Algae Eaters

[oMIKEo]

Hi,

I've got a 10G tank with 5 neon tetras and about 5 smallish healthy plants in there with them. There is a bit of algae growing on the gravel and was wondering if an algae eater would be good in my tank just to sort of help??

if an algae eater would fit in ok in my tank what type (im guessing there are different types )?

cheers guys....

 

[rdd1952]

It depends on what type algae it is. If it is bright green and kind of slimey, it is most likely blue green algae (cyanobacteria) and there aren't any algae eaters that will eat it. Here's a pretty good site with info and photos af different types of algae.

 

[oMIKEo]

Yeah, from that site it looks like ive got 'Blue-green, slime or smear algae'. so should i just remove it by hand and forget about the algae eater?

 

[rdd1952]

Yes. Removing it by hand is the best (almost the only) way to get rid of it. The main causes of BGA are over feeding and too much light. How often do you feed and how long are you burning your lights each day? Most plants are fine with about 8 or 9 hours of light a day. Also, is the tank where it is ever in any direct sunlight during the day?

 

[oMIKEo]

the tanks not in direct sunlight but i normally keep the light of for about 10-12 hours and i feed them a few flakes twice a day (only very small amounts and they normally eat it straight away).

Ill reduce the amout of time i keep the light on - what do you think about the amount of food?

and thanks for the advice so far

 

[StarOrbs]

You really should have a break in the middle of the day something like this..

ON : 10AM - 3PM
OFF : 3PM - 6PM
ON : 6PM - 11PM
OFF : 11PM - 10AM

 

[daudy_dojo]

well a good algae eater is an otto but unfortuantly they wont eat that aglae... hey guys will snails eat all kinds of algea??

 

[The-Wolf]

i feed them a few flakes twice a day

feeding once a day is sufficiant.
I also give my fish a day off from food,
that is to say they get fed for 6 days and
on the 7th they don't.

 

[oMIKEo]

feeding once a day is sufficiant.
I also give my fish a day off from food,
that is to say they get fed for 6 days and
on the 7th they don't.

ok, thanks guys.

Ill make the changes to the light and feeding patterns

Mike

 

[Bloo]

Blue-Green Algae is strictly speaking "cyanobacteria". It is single celled algae and actually more a bacteria. Here is a brilliant article about it.

Just a short extract:
"Cyanobacteria form in shallow, warm, slow-moving or still water. They are made up of cells, which can house poisons called cyanobacterial toxins."

"Cyanobacterial toxins are the naturally produced poisons stored in the cells of certain species of cyanobacteria. These toxins fall into various categories. Some are known to attack the liver (hepatotoxins) or the nervous system (neurotoxins); others simply irritate the skin."

And from this article,
"In an optimal environment, this algae can double every 20 minutes."

The cause: high nutrients (nitrates) and bad lighting as well as a high organic content in the water.

Therefore, make sure your substrate is clean, you are not over feeding and that you have adequate filtration (and not clogged up filter sponges) and light.

Good luck