Algae Eaters In Predatory Tank?

[dave_oddballs]

hi guys!
what i need is......
something that eats algae (a lot of it)
something that will live happily in a tank with big, aggressive, boisterous and predatory fish
preferably inexpensive
don't really want to rely on a pleco to do it as they tend not to do it well lol
any ideas guys???
they have some very nice siamese algae eaters at the lfs (real sae, not the false ones!) quite cheap, but they are only about 1.5" so would probably last the same amount of seconds!

any ideas/help much appreciated

MODS:
....i know it doesn't necessarily have to be a 'predatory' fish, but it needs to be compatible with predatory fish so i think i would get more info here! cheers.

Dave

 

[england]

I hear that Flagtail Prochilodus are good algae eaters

 

[synodontisjack]

prochilodus all the way, brilliant fish, you get the odd few slime eaters but overall their peaceful, good looking, don't produce too much waste and are pretty cheap when in season.

 

[dave_oddballs]

i was always under the impression they grew large?
The tank is a 4 foot 55g.
Would 1 or 2 be ok in that?
How big do they get? And if suitable, does anyone know where to get them at a good price?
Its like hair algae by the way, will they happily munch on that?
Cheers
Dave

 

[synodontisjack]

they will eat pretty much all algae, hate each others guts as adults, get about 12" in captivity so a 55g may be pushing it a little but a 12" would get snapped up within the day if you were pushed into selling it. Wait until their in season to get one or you'll end up paying 3 times as much, I can't remember the when they are in season exactly but pier aquatics had some a few months back so just keep an eye out for them.

 

[always4lora]

I'd imagine they'd most liekly make short work of any plants wouldnt they?

 

[dave_oddballs]

i hope not, its a fully planted tank!
If they eat plants id have to look for something else!
Erm about size, i am getting the bigger tank soon hopefully, keeps getting put off due to other work on the house, but definately getting it!
It will be 6x3x2 so big enough,
So i guess its just the question ben pointed out, would they eat plants? Or just the algae off of them?
Cheers,
Dave

 

[always4lora]

Taken from another site's profile on the fish :
Tank Setup

This species is quite unfussy regarding decor, but if you want to keep it in natural surroundings a biotope setup would be very simple to arrange. Use a substrate of river sand and add a few driftwood branches (if you can't find driftwood of the desired shape, common beech is safe to use if thoroughly dried and stripped of bark) and twisted roots. Algal growth should not be discouraged as the fish will graze on it. It's not the best choice for a planted tank, as it will devour any soft-leaved species and even less palatable vegetation will probably be picked at.

 

[dave_oddballs]

looks like am gonna have to think about this one, got a fair few plants i dont want eating lol!
Any other ideas?
Dave

 

[dave_oddballs]

does anybody have any ideas where i can get a flagtail prochilodus from?
preferably from somewhere within lancashire, don't really wanna pay for delivery off internet!
does bas have them does anyone know?
or pier aquatics/ as im going to pier at the end of the month,
cheers,
Dave

 

[always4lora]

Link to BAS's latest stock file i believe:
http/www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/news_article.asp?id=1754

 

[dave_oddballs]

been speaking to people over at pier aquatics and they said they are a stock item, but are sold out at the moment, im going around the 3rd/4th october so hopefully will have some in by then. he said they are usually around 4 inch at about £18 which is a good price compared to some i've seen!
thanks for your help anyway, still hoping to get to bas this month too, i'm after a group of the spotted yellow tailed botia, quite rare and hard to get!
i'm gonna contact andy at bas and get some prices, also gonna ask if there has been any more info on the future of the place!

cheers,
Dave