Ok well here is my problem. I have a lot of algae buildup in my tank due to the growth lights i have. I recently baught 2 pleco's and they both got destroyed..... totally eaten up lol. (as well as one oscar i just baught). My main question is what algae eater can i get that wont get eaten by the cichlids and that has a strong enough body + tail that wont get shredded to peices by the cichlids. By the way i have 2 jack dempsy's 1 oscar and about 6 african cichlids.. all range in size from about 2-3"max. The tank is a 55 gallon. Perhaps its overpopulated, i dont know though, thats just a thought. If anyone has a solution to my problem that'll work please let me know. Thanks!
Algae Eaters & Cichlids
- Thread starter oscarcichlid
- Start date
a 55 with 2 JD's and an oscar plus 6 african cichlids..
'
Yikes
have you determined which african cichlids you have?
JD's can be kept with some selective africans but you need to see which you have as some require different water parameters.
but also do research as JD's can get to around 10" for males.
oscars can also attain 10" even a bit bigger..
you are probably going to find some issues with your tank as these fish mature and will require a larger tank if you decide to keep these.
'
Yikes
have you determined which african cichlids you have?
JD's can be kept with some selective africans but you need to see which you have as some require different water parameters.
but also do research as JD's can get to around 10" for males.
oscars can also attain 10" even a bit bigger..
you are probably going to find some issues with your tank as these fish mature and will require a larger tank if you decide to keep these.
Yes, i have 2 electron blue and 2 electron yellow if thats the correct name? Plus an albino and another one that im not 100% sure of the name, its 100% orange tho and has the same shape as the others. What size tank do i need then? lol would a 75 gallon work? cause i can get one for free....... But on another note... algae.. how to rid of it ? (besides hand cleaning)
My 55g African peacock tank is best cleaned by hand--better job, more thorough around gravel, etc. If you do your water changes regularly and don't overfeed/fertilize, even with the growth lights you'll do well. BTW, what are you growing that the cichlids aren't digging up and/or eating? Just curious . . . .
i've just got some type of plant, its not like a seaweed. Green in color and the leafing is somewhat prickly.. i dont even know the exact name tho to be honest.
You need to purchase a synodontis catfish. They are the best cleaners for use w/african cichlids. They can get up to a foot long, but are more expensive as they get older. Get a fairly larger one (5-6", the more the better) for whatever won't break the bank. At my (awesome) LFS, the 2' synodontis' are 12.95 so I just start there. I've kept 2 full-grown oscars with bottom feeders that large, with almost no issues.
Also, does anyone know a bit about breeding? I need some help (the cichlids started it!)
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83491
Also, does anyone know a bit about breeding? I need some help (the cichlids started it!)
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83491
^ Trying to steal my thread i see lol... jk But supringly i found my pleco's stuck in the filter haha.. And they havent been eaten yet, strangely. The oscar did which was the weird part.
Sorry about that Plecos are excellent with Oscars, I think they do the best job with oscars of any cleaner.
I am surprised, however, that it gets along with the African Cichlids. Great job if you've gotten them to get along! You are among the few
hmm
featherfin squekers are a good economical syno to go with and will get large enough to survive.
If you want a really good economical choice, go with a type of raphael. They are armored, so cichlids leave them alone, plus they are from many of the same habitats as your JDs and O's I think(though not certain about the Os).
Though now that I look at what you were asking for, neither a syno nor a raphael is a real algae eater. They will clean up messes, and raphs will flat out gorge themselves on leftovers-my striped seems more prone to this then my spotted, but the striped is bigger, so that might be it.
there is a thread in the planted tank section on algae eaters, and I think someone mentions keeping Otto cats or Siamese Algae Eaters with their cichlids and having no issues.
BTW, I have never kept them, but most people who have seem to think Pleco's cause more algae then they ever clean up.
featherfin squekers are a good economical syno to go with and will get large enough to survive.
If you want a really good economical choice, go with a type of raphael. They are armored, so cichlids leave them alone, plus they are from many of the same habitats as your JDs and O's I think(though not certain about the Os).
Though now that I look at what you were asking for, neither a syno nor a raphael is a real algae eater. They will clean up messes, and raphs will flat out gorge themselves on leftovers-my striped seems more prone to this then my spotted, but the striped is bigger, so that might be it.
there is a thread in the planted tank section on algae eaters, and I think someone mentions keeping Otto cats or Siamese Algae Eaters with their cichlids and having no issues.
BTW, I have never kept them, but most people who have seem to think Pleco's cause more algae then they ever clean up.
Last edited:
The best way to do it would be to just clean it by hand. A common pleco would just require you to do more water changes with all the waste it produces.
I would get another tank for the africans. They require different water parameters than the oscar and dempseys do, not to mention when the oscar gets big enough they will be food. You could get another 55 for the africans and put 12-15 total in there. The dempseys and oscar will outgrow the 55 eventually. You can probably get away with leaving the dempseys in there but the oscar will probably need a 55/75 to itself or with some dithers.
I would get another tank for the africans. They require different water parameters than the oscar and dempseys do, not to mention when the oscar gets big enough they will be food. You could get another 55 for the africans and put 12-15 total in there. The dempseys and oscar will outgrow the 55 eventually. You can probably get away with leaving the dempseys in there but the oscar will probably need a 55/75 to itself or with some dithers.