over 8-9 hrs and feed less food, even skipping one day without food is good for your tank. I have a bushy nosed pleco in each of my tanks and the green algae that is on the tank is cleaned and on the decorations. BN only get about 4" inches. If they get a bit bigger you can always rehome them and they will out live most of your fish in your tank as they have a live span of 10-12 yrs or more with good care.
I clean the front of my tanks glass and leave the rest on the sides and back for the Bushy nosed plecos or dwarf shrimps. Also new tanks seem to get the algae bloom until the tank cycles fully. Adding to many fish to soon will throw off the cycle also.
Once your bio-filter kicks in the tank will clear up. If the tank is by a window it will have more algae then placed away from a window. I have 1 Hex 5 gal. tank by a window in the kitchen and it has algae all the time. My Bushy nose takes care of it and i keep the front clean and let it grow on sides/back areas. What is the temp of the tanks water. If you have the temp set so high more algae will form. Mine is set at 72 and the watts on my light is only 13 watts for that tank. Higher watts will add more heat to your tank also and the light intensity will add to the algae problem. Algae is always present in aquariums and simple measures is all it takes to control it. I do not like using chemicals to control algae as it is not good for the plants and fish and will kill any dwarf shrimp or snails that you might have.
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What types of algae are you seeing?
If its hard, stringy, hairy...probably not what your oto is eating. I've gone through all of those w/o seeing either touch the stuff. If they are, its not a noticeable dent.
They'll eat diatoms IME. But thats it...
I have the same stuff. It says on the sight it's caused by low light? So do I need higher wattage of lights or what? :huh:
Caridina Propinqua are absolutely fantastic algae eating shrimp- they even eat hair algae.
Also- they are a beautifull orange colour.
A little pricey- I started out with 6- I think a couple didn't make it beyond the first week because I can never count more than 4 of them in the tank (although there are a lot of hiding places)... that small number has visibly reduced the hair algae in my tank in a matter of weeks.
My Cherries and Ghosts ignored the hair algae.
Also- they are a beautifull orange colour.
A little pricey- I started out with 6- I think a couple didn't make it beyond the first week because I can never count more than 4 of them in the tank (although there are a lot of hiding places)... that small number has visibly reduced the hair algae in my tank in a matter of weeks.
My Cherries and Ghosts ignored the hair algae.
I don't think much can be done on the keeper's part to prevent diatom. I have had some for like over 6 months. You can clean the glass, but you can't clean the gravel and everything else in the tank that easily.
A few nerites, ottos, or briggs should help. If you only get a few, and make sure to supplement them if your algae runs out, then they will be fine.
Look up pics of them online first so you know what you are looking for, or buy from a breeder here.
A few nerites, ottos, or briggs should help. If you only get a few, and make sure to supplement them if your algae runs out, then they will be fine.
Look up pics of them online first so you know what you are looking for, or buy from a breeder here.
No need for me to start a new thread but what exactly should I feed my Corries...I just got some Peppered Corries Sunday and one died this morning. They were both EXTREMELY active but im hoping the one died just bc I got it from petsmart
