Algae Eaters? Please help!

standardbyker63

standardbyker63

AC Members
Dec 10, 2008
174
0
0
Bettendorf, IA
Hello all. My question is regarding algae eaters. I have a 29g freshwater goldfish tank. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, nitrates < 20ppm, temp between 74-75 degrees F. I'm having a really hard time keeping the common plecos alive in my tank. I'd like to try to keep some type of algae eater in the tank to help keep some of the algae film off the glass. Any recommendations would be great! Thanks!
 
That is probably going to be as much as you are going to get from anyone on this site.
 
I agree with the other posters, however that doesn't solve your problem. Are you feeding the plecos? If so, what and how often? They need to be fed just like any other fish needs to be fed.

Plecos are not great cleaners and should not be relied upon to keep a tank clean. They help to maintain an aquarium but that does not release you of the need to clean your tank. They also generate significant levels of waste as do goldfish. Waste can cause high levels of nitrite and ammonia. The film you mention is not always algae, it is also bacteria. I would believe that your problem is caused by improper feeding/maintenance as a pleco is a very hardy fish.
 
I have an alternative answer to the generic "algae scraper" suggestion....


Mag-Float. ;)
 
no more plecos. reduce light, reduce feeding, increase water changes. if the algae cannot be controlled through those factors, reduce bioload itself. from what i can tell, you seem to have 6 young goldies in a 29g tank, with a mixture of long-bodied and round-bodied fish. i hope you have a plan for them as they grow - a plan which also includes separation of the two types.
 
a shoal of panda cories?
and I have to agree with excuzzzeme:
How often do you feed the pleco's if you are feeding them???
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom