Algae Eating Fish?

[hadjici2]

Hello,

I have a 35 gallon planted tank that was recently brought to live again by adding some fish in! I would like to ask what would be the best fish to add from the ones below, that will eat algae in general, eat dead plant leaves and not bother my other fish.

Fish alredy in tank:
6 Black widow tetras
5 leopard danios
1 pleco
4 corrydoras
6 ghost shrimp

Fish for algae eating from LFS:
1. Chinese algae eater
2. Common pleco
3. Flying fox
4. Platty
5. Xiphophrus
6. Molies
7. Rosy Barbs

What do you suggest from the above list?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Most of the fish you list are not good all around algae eater. CAE is a nono for most and common plecos get bigger than your tank almost. Swords, platys, mollies and barbs will eat some algae- but no a very big variety. Flying fox will also, However, the best all around algae eater is the SAE (siamese algae eater). This is sometimes called a flying fox. However the SAE and Fox differ in their appearance abd the fox is a much less efficient algae eater. the fox will have some color hightlights -esp in dorsal that the SAE doesn't. Otos are also a possibility for your tank.

You say you have a "pleco" - what kind? Bristlenose (ancistrus) are excellent algae eaters that max at about 5 inches.

 

[hadjici2]

Most of the fish you list are not good all around algae eater. CAE is a nono for most and common plecos get bigger than your tank almost. Swords, platys, mollies and barbs will eat some algae- but no a very big variety. Flying fox will also, However, the best all around algae eater is the SAE (siamese algae eater). This is sometimes called a flying fox. However the SAE and Fox differ in their appearance abd the fox is a much less efficient algae eater. the fox will have some color hightlights -esp in dorsal that the SAE doesn't. Otos are also a possibility for your tank.

You say you have a "pleco" - what kind? Bristlenose (ancistrus) are excellent algae eaters that max at about 5 inches.

Common pleco....

http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pleco2.php

I cannot find any ottos or SAE in my LFS.

 

[craynerd]

My ottos are great at algea eating, but are nothing in comparison to my amano shrimp!!! algea shrimp are the way forward!!

 

[hadjici2]

My ottos are great at algea eating, but are nothing in comparison to my amano shrimp!!! algea shrimp are the way forward!!

Only Ghost shrimp in the country

Now what?

 

[sacramonel]

I had a very dense algae growth in my 45 gallon. I completely erradicated the algae with 2 Gold Algae Eaters, and a pleco.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I had a very dense algae growth in my 45 gallon. I completely erradicated the algae with 2 Gold Algae Eaters, and a pleco.

Yes- but how are you going to house those fish when they grow to full size? Two Chinese Algae Eaters in the same 45 gals sounds like potential trouble to me.

 

[hadjici2]

I had a very dense algae growth in my 45 gallon. I completely erradicated the algae with 2 Gold Algae Eaters, and a pleco.

Yes- but how are you going to house those fish when they grow to full size? Two Chinese Algae Eaters in the same 45 gals sounds like potential trouble to me.

Do you think that one CAE will be fine or will it bother my fish?

 

[craynerd]

hadjici, which country u in?

Chris

 

[hadjici2]

hadjici, which country u in?

Chris

Actualy my name is John hadjici is just my username....

I am from Cyprus.......

I am also planning to build a 250gallon tank....what kind of filtration do you suggest?

 

[sacramonel]

I had a very dense algae growth in my 45 gallon. I completely erradicated the algae with 2 Gold Algae Eaters, and a pleco.

Yes- but how are you going to house those fish when they grow to full size? Two Chinese Algae Eaters in the same 45 gals sounds like potential trouble to me.

Easy, take them out.

 

[lljdma06]

What kind of algae do you have John?

Though I love good algae-eating fish and shrimp, there are other ways to cut back on algae in an aquarium. Live plants is one option, but only if you give the plants the head-start they need to compete with the algae. Fast-growing stem plants are best for this, but again, only if you have adaquate lighting and fertilization.

