Algae Eater For Small Tank

[blobble]

I have a 60 litre tank (Approx 60 cm L, 28.5 cm W and 36 cm H), pH 8.0, with hard water. I have a Siamese Fighter, 4 Flame Tetras, 4 Silver Tip Tetras and 3 Neon Tetras. There are few very small Apple Snails that don't seem to grow much. The tank is planted light-medium, about 25% coverage. There is a natural gravel substrate, Fluval in-the-tank filter and 2 ornamants and piece of bogwood. I add 'Stresszyme' once a week plus plant food. There are 2 X 15w daylight tubes for lighting which are on for about 10.5 hours each day. I do a 25-30% water change each week and the nitrates are very low. I use flake food.

I have a filamentous algae problem. I pull it out each week but it grows back! It arrived about 4-6 weeks ago. It is long and stringy and occasionally branches. It attaches to leaves, bogwood, ornaments, glass etc. etc.

I was thinking of an algae eater. What might be recommended for my tank? Am I stocked to capacity already?

 

[paul_219]

A group of ottos will be gr8.

 

[Ace Of Spades]

I have a 60 litre tank (Approx 60 cm L, 28.5 cm W and 36 cm H), pH 8.0, with hard water. I have a Siamese Fighter, 4 Flame Tetras, 4 Silver Tip Tetras and 3 Neon Tetras. There are few very small Apple Snails that don't seem to grow much. The tank is planted light-medium, about 25% coverage. There is a natural gravel substrate, Fluval in-the-tank filter and 2 ornamants and piece of bogwood. I add 'Stresszyme' once a week plus plant food. There are 2 X 15w daylight tubes for lighting which are on for about 10.5 hours each day. I do a 25-30% water change each week and the nitrates are very low. I use flake food.

I have a filamentous algae problem. I pull it out each week but it grows back! It arrived about 4-6 weeks ago. It is long and stringy and occasionally branches. It attaches to leaves, bogwood, ornaments, glass etc. etc.

I was thinking of an algae eater. What might be recommended for my tank? Am I stocked to capacity already?

i have otto's in my 60L they are very cool

 

[bloatedguppy]

A group of ottos will be gr8.

Ditto!, I just got 2 and will be happily getting more. They sound great for your aquarium since you have small fish + these guys like to school so get like 3 or 5 and they'll be happy also their cheep I got 2 for a buck. I would be a little worried if your tanks ph is 8 seeing that most fish like it in the 7.0-7.8, but if your fish are fine keep up the good work.

 

[blobble]

A group of ottos will be gr8.

The 'Otos' look great ..and at pH 8.0 they will be OK and my tank wouldn't be overcrowded with about four?'

There seem to be lots of different species in the Otocinclus genus. One O.cocarna seems to like pH 6.0-7.5 so will pH 8.0 just be too much for them? Are there any other species of Otocinclus that can be recommended?

I've also had the Florida Flagfish Jordanella floridae suggested.

Any thoughts?

 

[funkycat]

Otto's are awesome,
But if your fighter will tolerate it, get some amano shrimp, hopefully they'll eat the algae before they get hooked on leftover food, but when they do each algae they are pretty awesome.

 

[Piltdownpaul]

Bang on funkycat-amano shrimps-low oxygen intake-low bio loading and cheeky with it!!!!!!!!!! Bye bye algae

 

[loachman]

Looking at your setup, I don't think you need more algae eaters to control algae. Apple snails should do a pretty good job of it in a balanced tank.

You do not have enough plant coverage to warrent fertilizer IMO. SInce your water is hard, IMO that should provide most of what the plants need combined with the nitrogen from fish waste. Also, the photoperiod is on the long side, even for a planted tank. Cutting it back would certainly help the algae growth. I've had decent results with an hour of lights off halfway through the "day" as an extra measure.

Filamentous algae is hard to control in general though. Relatively few fish will eat it. Mollies, flag fish, and SAE are some of the few that are said to eat it.