algae eaters

[Tednol]

helooooo.

i have a 12g(u.k) 15g(u.s) 24inch tank with:
2 Albino Catfish
1 Chinese Algae Eater
3 Black Neon Tetras
2 Glowlight Tetras
3 Lemon Tetras

i am not the most comited fish keeper, (puttin water changes off) but i know all about it so i'm not a beginner lol.

The siamese is old and a lazy f*** to be honest, which is why the tank gets algaefied lol.

Any plants i get die, which is anoyin and is why i want to replace them with fake ones.

And i would like to get some more algae eaters aswell (with the fake plants) and stock up the tank with some easy keeping fish that wont die with my lack of comitment to water changes.

Any suggestions to wether i shuld get fake plants and what algae eater/ other fish i could get.

The following fish have not worked with my tank:
Gouramis
Rams
Ottos had a good run when i had plants and more time for the upkeep.

thanks


tednol
edit: sorry yer i have one of those anoyin chinese algae eaters, i want to get rid of it to be honest lol

 

[webcat5]

If the tank is getting full of algea AND the plants are dying it is not the fish. Something has to be off with your water peramatures. Do your water tests or bring some to the LFS and get them to test it for you. Once you fix the water problem the algea will go away.

 

[OohFeeshy]

What species are the albino catfish? Are they cories? And I think its the chinese algae eaters got fairly big and aggressive.... Anyways. Go to the lfs, and if you still cant sort it out try otos, BN plecs.... Or just getting of your backside and scrubbing it.

 

[Tednol]

What species are the albino catfish? Are they cories? And I think its the chinese algae eaters got fairly big and aggressive.... Anyways. Go to the lfs, and if you still cant sort it out try otos, BN plecs.... Or just getting of your backside and scrubbing it.

is that the brittlenose plecs?

i dont know much about them, or if my size of tank is suitable

 

[TwoTankAmin]

If you are not prepared to care for fish properly, perhaps you should consider getting a stuffed animal- they require no care.

You should not keep a CAE in a 15 gal tank. When it grows, if it does, your other fish will soon be missing.

 

[Tednol]

If you are not prepared to care for fish properly, perhaps you should consider getting a stuffed animal- they require no care.

You should not keep a CAE in a 15 gal tank. When it grows, if it does, your other fish will soon be missing.

its already grown, and yeh i have wondered sometimes if he's to blame. Nobody wants it though i'm stuck with him

Perhaps i over exaggerated about my lack of care, i do care about it otherwise i wouldnt b a member of this and posting messages asking for some advice

 

[sylvia]

You know the inch per gallon guideline? I'm not the biggest believer in it but it works with small fish (isn't enough for bigger fish) but I'm going to use it now on your tank:

15 gallons:
2 Albino Catfish ( I assume cories) - total of 6"
1 Chinese Algae Eater (counts as a 'bigger fish' so realy it should be counted as more inches)- 10"
3 Black Neon Tetras - total around 4"
2 Glowlight Tetras - total around 4"
3 Lemon Tetras - total around 6"
Add them up: 30" - that's double your capacity...

Then take into account that you are slacking on water changes and obviously over-feeding or having water quality issues...
Each species of tetra needs to be in a school of at least 6 of its own species but you have no space for them as things stand.
Cories should be in a minnimum group of 4 (though 2 of the same species is acceptable under the circumstances).
The 'chinese algae eater' is obviously unsuitable - it will not eat algae as it gets older, it becomes more aggressive. more territorial, develops an appetite for fish' slime coats - later decides to suck out eyes - later still it will be longer than your tank is wide (or almost anyway) and able to swallow each of its tankmates. You need to return this to your LFS - they'll take it if you offer it to them for free - otherwise try another LFS.

To be blunt with you, you need to get your act together and start thinking of the fish as living creatures rather than toys and stop being lazy. You cannot add any more fish, be it algae eaters or otherwise, and need to work on sorting out your current stocking first. I'm pretty sure you've posted before about adding more fish and I'm pretty shure I told you the same then as well.

Oh and might I add that you should have 0 ammonia AND 0 nitrItes and nitrAtes below 20 ppm in all your tanks. Oh and an established tank, IMO, is one that's been running for 2 years without fish deaths (was reading some of your other posts). 6 months is a good indicator but far from complete.

 

[Tednol]

You know the inch per gallon guideline? I'm not the biggest believer in it but it works with small fish (isn't enough for bigger fish) but I'm going to use it now on your tank:

15 gallons:
2 Albino Catfish ( I assume cories) - total of 6"
1 Chinese Algae Eater (counts as a 'bigger fish' so realy it should be counted as more inches)- 10"
3 Black Neon Tetras - total around 4"
2 Glowlight Tetras - total around 4"
3 Lemon Tetras - total around 6"
Add them up: 30" - that's double your capacity...

