i just added 3 otos to my 20g tank and i'm going to grow some extra algae in a mason jar for them, just in case they run out, since i don't know exactly how much they eat.
best algae eater for 36 gallon tank
- Thread starter coolfool
- Start date
Cories don't eat algae......but they do eat up any uneaten food that gets past the herd and makes it to the bottom...which is a good thing.
SAEs or Siamese Algae Eaters are supposed to be the best for eating algae. They eat a larger variety than the ottos..and will clean up any hair algae you might get in your tank. I have heard some who have them complain about thier activity...a very busy fish apparently and I'm not sure if they do better alone or in groups.
Just don't get CAEs...or Chinese Algae Eaters. They aren't good algae eaters and will become aggressive when they mature. And don't get a pleco....they're filthy and get very large.
SAEs or Siamese Algae Eaters are supposed to be the best for eating algae. They eat a larger variety than the ottos..and will clean up any hair algae you might get in your tank. I have heard some who have them complain about thier activity...a very busy fish apparently and I'm not sure if they do better alone or in groups.
Just don't get CAEs...or Chinese Algae Eaters. They aren't good algae eaters and will become aggressive when they mature. And don't get a pleco....they're filthy and get very large.
if you want a great pleco, clown plecos (panaque maccus) are awesome. they top out at 3.5". they are shy but have great color
Aren't Nerite snails marine snails. I'm confused now!
So they can be used in freshwater tanks?:help:Patty
Coach Z is right. The best way to control algae is to limit light exposure, keep up on water changes, and don't overfeed. Having a creature solely to control algae actually just completes the circle. The extra poop from the creature, whether fish or snail or shrimp, feeds the algae which feeds the creature which makes more poop...you get the picture. It's way easy to control algae in a nonplanted tank. Planted tanks must have enough light and fertilizer for the plants to outcompete the algae, and it's a delicate balance usually.
That said, there are some wonderful creatures that have the bonus of helping you control any algae that may erupt but are also just nice to look at and easy to keep. Nerite snails and amano shrimp are among them. Both are very good at eating algae. Nerites have the upper hand, IMHO, because they have better protection against fish that may bother/eat them. There are many kinds of nerites, but the ones that can live in freshwater include olive nerites, Clithon corona (spiky black and yellow striped), hairy nerites, C. corona sp sun (like the first but have thinner and more stripes), etc. These cannot breed in freshwater, so you won't have a snail infestation. They do leave sesame-seed-shaped eggs, but I find they are mostly on the underside of my driftwood and not at all noticeable.
That said, there are some wonderful creatures that have the bonus of helping you control any algae that may erupt but are also just nice to look at and easy to keep. Nerite snails and amano shrimp are among them. Both are very good at eating algae. Nerites have the upper hand, IMHO, because they have better protection against fish that may bother/eat them. There are many kinds of nerites, but the ones that can live in freshwater include olive nerites, Clithon corona (spiky black and yellow striped), hairy nerites, C. corona sp sun (like the first but have thinner and more stripes), etc. These cannot breed in freshwater, so you won't have a snail infestation. They do leave sesame-seed-shaped eggs, but I find they are mostly on the underside of my driftwood and not at all noticeable.
