Chineese algae eater & otocinclus compatibility

[gustavo85]

Hi guys, I have artificial plants in my tank and even though I have a chineese algae eater, algae is taking over because he is old and lazy. Now, are these chineese algae eaters compatible with otocinclus catfish? Will the tolerate the otos?

 

[lilim10]

Chinese algae eater? Not siamese? Probably not, they get really large and aggresive and may harm other fish.

 

[Squeakfish]

I think otos are the...like, ONLY fish that CAEs can deal with. They're small, small-bodied, and very fast. If they can handle puffers, they can probably handle CAEs.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Take care of the problem (lighting, nutrients, etc.) instead of depending on a fish.

 

[gustavo85]

Take care of the problem (lighting, nutrients, etc.) instead of depending on a fish.

I use just a 25 watt bulb for 4 hrs. and no nutrietnts. That's why I'm contemplating on recurring to the ottos.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

Nutrients can be introduced in the form of overfeeding or fish waste and inadequate maintenance. If you have an algae problem with 25W of light on for only 4 hours a day, something is VERY off.

 

[gustavo85]

Hmmm...something as? It's not a problem, I don't consider it a problem it's just that diaton algae is starting to bloom at a steady rate in plants near the surface (near the light).

 

[Hooked Newbie]

If it is brown diatoms only, don't sweat it. They will go away.

 

[gustavo85]

And brown + green diatom (the green one's look like small round patches in leaves)?

 

[Hooked Newbie]

What size tank and what fish are in it? How much / often do you feed?