Hair Algae

[yuedar]

Hello,

First time poster

I started a fresh water nano 24 g JBJ fish tank its about 3 weeks into its cycle and it currently has:

2 pieces of drift wood.
2 amazon swords
2 aniubus
4 head and tail light tetra's

I am getting a TON of hair algae. From what I researched its sucking nutrients out of the plants..? Its also on 1 piece of the drift wood.

Anyway the point of this thread is I wish to get an Algae eater. Any suggestions on what I could/should get? Also 1 or 2?

 

[Marclau]

Have a look at Bristlenose or even small Peppered catfish.......

 

[yuedar]

interesting I didn't know catfish would eat algae aswell... ill have to look into that more. Im glad though because I wanted to get a couple

 

[Truck]

interesting I didn't know catfish would eat algae aswell... ill have to look into that more. Im glad though because I wanted to get a couple

peppered catfish is a corydora and wont eat algae, instead of combatting it with plecs, that arent a very good fix, because they produce lots of waste anyway, giving the algae more food!

hair algae is caused by poor flow and low CO2 i would add a hydor koralia 1 powerhead and see how it goes

 

[Marclau]

thats interesting as my old catfish went crazy for the algae discs and use to fight with my clown loaches for them.........
apologies if this is unusual to the norm...........

 

[Truck]

thats interesting as my old catfish went crazy for the algae discs and use to fight with my clown loaches for them.........
apologies if this is unusual to the norm...........

algae wafers arent hair algae, corydoras rarely eat algae, theyre scavengers so eat what ever is left. they wont touch hair algae

 

[Marclau]

good to know...........still learning many things after all this time..........would loaches then in that case be regarded as algae eaters??

Sorry to overtake this thread with another question.........

 

[Truck]

good to know...........still learning many things after all this time..........would loaches then in that case be regarded as algae eaters??

Sorry to overtake this thread with another question.........

loaches wont, they actually from the carp family and arent catfish.

some plecos and ottos will

 

[yuedar]

So your saying that if I get a small plecco or 2 it would only increase the problem in the grand scale of things?

Do they eat hair algae off plants/wood

 

[Truck]

So your saying that if I get a small plecco or 2 it would only increase the problem in the grand scale of things?

Do they eat hair algae off plants/wood

it wouldnt solve it because:

phosphates and nitrates feed algae, the pleco eats the algae and poos it out, the poo contains phosphates and nitrates thus feeding the algae and allowing it to reproduce.

so the increased flow will get rid, its a tried and tested method, and i and many others have done this and have solved the problem

 

[yuedar]

just curious as im still doing research... what about glass shrimp? would they climb plants and eat the algae.. I see online they do eat algae but im trying to figure out if they just stay on the gravel and pick.. or what?

 

[Truck]

just curious as im still doing research... what about glass shrimp? would they climb plants and eat the algae.. I see online they do eat algae but im trying to figure out if they just stay on the gravel and pick.. or what?

theyll go all over the tank, some have been known to climb out!

have a look at red nose shrimp they will pick at hair algae.

 

[yuedar]

would they also like the plecco's add to the problem do you think?

 

[Truck]

would they also like the plecco's add to the problem do you think?

no they produce little waste

 

[yuedar]

hmm.. in that case I think I may give these a shot. I am looking for alittle more activity in the tank and this would be something new I never had shrimp before