Clown Loach for Algae?

M

Marc999

AC Members
Jan 22, 2005
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I went into my local Big Al's Aquarium Services and was looking for a bristlenose catfish to asist with general algae duty.

The young girl helping me suggested clown loaches to take care of my algae problem?....Was she smoking something unusual that day, or is she correct?
I have a feeling she shouldn't be working there, but that's just another employee at another LFS in my area that hasn't a clue. Unless she's right?

Marc
 
Clown loach's are awesome at snail control but won't help you out a bit with algae. If you have a tank bigger than 30g try a bristlenose. Otherwise go with the otos.
 
A lot of people (including those who work in LFS -- who should probably know better) assume that all bottom feeders eat algae because they look like algae eaters, plecos, or otos.

If you have a serious algae problem, you may want to look at why this is happening. Is the tank getting too much sunlight/artificial light? Do you have live plants? High nitrates/phosphates? Etc.

"Fix the problem, not the symptom."
 
Thanks for the help folks, yes my nitrates are higher than desired ~ 40ppm. Mind you it was between 80 and 160 ppm. not too long ago.

It's a 10 gallon tank, 2 java ferns, 1 anubias (all plants elastic banded to rocks/driftwood), flourish (1-2x/wk) flourish excel (every 3rd day), flourish iron (1x/wk.)are added. Standard 15w fluorescent lifeglo 2 bulb for 11 hrs./day. Seems to do the trick. Perhaps overkill for plants such as these undemanding ones...Oh, considering my tank is in my bedroom and gets direct sunlight in the morning is likely a darn good cause for a little extra algae ;) But ****, my fish seem to love the morning sun, which obviously wakes them up before the fluorescent light timer comes on.
My increased water changes (every 3rd day now) is not only a quick easy chore, but is bringing out colours in my true rummynose tetras, which is a nice sight to behold. My false rummynose tetras always have redish hue to their heads...so they were never a reliable indication of water quality. Mind you, I like my false rummies better due to their constant redness and are actually more active than the true rummies. I'm missing the 3rd species, let alone their latin names...but anyway....i'm rambling!

Marc
 
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