Algae Eaters - Please Advise

[don_kihotis]

Hello everyone,
 
i had been having some fluctuation of Co2 because of some issues with my regulator and now i started having some green algae spots on my glass and rocks.
I added 10 Amano shrimps which are great at eating algae but they cannot clean the glass as effective as plecos. I want to avoid adding a pleco though because i am in the process of growing Eleocharis grass and i know that they can destroy fragile plants while cleaning/eating since they become quit massive in size. 
 
So i am thinking to add a Siamese Algae Eater or a Flag Fish.
 
What would you recommend?
 
The rest of my fish are guppies, cardinals and i am planning to add cherry shrimps and a few more tetras such as Rummynose etc
 
Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[Lillefishy]

No algae eater will keep your tank free from algae & they certainly won't eat every kind of algae, some specialise in just one kind.
Siamese algae eaters are best kept in groups & as they can potentially get to 6" they need a large tank, & tbh I wouldn't recommend getting any fish just to do a job.
Glass cleaning only takes a few minutes during your weekly maintenance & new, unused for anything else sponge kitchen scrubbers do a great job.

 

[techen]

Well said lillie prefect reply. No such thing as a fish that will keep alage at bay. Cant force nature.

 

[don_kihotis]

Thanks for the replies guys.
I will stick with the shrimps then.

 

[Byron]

I agree with others here.  If this is green dot algae, no fish (as far as I am aware) will eat this.  I did in the past (several months) notice it in one of my seven tanks, but I run a sponge-type scraper over the inside front glass (and sometimes the side glass) at every water change which stops this and other algae before you even see it starting, and this is the best way to deal with it.
 
Byron.

 

[star4]

The best thing for cleaning algae off the glass is a new house hold sponge (those with a scrubber on one side) wash it out in tank water (not in the tank) stick your hand in and clean the glass manually

 

[don_kihotis]

I agree with others here.  If this is green dot algae, no fish (as far as I am aware) will eat this.
 
Byron.

To the best of my knowledge the plecos eat it. I will try to take a photo of it and see if we are talking about the same kind of algae.
Thanks Byron

wash it out in tank water (not in the tank)

Lol, thanks will do that.
I will try and make a sponge attached to a stick. This way it will be easier and less stressful to the fish rather than seeing my hands moving around in their tank

 

[don_kihotis]

Here it is. You can see some scratches/lines on the algae patches. Those are marks left from the shrimp's legs while eating it.
 

 

[Ch4rlie]

Seems everyone has given good answers in the fact that clean up crews will not eat all your algae and suchlike, they help, albeit a tiny little bit
 
It's the fish keeper's job to keep the tank as they want it, meaning to clean algae and suchlike off glass, plants and decor etc.
 
Algae is natural after all, its just us humans who don't like it and so some go to great lengths to try and prevent algae

 

[Byron]

Very true Ch4rlie.
 
To those photos, don, that is not green dot algae but basic algae which the fish mentioned will eat at, but never (or rarely) eliminate.  I actually encourage this in my 10g tank which is a grow-out tank for Farlowella vitatta fry that must have algae and similar veggie foods.  They don't keep the glass clean by any means, but I accept this in this tank as it is healthy for the fry.  I also have pygmy corys spawning in this tank and dozens of fry growing up, and leaving the tank walls alone encourages biofilms which provide all sorts of live food for fry.  But in my other tanks, the front glass is just cleaned off every water change even though I don't usually see anything.
 
Byron.

 

[stanleo]

Am I wierd that I like the look of bright green algae on wood and rocks and even on the back pane of glass? It looks natural and I always thought it was beneficial so long as it doesn't get out of hand. Plus I have otos and a pleco so I need to let some grow for them to eat. But I do scrape my sides and front panels so I can see all my pretties.

 

[Goggy]

Cant you prevent algae by not  letting the tank get exposed to direct sunlight?

Am I wierd that I like the look of bright green algae on wood and rocks and even on the back pane of glass? It looks natural and I always thought it was beneficial so long as it doesn't get out of hand. Plus I have otos and a pleco so I need to let some grow for them to eat. But I do scrape my sides and front panels so I can see all my pretties.

i actually agree with you 

 

[don_kihotis]

Hi Goggy, algae is not caused only by direct sunlight. It grows by the tank's lights too.

But anyway i never allow direct sunlight to get at home, let alone on the aquarium

 

[Goggy]

Hi Goggy, algae is not caused only by direct sunlight. It grows by the tank's lights too.

But anyway i never allow direct sunlight to get at home, let alone on the aquarium

oh didnt know that thanks for the info!

 

[Malex530]

Nerite snails, ramshorn snails. The best little things ever. 
give them some time and they will get it all.