Then take into account that you are slacking on water changes and obviously over-feeding or having water quality issues...
Each species of tetra needs to be in a school of at least 6 of its own species but you have no space for them as things stand.
Cories should be in a minnimum group of 4 (though 2 of the same species is acceptable under the circumstances).
The 'chinese algae eater' is obviously unsuitable - it will not eat algae as it gets older, it becomes more aggressive. more territorial, develops an appetite for fish' slime coats - later decides to suck out eyes - later still it will be longer than your tank is wide (or almost anyway) and able to swallow each of its tankmates. You need to return this to your LFS - they'll take it if you offer it to them for free - otherwise try another LFS.

To be blunt with you, you need to get your act together and start thinking of the fish as living creatures rather than toys and stop being lazy. You cannot add any more fish, be it algae eaters or otherwise, and need to work on sorting out your current stocking first. I'm pretty sure you've posted before about adding more fish and I'm pretty shure I told you the same then as well.

Oh and might I add that you should have 0 ammonia AND 0 nitrItes and nitrAtes below 20 ppm in all your tanks. Oh and an established tank, IMO, is one that's been running for 2 years without fish deaths (was reading some of your other posts). 6 months is a good indicator but far from complete.

yer well dats why i'm on here askin


i used 2 have a good tank untill i gave it 2 my brother to look after, which he ingnored what i told him to do. So know i jus want to get it stable for east water cahnges.

 

[leongreenway]

Dude,

I have a BN Pleco, they get to about 4 inches, they are superb Algae eaters.
Will be OK with Chinese Algae eater. By the way these things get huge, heres the profile

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/algeater.htm

if you have limited space why not try snails, I think apple snails arent bad

http/www.applesnail.net/

 

[Tednol]

Dude,

I have a BN Pleco, they get to about 4 inches, they are superb Algae eaters.
Will be OK with Chinese Algae eater. By the way these things get huge, heres the profile

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/algeater.htm

if you have limited space why not try snails, I think apple snails arent bad

http/www.applesnail.net/

so would a BN plec be ok with my tank size? providing i get rid of my CAE..somehow, ring around the lfs.

and are there any specific conditions it likes? like plants, becasue a friend said that i have a very high nitrate and a plant called green hydro something (not the red leaf variety) can help clear up. I'm doing a blackout at the monent to help with the algae, cleaned it all out before, and i'll do 2 water changes a week for a while and then do a weekly one. Get my water quality back down to normal


I will get the BN plec after i get rid of the CAE. Its isnt big at the moment. probly bout 10cm at the most. a really good algae eater when they are young, i remember aving a plastic ship that was convered in algae. its cleared it up in a week

I know BN plec like cucumbers, thats all i know. Cant find much on the net about them, or the cost

 

[morgan]

I feed my BN plec with algae wafers, just one as I only have one plec and a Hillstream Loach. I feed the other fish flakes and other things as a treat. Of course they all eat each others food! I also have some algae growing and some real plants. I only bought the BN plec two weeks ago and it has grown already. I think it is nearly fully grown. I paid £3.95.

 

[Mr Miagi]

NO, a BN plec would NOT be ok for your tank.

Dude, if your real plants are dying, your doing something wrong. Aquatic plants arnt just 'chuck em in and they will grow'. And its not algae thats your enemy, conserning the death of your real plants.

But to help reduce the amount of algae thats in your tank, there are several ways. First off, SAE's grow very large, and yours wil out grow if it hasnt already, that tank its currently in. Otos, although i have never tried, (expensive downunder... ) would be ideal in your size tank. 1 or 2. BUT they do recquire good water quality and general good and constant maintenance. Have your lfs got any shrimp? Cause i hear they are good cleaners.

Im giving you this link to read, it will help u ID your algae and identify the ways to rid your tank of it.

http/www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9

And as for this comment "i am not the most comited fish keeper, (puttin water changes off) but i know all about it so i'm not a beginner lol." Dude, u need to do some reading and general research. Thats what this hobby is about. Using and understanding knowledge and gain a sense of hapiness in providing your fish with the best conditions possible.

If this thread becomes a bash, i will not be happy. And will report u. Only reply with USEFUL responses.

 

[Nospherith]

don't let the stocking police get you down, tednol. they're just here to help.

You're tank is a little small. It is fully stocked. Cockroaches of the aquarium, those CAE's are. Get rid of the it ASAP. I hear they spontaneously get contagous bacterial infections and have to be euthanized for the sake of the other fish, if you know what I mean.

After you... get rid of the CAE, check your water params. Then after it's stable get a bristlenose. Otto's do well only with live plants and SAE's get to be around 4-5" (too big).

Speaking of live plants, they're probably dying becuase there isn't enough light or the substrate provides no nutrients. Read up on aquatic plants and maybe some reasearch will answer your questions.

 

[Mr Miagi]

But a BN plec far outgrow a 12gallon. I spose u could sell him too but i dont much see the point... Thats what i think....

And yeah, i agree, ditch the CAE. Those things are nasty. Try another lfs like sylvia said too.

 

[leongreenway]

sorry about the BN Plec Idea, i miss read the tank size,