Algae

[cragz15]

hi all ,can any body suggest a good ,fish to eat algae,,,i have a 42 gallon uk tank,with african cichlids,malawi,,,,,
thanks to all that help

 

[three-fingers]

Bristlenoses are good.

However, it is important to know that using fish to eat algae is essentially a waste of time.

Because they won't eat every type of algae, and as soon as they have eaten the type they like, a different species will take over and fill the niche left by the last one.

So the best way to deal with algae if you don't have plants is to reduce how much light gets into the tank (like shading the lights and putting them on a timer for when you get home), this will slow it's growth down and you can deal with the rest using an algae scraper (I like to use a Stanley blade).

 

[cragz15]

Bristlenoses are good.

However, it is important to know that using fish to eat algae is essentially a waste of time.

Because they won't eat every type of algae, and as soon as they have eaten the type they like, a different species will take over and fill the niche left by the last one.

So the best way to deal with algae if you don't have plants is to reduce how much light gets into the tank (like shading the lights and putting them on a timer for when you get home), this will slow it's growth down and you can deal with the rest using an algae scraper (I like to use a Stanley blade).

THANKYOU

 

[ChiNA MaN]

BN or any pleco

 

[bike_riding_cichlid]

Don't most mbuna, especially labeotropheus eat a significat amount of algae?

 

[dthoffsett]

Don't most mbuna, especially labeotropheus eat a significat amount of algae?

Yup, most mbuna will eat algae, it's their natural diet after all. However, IME they tend to ignore the algae on the glass, which bristlenoses will eat.