brown algea eaters?
- Thread starter eurostar
- Start date
Otocinclus! I added 3 more to my tank, and my tank is sparkling clean. So much so, that I have to start farming algae in another tank to keep them from starving. Before that, I had trouble seeing my fish through the brown haze. They're peaceful, and only get to be about 1.5 to 2 inches long.
Just a word of warning, they are sensitive to water parameters, and require an established tank and good acclimation procedures. Even with this, I still lost one.
If you just want to get rid of algae, and are unwilling to continue with the long-term care of oto's (they can be difficult to keep), however, just keep your tank clean. It's probably an overabundance of nutrients from fish food and poop that's causing blooms.
I was also going to suggest keeping live plants to outcompete the algae, but it looks like you already have some. Do everything you can to keep your plants healthy, and they should out-do the algae. I'm still learning about all this stuff, too. But the plants and the oto's definitely helped.
Just a word of warning, they are sensitive to water parameters, and require an established tank and good acclimation procedures. Even with this, I still lost one.
If you just want to get rid of algae, and are unwilling to continue with the long-term care of oto's (they can be difficult to keep), however, just keep your tank clean. It's probably an overabundance of nutrients from fish food and poop that's causing blooms.
I was also going to suggest keeping live plants to outcompete the algae, but it looks like you already have some. Do everything you can to keep your plants healthy, and they should out-do the algae. I'm still learning about all this stuff, too. But the plants and the oto's definitely helped.
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I also agree that the oto is an excellent fish for getting rid of brown algae. Another good choice would be the Bristle Nose Pleco. They do a good job of getting rid of brown algae. They get to be about 4 -- 5 inches and have an interesting look to them. Just remember that no algae eater can survive on algae alone. You will have to supplement him with other foods.
brown algae in most cases is actually a small critter called a diatom.
otocinclus thrive on them..and bn's eat them too.
they can bre hard to acclimate..I have had young ones perish in established tanks.
best to get them med to large sized.
also don't house them with angels..
I've lost several to angels(large ones) that ate some of mine.
I have a 20 that they do so well at keeping brn algae and other algae down..that I worry about them eating.
they will occassionally snack on zuccini..I haven't tried cucumbers yet.
otocinclus thrive on them..and bn's eat them too.
they can bre hard to acclimate..I have had young ones perish in established tanks.
best to get them med to large sized.
also don't house them with angels..
I've lost several to angels(large ones) that ate some of mine.
I have a 20 that they do so well at keeping brn algae and other algae down..that I worry about them eating.
they will occassionally snack on zuccini..I haven't tried cucumbers yet.
