Algae Eaters

[ZenoC]

Hey,

I have recently got into the hobbie of fishkeeping and it's all been very interesting to learn so far. I have had my tank for roughly 7 weeks and it has cycled, nitrites and ammonia are at 0 and have been for about 2 weeks now.

I am looking into adding an algae eater to my tank and would love some suggestions/advice on what to get? I have bene looking at a Siamese Flying Fox and was unsure weather i could just get one or if it would be best to get 2?

Also if anyone can help me with how many fish i could keep in my tank in total that would help alot!

My tank size is 160 litres.

Current fish in there:

x4 Platy's (3 males, 1 female)
x3 Molly's (2 females, 1 male)
x2 Clown Loache
x4 Guppies (3 males, 1 female)
x5 Neons

Thanks for any advice you guys can give!

 

[Noahs ark6]

How about a bristlenose pleco, they eat algae like crazy
I would say with the bristlenose you would be kind of fully stocked (+/- one or two fish)

 

[Judgejudy]

With the guppies and platies, i would put 1 male and 3 females, so they can breed, be happier and wont fight.

 

[ZenoC]

With the guppies and platies, i would put 1 male and 3 females, so they can breed, be happier and wont fight.

I actually got 2 new male guppies over the weekend and literally just saw my original male guppy nipping at one of the new males tail. I have just put the nipping one in a large net in the corner of the tank for a while and hope it calms the situation down.

I haven't seen this happen before, would you advise me to buy some more females tomorrow and if so how many?

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

You do not have unlimited tank space. If you just add fish to correct balances you will not be able to house your algae eater at all. As I see it, only the platy balance is so far out that it needs to be corrected although your nippy male guppy could become a problem.

 

[ZenoC]

You do not have unlimited tank space. If you just add fish to correct balances you will not be able to house your algae eater at all. As I see it, only the platy balance is so far out that it needs to be corrected although your nippy male guppy could become a problem.

Thanks for the info!

I am very happy with the fish i do have, i really do want an algae eater not so it can eat algae but i just really like those types of fish.

I kept my nippy guppy in a net for a good hour and a half before releasing and he has seemed to calm down alot compared to before, but there is only one female guppy in there, so i was hoping to get at least one more female in there tomorrow (along with some more live plants for hiding places) just to see if that helps.

As for the platy's, i have had the original male and female in there for a few weeks and they stick together alot these days, i only recently got these very bright orange male platy's but they don't seem too interested in the female at all and basically stick together in the tank.

What would be people's suggestions? I would like to get one female guppy just to even things out with the nippy original male and eventually (in a few months) add an algae eater (can i just get one or do i need 2?) and then im happy with my tank.

Thanks again for the replies. Anything new i can learn from more experienced fishkeepers is greatly appreciated

 

[BigbruiserAl]

x2 Clown Loache in a 160L is too small mate, the neons should really be in larger groups for there bio load and size of 10+


just my 2p

 

[ZenoC]

x2 Clown Loache in a 160L is too small mate, the neons should really be in larger groups for there bio load and size of 10+


just my 2p

I thought that but then my dad has had 3 clown loache in a 250 litre tank for over 3 years and they are probably about 4 inches long.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

I don't wish to dis respectable but both are not acceptable homes for clown loach. If they 3 years old+ and 4inch in lenghth they are stunted i would have to guess sorry mate

Clown Loaches are often sold at the very immature size of 1.5 inches (4cm) or so, but they should not be considered for the smaller (or even medium-sized) aquarium. They will grow quite rapidly from this cute size to around 5 inches (13cm), thereafter the growth slows somewhat, but with good care in a large tank, they can easily reach 8 to 12 inches (20 - 30 cm). They are big, bulky fish at that size. The two fish pictured were 8.5" and 10.5" body length when pictured. That is a standard foot rule beside them.

A potential owner should seriously consider the long-term commitment in purchasing a group of this species, as they will require ever- increasing size of aquaria and may potentially live at least twice as long as some small dogs.

 

[ZenoC]

I don't wish to dis respectable but both are not acceptable homes for clown loach. If they 3 years old+ and 4inch in lenghth they are stunted i would have to guess sorry mate

Clown Loaches are often sold at the very immature size of 1.5 inches (4cm) or so, but they should not be considered for the smaller (or even medium-sized) aquarium. They will grow quite rapidly from this cute size to around 5 inches (13cm), thereafter the growth slows somewhat, but with good care in a large tank, they can easily reach 8 to 12 inches (20 - 30 cm). They are big, bulky fish at that size. The two fish pictured were 8.5" and 10.5" body length when pictured. That is a standard foot rule beside them.

A potential owner should seriously consider the long-term commitment in purchasing a group of this species, as they will require ever- increasing size of aquaria and may potentially live at least twice as long as some small dogs.

Thank you very much for that information, i will pass that along to my dad too. I will most likely give my clown loaches to a friend with a bigger tank in that case so they can grow to the size they should