Algae, algae and more algae

[bettaBetta]

Do any of you know how to control algae is a 20 gallon tank with live plants and an aggressive betta? All algae control I can find kills live plants and I can not add any other living creatures in with my "bubble boy" Poseidon. It is everywhere in my tank because there is no suitable place for a large tank out of a window's view. Any suggestions?

 

[jollysue]

Malaysian Trumpet Snails, true Apple Snails eat algae as well as leftover food, but don't eat plants.

 

[Synirr]

Trumpet snails won't eat algae that I'm aware of (or believe me, I wouldn't have a speck of it anywhere, lol!) Is there any way you can block light from the window? I find that ramshorn snails do a pretty decent job of cleaning up green algae and won't nibble your plants.

 

[jollysue]

Hehe That's right, the trumpets are for stirring sand.

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

Block as much sunlight from the tank as you can and if it has lights, keep them off too. This is the best cure I've found, I prefer it to adding chemicals to the water.

 

[bettaBetta]

From what I've read all snails eat plants except for MTS which wouldn't eat algae. Besides they have alot of waste and I'm sure Poseidon would bother them to no end.
I'm trying to keep him out of sunlight and I think maybe I should cut down on the time of extended light but he is always near windows nad I have to have his artifical lights on atleast 10 hours for the plants.
I'm thinking I'm going tohave to just live with the algae, eh?

 

[jollysue]

According to the pinned thread in the invert forum on snails, their types, and IDing them:

1. MTS eat algae, leftover fish food, and dead plant material. I have forum friends that swear by MTS. I have a seeding of trumpets in all my betta tanks. I am not finding empty shells. The betta check them out and then leave them alone.

2. Pomacea bridgesii, Apple Snail, can starve in a planted tank without food. They have a trap door that protects them. They eat algae, fish food, boiled veggies.... They get up to 4" in a wide variety of colors.

There are different species of pomacea. Others that DO eat plants.

My supplier laughed when I asked if my betta could hurt them. "Ohh!! yeah we are terrified! "

I have put some in the goldie tank with a 6" common. If he could eat it, he would.

From what I've heard, some aquatic life will mow down a forrest, but most nibble on the dead and dying leaves--a good thing.