SAE alternatives

[njparton]

My tank is starting to become overrun with hair algea and none of my local fish shops seem to stock Siamese Algea Eaters (been looking for 6 weeks). My plec and CAE don't touch it.

Are there any alternative fish (more readily available) that will attack the hair algea or should I try and get a couple of SAE's mail order?

Talking of which, can anyone remember the web address of the UK company that sends fish out next day (and stocks SAE's of course)?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I can!! I got my 5 SAEs from there...

it's Trimar <~~~ Link

I just made an order myself and it's coming tomorrow!! Maybe they are not too busy!!

Have to say though my SFFs do not eat any algae never mind the hair. I had 2 in my smaller tank and I kept algae for them but they never touched it. I ended up getting 4 otos and they have cleared it.

Just as well I didn't get them for their algae cleaning eh?!

 

[modernhamlet]

If you can't find SAEs, some freshwater shrimp also eat hair algae. I think Caridina japonica or Palaemon hendersoni are two species that do.

But, yeah... nothing beats an SAE!

Good luck!

 

[njparton]

I can!! I got my 5 SAEs from there...

it's Trimar <~~~ Link

I just made an order myself and it's coming tomorrow!! Maybe they are not too busy!!

Have to say though my SFFs do not eat any algae never mind the hair. I had 2 in my smaller tank and I kept algae for them but they never touched it. I ended up getting 4 otos and they have cleared it.

Just as well I didn't get them for their algae cleaning eh?!

Thanks for the link, couldn't find it anywhere!

Are you therefore suggesting an otto or two?

How big do they ultimately get and do all otto variants eat hair algea?

 

[njparton]

If you can't find SAEs, some freshwater shrimp also eat hair algae. I think Caridina japonica or Palaemon hendersoni are two species that do.

But, yeah... nothing beats an SAE!

Good luck!

Was looking at some freshwater shrimps in my LFS this morning...

Are they bottom dwellers or will they climb up the leaves of plants?

Will any of my fish think of them as lunch?

 

[New Boy]

I also got some SAE's from Trimar and they don't seem interested in the hair algae....although they are definitely SAE's. Maybe there's too much other good food around.

Cheers
Andy

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I can!!  I got my 5 SAEs from there...

it's Trimar <~~~ Link

I just made an order myself and it's coming tomorrow!!  Maybe they are not too busy!!

Have to say though my SFFs do not eat any algae never mind the hair.  I had 2 in my smaller tank and I kept algae for them but they never touched it.  I ended up getting 4 otos and they have cleared it.

Just as well I didn't get them for their algae cleaning eh?!

Thanks for the link, couldn't find it anywhere!

Are you therefore suggesting an otto or two?

How big do they ultimately get and do all otto variants eat hair algea?

Not suggesting it as such, just saying what happened to me.

I don't know if otos eat hair algae but they have eaten all the other alage from my tank, even from the thin lines making the vent in my filter!! They are only little and get to 1.5". They like to be kept in groups and seem to need live plants. They are also an awful lot cheaper! I think they are better that SFFs, I dunno about algae but I like the way they suck onto things as mini plecs. The likt my thermometer at the moment.

Here's some information Oto Link

HTH

 

[njparton]

I also got some SAE's from Trimar and they don't seem interested in the hair algae....although they are definitely SAE's. Maybe there's too much other good food around.

Cheers
Andy

I had the same problem with some silver dollars - they used to intercept high protein catfish wafers as they sank, hence they tripled in size in 4 months and I had to give them up. Vegetarian my ar$e.

How do you control your hair algae then?

 

[njparton]

I can!!  I got my 5 SAEs from there...

it's Trimar <~~~ Link

I just made an order myself and it's coming tomorrow!!  Maybe they are not too busy!!

Have to say though my SFFs do not eat any algae never mind the hair.  I had 2 in my smaller tank and I kept algae for them but they never touched it.  I ended up getting 4 otos and they have cleared it.

Just as well I didn't get them for their algae cleaning eh?!

Thanks for the link, couldn't find it anywhere!

Are you therefore suggesting an otto or two?

How big do they ultimately get and do all otto variants eat hair algea?

Not suggesting it as such, just saying what happened to me.

I don't know if otos eat hair algae but they have eaten all the other alage from my tank, even from the thin lines making the vent in my filter!! They are only little and get to 1.5". They like to be kept in groups and seem to need live plants. They are also an awful lot cheaper! I think they are better that SFFs, I dunno about algae but I like the way they suck onto things as mini plecs. The likt my thermometer at the moment.

Here's some information Oto Link

HTH

Thanks for the link. I'll have to hunt a pair down....

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I can!!  I got my 5 SAEs from there...

it's Trimar <~~~ Link

I just made an order myself and it's coming tomorrow!!  Maybe they are not too busy!!

Have to say though my SFFs do not eat any algae never mind the hair.  I had 2 in my smaller tank and I kept algae for them but they never touched it.  I ended up getting 4 otos and they have cleared it.

Just as well I didn't get them for their algae cleaning eh?!

Thanks for the link, couldn't find it anywhere!

Are you therefore suggesting an otto or two?

How big do they ultimately get and do all otto variants eat hair algea?

Not suggesting it as such, just saying what happened to me.

I don't know if otos eat hair algae but they have eaten all the other alage from my tank, even from the thin lines making the vent in my filter!! They are only little and get to 1.5". They like to be kept in groups and seem to need live plants. They are also an awful lot cheaper! I think they are better that SFFs, I dunno about algae but I like the way they suck onto things as mini plecs. The likt my thermometer at the moment.

Here's some information Oto Link

HTH

Thanks for the link. I'll have to hunt a pair down....

They are available at trimar. I would recommend at least 4 to keep them happy. They have them for £1.20 each or 5 for £5 there.

HTH

 

[JAYJT]

My ghost shrimps dont seem to eat algae, The bamboo/wood shrimp I have seem to munch on the stuff!

 

[New Boy]

I had the same problem with some silver dollars - they used to intercept high protein catfish wafers as they sank, hence they tripled in size in 4 months and I had to give them up. Vegetarian my ar$e.

How do you control your hair algae then?

I don't at the moment. plan to get a nitragon when I've saved up to reduce phosphate and nitrate from my tap water. hopefully that'll help...anyone has any suggestions regarding the SAE's I'd be interested

 

[Cheese Specialist]

anyone has any suggestions regarding the SAE's I'd be interested

What do you mean?

 

[RYO]

hi m8, well i live just down the road and have said same prob,so first i added 4 otto(do a nice job cleaning the glass, look cute,but dont touch hair algae)
Next tryed heavy planting (just give more things for algea to grow on ,and tank looks like a jungle)
the algea loves my lilaeopsis and java fern.

 

[guppymonkey]

I got a really bad infestation of hair algae after I got some algae pellets to try with my mollies. They didn't touch the pellets but algae started growing everywhere. I got four ottocinclus and they cleaned all the algae out of the tank in a couple weeks.