Brackish Algae Eater?

brackish_puffer

brackish_puffer

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May 28, 2006
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London
I currently have a 50l Tank with just 1 figure of 8 puffer in it. I really like this fish and it seems really happy in there. The tank has a large external filter fitted and is heavily planted with Java Fern and Java moss which seem to do reasonable well in there.

My problem is that even though I have the plants, green algae seems to grow quite a bit. I do a 30% water change every week or so and do regular checks on the water, the salinity is set to around .005. I think when i set up the tank (and bought it) i went for the wrong position and shape. The tank is directly opposite a window and the front glass of the tank is curved (which seems to intensify the light), the tank doesnt actually get any direct sunlight as we are in a block of flats but I think plays a part in the problem. Unfortunately it is not really an option to move the tank as there is no other place to put it. What would be ideal is an algae eating fish to help with the algae.

Does anyone know any type of fish that can cope with brackish that will eat algae? Or just a good way of cutting down the algae without killing the plants (i would prefer not to use chemicals to do this).

Also does anyone have a good source of brackish fish specialist in or near london UK?

Thanks in advance.

Ash
 
Algae

some people will probly get mad at me for sayin this but get you a cheap algae eater and put him in there. He may survive or may die. I have one in mine and he is doing great.

Emery
 
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hav you though of brackish snails? i have 2 zebra nerites that are quite amazing at eating algea.they are doing fine in FW but i know they will do better in BW.OOPS forgot you had a puffer
 
Hi Emery - What kind of algae eater do you have in your tank?

I have actually read that some of the south american plecos can tolerate brackish water, but the information I have read is all very vague.

If the fish could handle the water then i am pretty sure there would be enough for it to eat in there.

Ash
 
Mollies are BW fish and love green algae...but I think your tank may be too small. I have 2 mollys with a figure 8 in a 29 gallon tank. So far, it's working out, but only time will really tell.

Eric
 
I used to have some Mollie fry in there with the Figure of 8 - I have to say that I did put them in there for him to eat...Mollies reproduce a bit too quick for my liking! Amazingly the puffer just left them alone, almost like he didnt even notice they were there. Anyway the mollies started to grow and started to bully the puffer so I took them out of there and gave them to the LFS.

I guess the puffer just didnt like the flavour, funny really how he chooses to attack some things and not others. Ive got some river shrimp in there at the moment that do a very temporary job of eating algae - He definately likes the flavour of those guys!

I read someone of adding ghost shrimp to do this job and just replacing them every few months I tried this but no way do the shrimp last for a few months - a few minutes maybe!

Any other suggestions let me know.
 
There really is no brackish algae eater other than nerite snails. The problem with them is the puffers eats them before they can do anything. This is the reason I gave up my F-8. I got tire of being the algae cleaner for the tank. I had to scrub everything in it every other week just about. Good luck.

Unlike yours though, mine ate anything that was in the tank with him so the molly I tried only lasted about 30 seconds and ghost shrimp even less time.
 
There are lots and lots of algae eating brackish species, unfortunatly rarely do they appear in the hobby. There is a tilipia that eats algae ONLY. Brackish has gotten sorta the short end of the stick when it comes to selection in the aquarium trade.
 
viktor said:
try the Florida flagfish, I think they can do brackish
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uuuuh...... this post is 5 months old, dude.... :D
welcome to the forums!
 
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