cleaning crew...?

[jollysue]

The difference between a tank with a Bushynose/Bristlenose pleco and otos and a tank without them is "sparkle."

Some varieties of BN plecs stay under 4". I just transfered two Orange BN from quarantine to the main planted tank. They are at this time off-pinkish and show off well against a flourite, eco-plant and tihitian black sand substrate. They went right to work. They need driftwood.

Once your tank sparkles be sure to feed your little crew of otos as they are herbevores. Many may be dying of starvation, because they are such effecient darlings.

My cleaning crews consist of otos, BN, and cories.

 

[OIJ]

Bristlenose are bad for your plants when they become big. Otos are great but I recommend 4-6 of them or more, great fish that likes to be in groups.
SAE is the best algea eater (eaven eats black hair algae) and can be kept 2 or more togeather, it is the flying fox and the chinese algae eater that are nasty creatures and dont eat algae when they get older, they look similar to the SAE.

 

[lucky62]

These have eaten hair algae [ the dark grey ] in one of my tanks ...........it's gone , not sure if they eat other types
http/www.millevolte.com/nativefish02.html


Also I read somewhere that cherry barbs will eat some types of algae , got 10 last Sunday , so I really can't say if this is true just now .

 

[jollysue]

Are you referring to the L-144pleco? What do BN do to plants?


Generally BN are highly recommended as algae eaters. They have a reputation for eating the algae off plants without hurting the plants. Mine are juvies so I don't know what they do when they get older, but others who have them say they haven't noticed damage. They do suck wood; They need wood in their diet. They seem to work on slightly different areas than otos. My juvies have made big dents in the red/brown stuff that has gotten all over since I got new lights. They can get 6" but generally don't get 5". They are recommended for at least 30 usg.

But I am a novice, correct me if I'm way off.

 

[OIJ]

I know, I did not want to believe it either, but some credible people and other information told me this. I returned two anyway, no need to take the chance for the future especially if you can have many Otos and possible a couple SAE instead.

 

[jollysue]

I've read that some plecs break plants when cleaning them. Lots of fish eat the rotting and wilting leaves on plants. I've now been told that it may be my dearly loved clown loaches that are slicing and dicing some leaves.

Still in all, I don't mind a little taste considering the fine work they do. I had the new BN in one quarantine and the otos in another and they seem to do slightly different jobs. The plecs have really gone after the brown/red algae that has exploded since I put in a higher light source. That algae has been outrunning my smaller, slower plants. (I have moved them back into the bubble stream. That seems to be helping also.) But frankly I would need a herd of otos (I have 6 in that 100usg) to control clean up that tank and then they would be out of a job.

I know I should feed less and time the lights better. but I'm working on it.

I will look into sae. I tried and asked and waited and got some brusk answers for asking again and again about what algae eaters to get. I should have come over here. Still so far I like my little BN.

Maybe the sae can go in one of the smaller tanks.

 

[George Farmer]

I have 2 Siamese Algae Eaters, 5 Otos, a healthy population of Malaysian Trumpet Snails and approx. 8 Amano shrimps in my 34G.

This maintenance team combination look after all aspects of cleaning - all algae types, waste food, turning over the substrate and even cleaning up detritus.

 

[jollysue]

I just inherited some trumpet snails. They can't go in my big tank but they can in the others

Hang onto your britches: we are getting reports of otos munching on greenery in the catfish forum.

 

[dylema]

We have 3 baby BN plecos in our 3 foot tank, plus masses of un invited snails and the tank is spotless Works for us!