ALGAE

[granttopp]

i after having real plants in my aquarium (54 litres) i noticed not only an infestation of snails but more importantly some hair-like algae that has just grown and grown and grown, even after i have removed evry single piece that i can see a couple of days later its back. this is really starting to annoy me now and i was wondering if there was an easy way 2 get rid of it.

 

[cheesemaker]

hello there.

welcome to the forum.

have a look at the pinned article on algae, will answer most of your questions.

cheers

 

[granttopp]

thanks for that cheesemaker but can anyone suggest a good algae eater that would fit well into a community tank

 

[cheesemaker]

thanks for that cheesemaker but can anyone suggest a good algae eater that would fit well into a community tank

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i heard that flying fox are good, and also amano shrimps, they're cool get half a dozen.

Make sure they don't become breakfast though

 

[granttopp]

iv tried amano shrimp before and as you said they did become breakfast but i will take your advice and get flying fox. do they have to be kept in groups or anything else that needs special attention.

 

[Walt]

Siamese algae eater....(same thing as the flying fox)
they rock

 

[Jen]

hi and welcome.

It's hard to find an all-round algae eater. Some only like certain kinds. I have 3 different kinds in my tank(chinese algae eater, siamese algae eater and bristle nose pleco), and I still have a bit of algea.

 

[George Farmer]

Welcome to the Forums granttop!

You shouldn't rely on algae eating fish alone to keep away algae if you have anything but very minor algae growth.

Find the cause of the algae and remedy that i.e. water quality, incorrect lighting/duration, lack of plant growth. This will see you acheving a long-term algae free tank rather than chasing the problem all over.

BTW Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis) and Flying Fox (Epalzeorhynchus kalopterus) are different fish entirely, especially where algae eating is concerned. Check this out - http/www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/

 

[granttopp]

it says flying fox are aggresive, how big do they grow, are they hardy, will they eat the hair-like algae that i have, and how man should i keep

 

[Lateral Line]

I would say in a 54 liter tank that Ottocinclus were best suited. Siamese Algae Eaters do a better job, but need to be in groups and grow far too large.

There are several different Otto species, none of them grow very large and all are peaceful community fish.

 

[granttopp]

i heard that ottos are very hard to acclimatise into a new tank and die very easily is this true and do they need to be kept in groups

 

[George Farmer]

I agree with LL. SAEs and Flying Foxes grow too big for your tank.

Unfortunately Otos don't really touch hair algae either, they prefer softer algae i.e. brown algae (diatoms).

Livebearers (Guppies, Mollies and Platies) will eat hair algae if they go hungry enough.

 

[granttopp]

they worked out well i bought 4 platies last week, so that should end up good then. i no its off the subject but 1 of my platies just rests on the bottom of the tank most of the day yesterday until i fed them then it was normal for about 10 minutes then it went to the bottom again, im not sure wether it is a 100% platy as it has a sword-like tail. so i think i may have been stiched up with a swordtail as well as platies. can any1 suggest if there is a problem with my platy

 

[Walt]

Siamese algae eater....(same thing as the flying fox)

oppps... my bad

But I do have 2 Siamese, and they do indeed work hard

 

[Jen]

But I do have 2 Siamese, and they do indeed work hard

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I agree. I put 3 in a 90 and in no time my hair algae was barely noticable. But they do grow rather large.