Which one is better for a convict cichlid tank to maintain the algae level in a 29 gallon tank?
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Oto, Pleco or Algae eater
- Thread starter bball4life
- Start date
Also depends on size of tank.
Also you aren't including other algae eaters like Hillstream Loaches, SAEs, Florida Flagfish and others.
Also you aren't including other algae eaters like Hillstream Loaches, SAEs, Florida Flagfish and others.
Also depends on the type of alage. The best way to keep algae down is to do proper water changes and use an algae scruber on the glass.
Convicts, especially breeding pairs, can be very aggressive and attack other tank mates.
Convicts, especially breeding pairs, can be very aggressive and attack other tank mates.
Hillstream Loaches and SAEs are not terribly difficult to find. Florida Flags can be very hard to find esp if you live in the US.
I disagree that Flagfish are difficult to find in the US. The difficulty is that nobody seems to be familiar with these great fish. I got mine through my LFS, but he didn't even know what I was talking about. I have him the common and scientific names, and he had no trouble ordering them. I had 4 of them (2 males, 2 females in my 55 planted for about a year, then sucked one of the males up my python and it died 
. I threw the remaining 3 outside for the summer in a 30 gallon tub with some live plants. One female with a Betta in a separate tub, and a pair in another. I had no trouble with bugs (mosquitos in either of those tubs, and they were relatively algae free (remember I'm in Savannah, GA. with plenty of hot, sunny days). There was no filtration, and rain was the only water change (it would overflow the tubs). I ended up draining the tubs when the weather cooled off and found 5 babies in the couple's tank. They are all now indoors, doing great and growing, and the tank is basically algae free!
I like these fish because they act more like a cichlid than the other algae eaters. They will hold their own but aren't as violent as many people claim in my opinion. Of coarse every fish is different!
But my opinion for Convicts in a 29 is a standard Pleco. Their armor helps keep them alive!
. I threw the remaining 3 outside for the summer in a 30 gallon tub with some live plants. One female with a Betta in a separate tub, and a pair in another. I had no trouble with bugs (mosquitos in either of those tubs, and they were relatively algae free (remember I'm in Savannah, GA. with plenty of hot, sunny days). There was no filtration, and rain was the only water change (it would overflow the tubs). I ended up draining the tubs when the weather cooled off and found 5 babies in the couple's tank. They are all now indoors, doing great and growing, and the tank is basically algae free!I like these fish because they act more like a cichlid than the other algae eaters. They will hold their own but aren't as violent as many people claim in my opinion. Of coarse every fish is different!
But my opinion for Convicts in a 29 is a standard Pleco. Their armor helps keep them alive!
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hey Bmeasure I live in Tallahassee, not far away, wanna send me some of those flags next time they spawn? 
