Algea Removal Help, Tankmates Advice Required

[fall-apart-dave]

I have a tank with a pair of musk turtles in. They are only babies just now, but will grow to about 5" each, maybe slightly larger. Here's a pic of the tank because I can't be bothered describing it!

There is more driftwood in there now after researching the specific needs of the species a little more but the layout is the same (2 bodies of water etc). Now, I don't want to use treatments if I can help it, but what other ways are there? I am thinking of using cherry shrimp as live food, breeding them in a dedicated tank, but adults would be too big for the turtles (yet). Do they eat algea, or do they just spend their time sifting through the substrate? Are there any small algea eating fish that will be too quick / clever for the turtles to catch once they grow up a little? The turtles are largely nocturnal and I rarely see them in the bottom of the big bodies of water, they seem to prefer to wallow in the shallow pools that form on the island with the flow of water, or sit on the branches on the left in the falling water under the shade of the bamboo. My water is beginning to turn green, and I don't like it! Perhaps introducing snails will work, and be a self sustaining source of forragable food for them? I have a plentiful source of trumpet snails in another aquarum... I don't know for sure, so it's over to you guys for a little advice!

 

[fall-apart-dave]

Just as I suspected! Not much going on with 8 views! I'll stick some snails in and go from there.

 

[eschaton]

Cherry shrimp will eat algae, but they aren't good at removing it from the glass. Virtually any snail or shrimp you can get will become turtle food sooner or later. I'd say a big, armor-plated pleco could survive in there, but the water volume is too low, and honestly I've heard nothing but bad things about mixing turtles with anything.

 

[Mikaila31]

Is the algae growing on the glass and other stuff, or is the water just turning green?

 

[fall-apart-dave]

Water is turning green at the mo, but it won't be long before it grows on stuff...

Stats are
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate - couldn't measure because my test kit was let open so it'll be no good by now...

Oh and I don't mind if stuff becomes food for them, I plan on using live food anyway. Hence my asking about things I can breed at home easily.

 

[paul_219]

Can add some snails also.

 

[mark7616]

These are the best things by far to clean algea off the glass and keep your tank looking clean. and very low maintanance.

 

[fall-apart-dave]

Good plan. Except when your tank is shape, planted, stocked and decorated like mine. I aint ripping my tank to bits every couple of weeks. Afraid its animals or treatments.

 

[Maximus]

Is it algae on the glass or in the water?

If it's on the glass, get a "glass scraper" i.e razor blade.

If it's in the water column, aka green water, get a simple 9v UV steriliser.

Simple.

 

[fall-apart-dave]

Yes yes I know all of the manual ways of removing algea, but cheers all the same! I just like to have self maintaining tanks (not through laziness, it was a lot more mork to get my other tanks balanced than it would have been to just remove snails manually and clean the glass). I'm interested in having a steady food source that will double up as a cleaning service (turtles are SERIOUSLY messy buggers!). Algea is in the water at the moment but only a matter of time before its on the glass. Tank is heavily plated and VERY awkward to clean manually anyway.