ideas needed please

[Apache]

Hi All,
With our new higher wattage lighting installed for the plants, we are now having some mild algae problems that weren't present before (go figure).

We have room to add another fish (the golden nugget plec is only 2.5" right now - and will be moved to bigger home when he's bigger, the rest of the fish are 1.5" to 2.5" currently)... I was wanting to add something that will eat algae, is not too expensive, hardy and won't get too big for our tank. Suggestions? Thanks!

 

[sylvia]

Otos would be the way to go but they need to be in groups so at least get 2. Unfortunately they aren't quite what I would call hardy fish...

I'd go for a bristlenose plec. They are good algae eaters and only grow to about 4". They also don't eat plants and don't require wood.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yes bristlenosed plecs are a great choice. I have 5 of them in a 70 litre and they don't eat plants - the only thing they do munch on is the algae! They don't have to be kept in large groups either but I do have a chunk of bogwood in my tank and apparently they get nutrients from it...not sure though - anyway it's not essential in one of my other tanks they have no bogwood to chomp on. Go with them!

 

[Apache]

Good ideas, thanks. I had thought about an oto, but if they aren't hardy, I'd be worried, he die...

Anybody know anything about Candy Stripe Plecs?

 

[sylvia]

I don't think candy striped plecs eat much algae I've never kept any though so I'm not sure.

Bristlenoses BTW are one of the plecs that do not require wood in their diet so you need not worry about that.

Otos are only fragile when first added to a tank. Once settled, and with plenty of LIVE algae to eat, they can be quite hardy. It's just that many people find they lose a large percentage during the first few days/weeks.

 

[Alurny]

Although they(bristlenoses) do have a perchant for java moss(or my mates does) Its golden, i dont know if this would alter it?

 

[OohFeeshy]

I want a small algae eater. Do they eat any food that falls to the bottom of the tank?

 

[Alurny]

yep my friends bristlenose does but it eats plants lol

 

[RYO]

As with most fish a balenced diet is needed, i suppliment my ottos and brislenoses diet with algae waffers and cucumber. the brislenose will also eat blood worm and shrimp.
If you are going for ottos, it is better if you have a mature tank, ive not had any problems with mine (other than telling what spiecies of otto they are ), they are a great little fish but do better in a shoal of at least 4.They dont produce a lot of waste , dont hassel any other fish or get hasseled,(guess im a fan then lol)