6 Gallons, 1 Betta, And A Need For An Algae Eater

Hello all,

I need something to help me with the war against algae. I have sand colored algae growing on my silk plants, gravel, and glass in my 6 gallon eclipse tank. I can win the fights, via regular cleaning, but the war seems to be in the algae's favor. I was thinking of getting my batta a roommate who enjoys the fine dining my tank has to offer. Do you have any suggestions? It has been suggested to me by a friend to acquire a Green Apple Snail or a Plecostomus. What say you?

- Jason

Find the cause of the algae first... Tank light? Feeding regime?

an ancistrus shouldnt grow too big too quickly

OohFeeshy said:

Find the cause of the algae first... Tank light? Feeding regime?

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I have very controlled feeding. 3-4 Betta Gold pellets in the AM and 3-4 in the PM. Every other day the PM feeding is changed to 3-6 blood worms. Every Sunday is fasting day.

Tank lighting is dark 15-18 hours a day. During this time the only light the tank gets is ambient room light. No direct sunlight. The other 7-4 hours the tank has its tank light on.

20% water changed weekly. Filter medium changed monthly (the bio wheel is never changed)

I hope that helps.

- Jason

shrimp...

lozzles said:

an ancistrus shouldnt grow too big too quickly

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if thats a bn plec he will grow to big for a 6 and will need at least a 20

demonmagus said:

shrimp...

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I worry about shrimp since betta's like to eat them. Any suggestion on what type of shrimp could work?

- Jason

I know exactly what you need - Hornwort! I bought some of this on www.aquabid.com and since I've had it in my tanks I've had no algae problems!!! My female bettas love to hide in it as you can see from the photo. If you want, I can send you a few cuttings for free as long as you pay shipping. It grows very quickly. Also Malaysian Trumpet Snails are great too, they eat waste and excess food that is caught in the gravel but they don't eat plants unless they are dead. They do a great job of mixing up the gravel as they dig through it., and they have cute conical shells.


Hornwort is one of the most valuable plants for use in tanks as it likes hard water and is totally rootless. It will thrive in bare tanks providing browsing material for the adults, and food and shelter for any fry.

The plants stems tend to float just below the surface of the water and can reach over a metre in length in the aquarium. Whilst growing best under good light it does not seem to cut out much light to plants below it, these seem to grow as normal. It will survive quite low light levels but growth is very slow or non existent. It is slower growing a lower temperatures and will form thicker leaves which give it the appearance of a different species. Either can be used as it will adapt to the temperature provided. In ponds it forms thick buds in the Autum that sink to the bottom which give the impression that it has been killed by the frost but come spring these will grow back into the long stems slowly filling up the pond. It grows continually in the tropical aquarium and if conditions are to its likening can form dense forests into which fry may escape, penetration being slow or denied to adult fish. Whilst light clumps will provide a refuge for harassed adults. Fairly tough but long stems will snap if roughly handled. Propagation is by division and is easy as even the smallest piece of stem will eventually grow into a new plant. It excretes substances toxic to algae (allelopathic behaviour) and at good growth conditions it efficiently inhibits most algae growth.

An Algae scrubber will be the best solution. But if you want you can get a snail...

Try an Octocinclus (think I've spelt it right), they stay small and eat only algae.

If it's brown algae it's not caused by light, and plants wont help. what you need is a phosphorus sponge. Brown Algae is caused by an imbalance in the phosphorus to silicate ratio.