Small Algae Eater Needed

Brown algae is considered by most a nuisance. It apparently has an abundant food source that, as you mentioned, you can't get rid of. Since you have such a small tank, stocking more fish would cause more problems than solve your current one. I would suggest you brush away as much of the algae as you can at your next water change and vacuum the gravel. Change the carbon and see how long it takes for the algae to become noticeable. If you have a small amount, noticeable but not unsightly, in a few weeks time, you can plan a maintenance schedule around its growth rate. You could also try shrimp or snails to keep the algae growth in check. You don't want to increase your bioload too much and you also don't want to scrub algae every other day either.

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Established is good...if the neons are doing OK, they should be fine and should be fun in the tank. Phosphates can, if I recall correctly, increase algae. It can take a few buys to get a healthy trio of otos, but that's what I would add. Just replace one at a time if one dies. Look for ones with healthy/rounded looking stomachs. IF the stomachs are concave, they're usually already starving and won't make it. Once you get healthy ones, though, they're hardy and should like much longer than your neons.

Eric
 
In a 5g, you can't add otos. You'd be overstocked. I would go the snail route just because of the space.
 
Thank you for the advice on the otos! I think I'll buy a trio of otos because I had snails before and they didn't do too well eating algae. Also, I tried scrubbing the tank every week and changing the water more often for 3 months now but that didn't work so that's why I started this thread :) I hope this works!


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Plastic plants were a PITA with brown algae when we had hard water & high phosphates...& were less than diligent with water changes. Snails helped a little bit, otos & plecs didn't like to clean plastic. Our answer was to take out the "plants" every month or 2 & brush off algae, sometimes with bleach but that fades the plastic. Do you have enough light for real plants?
 
I believe that the tank was by natural light, so live plants are a definite thing that would help. Java fern will do well even in low light, and water sprite, which I mentioned originally, can float or be planted and should do well, too (I've never had a problem growing it in any light...even if books say it needs medium to high light).

Eric
 
I probably have enough light for real plants but I'm not too interested in getting any as of now. Thank you for the idea though ill keep it in mind!


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If you've never had real plants, they are much easier than algae ridden plastic/silk plants, especially java fern and water sprite. Just add and forget. Cleaner water, and I'd swear my fish are happier and live longer.

Eric
 
The live plants would help with brown algae in two ways. They would take nutrients out of the water that would otherwise be used to grow brown algae, and you would need less plastic plants on which brown algae would grow.

Emily
 
I've been following this thread closely and most of the advice is dead on, in my opinion. A 5g doesn't offer you many options. With the brown algae problem, adding more fish isn't the way to go. Live plants, shrimp, snails, or even increased filtration are all viable options. If you concentrate on the cause, the cure will follow.

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