Algae Eaters

[Sp3nc3r]

i was just wondering what it the best algae eater

what do people prefer??

i know that i prefer pleco's

what do youuu like??

 

[Torrean]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=95077

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=101658

I like rubbernose plecos. Ottos are great too but they tend to die.

 

[BettaBum873]

personally it all depends on the size of the tank really.

i am assuming that you have a smaller size tank so here i go:

otto cats are good algae eaters as they will only eat algae IME and grow to only 2" MAX most are around 1" or so. they need to be kept in groups preferably 3 or more. Torrean is right about them dieing. they either thrive in a tank or die. there is hardly any middle room. they should be put in a mature, fully cycled tank

rubbernose plecos are good all around clean up crew. they eat algae and even will eat up leftover foods. also they only grow around 5" if i'm not mistaken. (i'm not sure if they are also called bulldog plecos as well- i think buldogs are a different species-not sure bout these 2 as i never kept them)

bristlenose plecos (i know) are awsome clean up crew. they will eat algae very well and eat leftover foods in the tank.

1 snail (don't want it to reproduce)- specifically MTS (malaysian trumpet snails) don't get big at all. they eat leftover foods, detritus, algae and stir up te substrate and loosens sand (if you have it).

common plecos are mediocre algae eaters that do eat leftover foods. be advised that they can get like 18" or larger in size. they are advised ONLY for a LARGE tank

*pretty much don't get any species that is advertised as an "algae eater". i bought one under the assumption that they will be a good algae eater, since their name says they are. well it turned out that it was a CAE (chinese algae eater- which most are) and they only eat algae while they are small (under 5") and will not eat it as much when they are older. they get really aggressive and are just plain EVIL to have in a tank. maybe if i had a large tank i would get one but not until then and it will still be a BIG if.*

 

[Torrean]

nice post. bristlenoses are better algae eaters than rubbernoses (or so I've heard) but they get larger. I believe rubbernoses rubberlips and bulldogs are all common names for a few very similair plecos. THey range from 3-5 inches adult size =)

 

[Iron Man]

I'm with the popular consensus on the rubberlips and bristlenoses. After reading so much about all their pluses over a "commoner" I got a little rubberlip for my 55 gallon. Within a few days not only all the algae was gone off my glass, but off the plant leaves too!

What I thought was fat from eating all the algae, then left little eggs all over the onion plant leaves it had just cleaned. Which freaked me out because I had just bought some plants and thought they were snail eggs.

They were widdle teeny plecos when they hatched!

I've had common plecos and apple snails too, and though they are excellent algae consumers they are poopie factories!

 

[lisie]

poopie factories!

I'm trying to decide what algae eater(s) to get for my tank too, so yay for this topic.

 

[Sp3nc3r]

i bought a sailfin pleco

i looooveeee ittt

 

[lisie]

Hope you've got a biiiiig tank.

 

[BettaBum873]

yea from what i have read they make commons look like dwarfs lol

 

[dwarfgourami]

I am very pleased with the work of my amano shrimps who have cleared the tank of thread algae in less than a week. These guys rock!

The livebearers dealt fairly efficiently with the brown algae.

As for that green stuff that sticks like cement to the glass in the front, please step forward- the Wilkinson Sword Blade!!! A little known algae eater, available in cheap packets from Superdrug.