Recommend an algae eater?

[Cksnffr]

I usually employ oto cats for algae control. But I have one tank with some bumblebee cats that eat anything smaller than a good-sized rainbow or barb. They've already eaten some otos, actually.

My leopard cactus pleco is large enough but doesn't really eat algae.

I don't know much about the SAEs and CAEs but I guess some become quite obnoxious.

What kind of fish would clear out algae like a swarm of otos, would leave my rainbows alone, and wouldn't become bumble-chow? The tank is a 40B.


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[DarkCrow]

Multiple clown plecs? If you have caves you could probably get away with them, they only feed at night and do a pretty good job of eating away at algae

 

[Manafel]

If you make sure that you get a SAE(don't get a CAE) then a small group of them would work great. I have one that cleared my BBA outbreak within a week and now the tank is nearly spotless. Keep in mind that the SAEs only eat certian types of algae though.

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[OrionGirl]

Adult bristlenose should be safe. The albino's are more active and better for algae control than the calicos (at least in my tank), but the silvertips or long fin varieties would work as well. Adults should be 4+ inches, and have gill spines to discourage predators.

 

[Hr0th9ar]

I like to use Mollies. They eat everything except for blue-green algae, produce much less waste than a pleco, get 4-5" as adults, and they're some really pretty varieties.

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[FreshyFresh]

I've got 3 SAEs in my 55g that are quite entertaining and graze almost constantly, but their meal of choice is any type of fish food they can get ahold of. After all, they are omnivores. I don't have much of an algae problem in my planted 55 because I try to keep the lighting/CO2 balance in check. If heavy algae is a problem, that's the only way to keep it at bay. Proper lighting and carbon balance.

 

[vanillarum]

I agree with any type of adult bristle nose.