Crew for cleaning Diatoms - Brown Stuff

W

wrc1045

AC Members
Dec 14, 2006
68
0
0
OK several tanks have been setup for 6-8 months. I have had diatoms (brown stuff) for several months now. I have been cleaning, scrubbing glass and decor diligently every week. It is finally getting old. The water quality is perfectly fine. Filtration is also fine. I was concidering purchasing all 4 new Eheims Pro 3 and junking everything else. Needless to say it is getting under my last nerve.

I have read here several fish are great for this type of clean up.

I like the different plecos and snails.

I am adding several larger plecos and some turbo snails. What is the most efffective? I would like this stuff gone asap. I may even try starting over if this persist.

Thanks for your time.


Bill
 
If the tank is well established try some otocinclus aka otos' they are said to clean a tank of algae in days if not hours!

Plecos will feed on algae when they are young, but arent really good algae eaters. From what Ive read there are a few snails which will do the job, but unless you want snails everywhere Id go with otos.
 
si, ottos love diatoms. Bristlenose plecos like it aswell.
 
Gotta go with the Oto's. Great clean up crew. I have two in my 20 gallon. I think I read somewhere that 1 Oto should be given 10 gallons of waters. that's why I bought two of them.
 
I heard oto's can die off rather quickly since they are picky when it comes time to eat after they clean a tank. I got a couple LDA08 bristlenoses from Blue at exoticfinds.com (actually got them off aquabid from him) I also heard that frybabies.com occasionally have them as well. Even though after shipping the 3 were $120, I love em.
 
My Cherry shrimp love that stuff too. I had serious diatoms in my 3 gallon untill I introduced cherries.
 
Oto's are great in tanks with this issue..and if the tank is large and prduces plenty of algae...
they also do well in planted tanks.
just be cautious of tank mates..oto's are small and some tank mates may nip at them.

are these for the 75"s you have??

you should be okay with a crew of them.
 
I have an AWFUL diatom problem in my 10 gal, so I bought 3 just now! 1.99 US$ a piece. They are very, very little, so if they really do need 10 gal/oto, then I'll give the other two to my local fish store later..perhaps for store credit. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom