Best Algae Eater?

[Le Sorcier]

Looking for a fish that will help get rid of my algae? Only got a small tank so would appreciate any opinions on which fish may be best to help keep it down?
Thaks

 

[waterdrop]

I've always thought otos were best, esp. for a small tank.

BUT, this would be an interesting discussion to see what the experts think pro/con re the various possible species~~!!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Athena]

I was told recently that Oto's are great little fish for keeping algae down in the tank. I'm just waiting for my LFS to get some in stock!

Athena

 

[ALW]

Yep, Otos

 

[minxfishy]

What size tank and what other inhabitants are useful to know to be able to advise the best fish. Also what sort of algae is it? Brown, Green etc?

 

[catxx]

shrimp.

how small is small? otos need mature tanks, to be in groups (wouldn't keep a group in any less than 10-15 gallons really), and will only eat certain types of algae.

what kind of algae do you have? if you're plagued with it, it might be better to address the cause of the algae bloom rather than the symptoms (overfeeding? excess tank light? sunlight? overstocking? all of the above?)

 

[Le Sorcier]

Thanks for all the replies.

My tank is 30cmx30cmx30cm. The algae is not a major problem (it is probably because of too much sunlight).

I've got 4 Endlers, 2 Corys, 2 Mollies and a Platy so I may be too overstocked already? I was considering Otos, could maybe try 3 of those? Or would that be too much?

I have live plants in the tank, not plastic.

Thanks

ps It's green algae by the way

 

[catxx]

your tank works out to roughly 7-8 US gallons, so yep, you're very very much stocked, if not overstocked. mollys and platys really need upwards of 12 gallons. and the only corys suitable are pygmy/dwarf varieties. i do have a lone oto (a remnant of a trio i had) in a 7 gallon at the moment, if i could catch the bugger i'd upgrade him to something bigger, when they get startled they can really crash around and would do better in a larger tank.

 

[pixelpefekt]

A couple of Amano shrimp would make a HUGE difference. I added 3 to my tank which is 60x30cm and in the space of a week, the aglea was gone, and I mean gone from all the gravel, plastic plants and decorations, filter cover etc.

The down side with the shrimp is that they don't really clean the glass. They can't get a grip on it to enable them to graze on the algae. They are also amazing to watch and add a new depth and interest to the tank.

 

[tetratank]

I would have said a bristlenose condifering the sparkling job this little fella has done to my tank in less than a week, but I"m no expert in giving advice Can offer you my opinion on what has worked in my tank. The plants are back to their lovely bright green again.

 

[ALW]

Yeh you could have either Otos, a Bristlenose or two or some Amano Shrimp, They will all eat some type of algea

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Yeh you could have either Otos, a Bristlenose or two or some Amano Shrimp, They will all eat some type of algea

agreed, accept for the fact that there is no room in the tank for anymore fish.

 

[waterdrop]

but still, kind of cool we see people agree that these 3 are among the best algae eaters...

 

[Miss Wiggle]

but still, kind of cool we see people agree that these 3 are among the best algae eaters...

aye, that's basically your choices for small tanks at any rate, as others have mentioned it depends on the sort of algae you want to get rid off too.

There are a myriad of other small plecs which do eat algae but they are often hard to find and expensive when you do find them, so I'd generally only recommend them to people with a specific plec interest....... and those people generally head over to the plec forum anyway

 

[eltz21]

i bought a BN to eat the algae in my tank and he is doing a fab job on the decorations and filter, but not the glass for some reason!!!! i might get an oto to join him and help out. are these common in lfs??