Brown Algae On Plants

[Simon 123]

Hi, im sure this topic has been posted before but i have no time to search for it.

Ok so my question is this:

I have a newly set up tank and it is just finishing a fishless cycle and i have noticed a lot of hair algae (which doesent bother me too much), what does bother me is brown algae growing on the plants, so i was hoping that someone could give me the names of some fish that will happily eat this off the plants with out damaging the plant itself.

I have some plecos in an existing tank (RED, CLOWN and a rusty pleco) but these seem to destroy any plant i put in with them..

So any suggestion for the brown algae and the hair algea. I was thinking about amano shrimp but wasent sure if they would eat brown algae off the plants.

it is a well planted 55g tank by the way

Thankyou

 

[jimbooo]

otto's will graze on it without damaging the plants. not sure if amano shrimp will i'd guess so but not sure. what you are describing is pretty normal in a new set up. water changes should help. do 20% every 4 days by the time you've done 4 or 5 your tank will look a whole load different. (if you can be bothered that is)

 

[Simon 123]

Thanks for the help, im gonna get some ottos on saturday and ill do 20% water changes every week..

 

[RYO]

just remember to acclimatise the ottos carefully. They are sensitive to changes but once established are a great little fish.

 

[EliteFishy]

Ottos are []D [] []M []D

 

[illusion54]

Yeah ottos are great, unfortunately only 1 out of 3 i buy survive the first month.

 

[sylvia]

Don't get otos if your tank is new. Besides, algae always grows in new tanks. It should die down once the tank is a little more mature. Otos are not a good fish to begin a tank with and need a mature tank with fresh algae. Wait at least 6 months before you get any or I would expect many deaths. While you are waiting, gently remove the algae from the plants by hand and change the water more often than just once a week. Feed less and reduce the hours of light to a maximum of 8. If you are careful, your plants should take hold and manage to out-compete most of the algae. An algae scraper will do the rest

 

[hunterm8]

I had brown algea when i first set up and i did put 3 ottos in very early before it was properly matured. i might have been lucky and all 3 servived no probs! they ate the brown stuff very quickly and it hasnt been back since. Like already mentioned i think most new tanks get brown algea and it just seems to stop in a couple of weeks. I find hair algea a much bigger problem

 

[Simon 123]

Would the Otto's eat the hair algea on the gravel? Sorry for my noobiness but its been awhile since ive set up a tank.