You can always manually remove algae. Another option is to confuse the algae by adopting a siesta period during the afternoon. Many of us here have our lights on for 5 hours, off for 2 and then on again for 5. The exact value can be manipulated somewhat, I use 5:2:5. Algae is fed by nutrients in the water, excess food being one and bottom waste. Try feeding less often, once every other day is sufficient and regularly vacumning the tank's substrate. Changing water more often also cuts down on nutrients. Finally, cutting out ambiant lighting can help too. If the tank is near a window, put some black paper on the side that's exposed; my tank is covered on two sides with a black background.

These are just options that don't involve the purchase of additional fish and livestock which do not seem to be available in your area.

 

[hadjici2]

What kind of algae do you have John?

Though I love good algae-eating fish and shrimp, there are other ways to cut back on algae in an aquarium. Live plants is one option, but only if you give the plants the head-start they need to compete with the algae. Fast-growing stem plants are best for this, but again, only if you have adaquate lighting and fertilization.

You can always manually remove algae. Another option is to confuse the algae by adopting a siesta period during the afternoon. Many of us here have our lights on for 5 hours, off for 2 and then on again for 5. The exact value can be manipulated somewhat, I use 5:2:5. Algae is fed by nutrients in the water, excess food being one and bottom waste. Try feeding less often, once every other day is sufficient and regularly vacumning the tank's substrate. Changing water more often also cuts down on nutrients. Finally, cutting out ambiant lighting can help too. If the tank is near a window, put some black paper on the side that's exposed; my tank is covered on two sides with a black background.

These are just options that don't involve the purchase of additional fish and livestock which do not seem to be available in your area.

Well the algae seems to be a green thin layer that covers the gravel and some plants....also some hair algae on the tank glass.

I have a few plants which are not fast growing and I have some which are....one is very long green and thin....valisneria I think?

No CO2, no fertilisers even though I have and know a bit about fertilisers. 2 white arcadia 25W each fluorescent lights and one pink arcadia 25W......thus 75watts over 35 gallons of water. They are situated on top of the water surface at a distance of about 30cm from the water surface. The tank is about 40cm deep. The substrate contains a thin layer of nutritious floredepot from sera. My lights are on 6 hours a day and no direct sunlight gets to the tank.

I hope I gave enough info....

 

[lljdma06]

Well the algae seems to be a green thin layer that covers the gravel and some plants....also some hair algae on the tank glass.

I have a few plants which are not fast growing and I have some which are....one is very long green and thin....valisneria I think?

No CO2, no fertilisers even though I have and know a bit about fertilisers. 2 white arcadia 25W each fluorescent lights and one pink arcadia 25W......thus 75watts over 35 gallons of water. They are situated on top of the water surface at a distance of about 30cm from the water surface. The tank is about 40cm deep. The substrate contains a thin layer of nutritious floredepot from sera. My lights are on 6 hours a day and no direct sunlight gets to the tank.

I hope I gave enough info....

Aha! You have 2.14 WPG and no CO2 injection and a lack of fast-growing plants. This equals algae. An over simplification, of course, but basically true. Try putting more fast-growing plants and consider investing in a DIY CO2 system, which are very easy to make. This will help you in the long run and give your plants the upperhand against the algae. If you do a search in this forum, I think you'll get a thread that's a step-by-step set of instructions for a system using a 2 liter soda bottle, airline tubing, aquarium sealent, yeast, sugar, and water. Pretty cool and not very complicated at all. The only thing you'd have to buy is a diffusor of some type, like a bubble ladder, which isn't very expensive at all.

You can try a blackout, but the algae will return unless you get to the root (no pun intended) of your problem. It is always better to determine what is truely wrong and solve it at that level rather than attempt a quick-fix, only to have it come back with a vengeance.

llj

 

[hadjici2]

1) I have 2 DIY CO2 bottles but I have tried to use them before and unfortunately something horrible happened each time and my fish died from a pH shock. You may say "but if you buffer your water well then pH fluctuations will not be that big". Yes I did this but with a 35g tank you know its asking for trouble and in my experience I am not willing to kill this bunch of fish I just want them to enjoy the tank and sooner or later the aquarium will be filled with plants.

2) I may have 75watts over a 35gallon tank but the light source is 30cm away from the water surface and 70cm away from the gravel! Does this still cause problems?

3) So if no CO2 will be injected do you suggest removing one or two fluorescent lamps? I have 2 whites and one pink! Which should I remove if so?


Cheers for the help!!!!!