Algae Eater For A 6 Gallon

[chibi]

Okay, I've got a sand-bottomed lightly-planted 6 gallon tank. It's got 5 1/2" pygmy cories and one betta. I'm looking for a small algae eater, since my algae is pretty bad. I've been thinking about a balloon molly or something, since my balloon mollies in my 29-gallon eat algae in there.

I know I'd be overstocked if I add another fish in there, but I change the water often. I'd like something 3 inches or smaller that wouldn't conflict with my betta. I used to have my betta with guppies and he is very well behaved; he tolerates the pygmies as well. He just does nothing for the algae.

 

[rockerBOO]

Could try a http/www.fishforums.net/Oto-t35094.html. or some Amano Shimp would work as well.

 

[nivisec]

Okay, I've got a sand-bottomed lightly-planted 6 gallon tank. It's got 5 1/2" pygmy cories and one betta. I'm looking for a small algae eater, since my algae is pretty bad. I've been thinking about a balloon molly or something, since my balloon mollies in my 29-gallon eat algae in there.

I know I'd be overstocked if I add another fish in there, but I change the water often. I'd like something 3 inches or smaller that wouldn't conflict with my betta. I used to have my betta with guppies and he is very well behaved; he tolerates the pygmies as well. He just does nothing for the algae.

Grab you one or two Otocinclus (Otto for short). They are pretty tiny fish that do nothing but eat algae all day very aggressively (unless it is black brush algae, which sadly they won't touch).

EDIT: Ah someone beat me to it Sorry.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Otos are probably your best bet, but I think you'd be better off finding out why you get the algae in the first place. Treat the cause, not the effect.

 

[chibi]

Otos are probably your best bet, but I think you'd be better off finding out why you get the algae in the first place. Treat the cause, not the effect.

What could cause it? It's in my basement, so it has absolutely no true sunlight. I use a nice brand of lamp, too, not the crappy one that came with the tank. Wow, I'm asking such a newbie question, but... what causes it exactly?

 

[wendywc]

Here's a couple questions that may shed some light on your algae problem. ... How often do you have the light on? Is it on a timer? And also, are there any live plants in the tank currently? If not, look into getting a bit of hornwort or java fern (i.e., something hardy) to put into the tank. Because if your tank can grow algae, then it can grow a live plant instead... in hopes that the live plant will suffocate out the algae growth.

A couple of otos would be good in the meantime. I recommend getting a few of those for your 29 gallon also. I wouldn't do shrimp, because my betta would always eat the shrimp the next day. Unless, you're okay with given you betta a treat.

 

[nivisec]

Otos are probably your best bet, but I think you'd be better off finding out why you get the algae in the first place. Treat the cause, not the effect.

What could cause it? It's in my basement, so it has absolutely no true sunlight. I use a nice brand of lamp, too, not the crappy one that came with the tank. Wow, I'm asking such a newbie question, but... what causes it exactly?

What color is the algae and where does it grow? On the side of the tank or on your objects? Different algae is caused by different problems, but generally too much light is on the top of the list.

Personally, I get a lot of the green spotted algae on the sides of my tank algae in my 5 gal betta tank with pretty much no explanation except maybe too much light from an outside source. I really just use a algae scrub pad to remove it and then wait another 2 months and repeat.

Also, I did get an algae bloom in it once that turned the water green because of leaving the light on 24-hours a day to heat the water when I had no heater

 

[mark.w.jones]

In a small tank you are almost guaranteed to get some algae unless you add some real plants. Otherwise you'll just have to put up with cleaning it off regularly. Amano shrimp do not clean up all types of algae either so may be a false investment. They tend to prefer "hair" type algaes.

 

[chibi]

I've got real plants. I don't know what they're called, but I've got two big ones and two tiny ones and they're all the same species. The algae grows on the side of the tank. When I first started my tank, it was little spotty algae that grew hair that was like 4 inches long! I scraped that off though, and now only have cloudy algae on my sides.

My light is on from 7 am - 10 pm. I guess that's a pretty long time, however my 29-gallon stays on longer and I have no algae problem. I guess it's just size.

I'm going to buy an otto or two right now. Thanks everyone~!! Thanks for not yelling at me for having an overstocked tank too I always seem to get yelled at for it.