Recommend A Critter That Will Eat These Annoying Cotton-Like Plants

[Florin Andrei]

40 liter aquarium, 6 tetras.
 
A while ago I bought these plants that look like wads of green cotton, the size of a small fist. They are kind of unusual and interesting to look at, but they are very high maintenance. They shoot these little tendrils, and pretty soon there's green cotton stuff everywhere. They grow like a jungle. Tetras don't eat this stuff. I don't mind doing maintenance, but these plants increase the workload a lot. If I don't do clean-up for a while (like when I'm on vacation, away from home), the aquarium looks like a green pillow has exploded inside. So I got rid of them.
 
The problem is, no matter how much I scrubbed everywhere, there are still little fragments of "green cotton" in many places, including some hanging on other plants. I have to admit I'll never be able to remove all of it. And I'm sure they will grow again from the leftover fragments, and again will invade the whole space.
 
What I need is a little animal that likes to eat this "cotton" plant. There's a lot of it still on the bottom, some hanging on other plants, but it even clings to the walls all the way to the surface. I cleaned it up as best as I could, but I just know it's still there. Is there any creature that goes into all those places and eats little wisps of plant stuff like that?
 
Also, the plant eater must be compatible with tetras.
 
Thanks!

 

[snazy]

Would you please provide a picture of the plant and the "cotton" bits of it?

 

[Noahsfish]

Uhm for any plant buying a fish that will eat it is normally never the best solution.. You don't know the name of it, so could you please post a pic. Sounds like java moss or some type of moss, which isn't considered "high maintenance". High maintenance plants are normally plants that require special lighting, co2, ferts, and regular "pruning". If you are dosing with ferts and or co2 than just stop doing that and it shouldn't grow as much. If it really is just growing crazy on lights than consider selling it depending on what it is...people love moss for their aquariums for fry and attaching it to driftwood and rocks. My lfs will take plants (for a rip off price, store credit only). Or you could sell online if you have "enough to fill your aquarium"

 

[techen]

I think it's moss balls. Green and round? Totally what am thinking.

 

[Baccus]

I think I know of the plant that you are referring too, and its a type of algea. Weirdly if its growing so well in your tanks then its a sign that your tank is very healthy and  stable.
Do it by chance look like this plant that is growing well in my cory tank?

 
If it is the same plant/ algea then I am sorry I have not found anything that actively likes eating it, although shrimp do like picking over it. Even otocinclus don't seem interested in munching on the plant. Maybe a shrimp that mostly eats algea is an option or even a snail such as Apple/ Mystery snails. Because I don't know what country your in I can't really provide any more specific species that may be able to help you out.

 

[Meeresstille]

When I first received our Java Moss, the platies had a field-day on it and I was worried they're not going to leave any behind. They pretty much ate the younger moss, if that's what it was, but left the more mature moss alone.