Algae eater help!

[beautifulfish]

I have a 29 gallon tank with 1 blue gourami, 2 mickey mouse platys, and 2 female mollies. I previously had a red-tailed shark with them but he died a few weeks ago. Since he died the tank has become dirtier faster. I read that red tailed sharks shouldn't go with community fish. Is that true? And if it is what algae eater is good for a community aquarium? I don't want one that gets really big or is really ugly. Is there one?

 

[reignman40]

The red-tailed sharks can be in a community but are more suited with other semi-aggressive type fish that won't let the shark bully them. Probably wouldn't work with the fish u have.

Now for an algae eater for your size tank Bristlenose Pleco would work. Also some Otos I know a lot of people like those. Myself I have a Whiptail Catfish that I enjoy.

Hope that helps,
Curtis

 

[Dangerdoll]

If you're trying to steer clear of the pleco's (small ones), you can try a few otos in your tank. Try this link...
otocinclus

I also have a whiptail cat in my 30 gallon that is great.

 

[beautifulfish]

Thanks. I'll see what my pet store has!

 

[zazz]

Even with another 'algae eater' You will need to vaccum and change water more than you have been doing. also. if it is just the green that you are calling 'dirty' you can probably very nearly illiminate that with more frequent water changes and less light.
Please Make sure that your tank is stable, cycle wise, before you add more fish.
good luck!

 

[Kissofthegorami]

I don't like plecos. They get lazy and are constantly defecating. They produce a lot of waste. I LOVE otos. They are tiny and unassuming. They eat brown algae and new algae growth. One per 10 gallons is good. I also have TRUE siamese algae eaters which do a great job. You should have at least a 29 gallon to keep a couple. It is somewhat difficult to find a real siamese algae eater and they usually show up by mistake in a mix of fake ones. I found mine at petco trying to pass off as black neon tetras. -_-
Nerite snails do not reproduce in freshwater and you will never have green spot algae (that stuff u need to scrape off the glass), and amano shrimp do an ok job. If nothing else, I love shrimp for keeping my plants and java moss spotless.

 

[knashash]

I LOVE otos. They are tiny and unassuming. They eat brown algae and new algae growth. One per 10 gallons is good.QUOTE]

IMHO you can have a lot more than one per 10 gallons. More like one per 2 gallons

 

[Holly9937]

I previously had a red-tailed shark with them but he died a few weeks ago. Since he died the tank has become dirtier faster.

I'm not sure why this would be... They are not really known for algae eating. If the problem is alot of uneaten food in the bottom of the tank you are overfeeding

 

[Kissofthegorami]

knash... unless you want a tank full of otos, I don't think you want to do one per 2 gallons.

 

[carttman]

I have had bristlenose pleco's and otos before. They both do excellent jobs at cleaning brown algae. Right now I have 4otos in a 29 gallon tank. Remember that you will need to supplement them with algae wafers and vegetables.