Best Algae Eaters?

[gazb5590]

I've got a 145 litre tank (white sand substrate) and during the day my tank is in contact with direct sunlight which means I usually end up with a lot of algae on the front. I don't mind wiping most of it away (even though it does get a bit monotonous) but at the bottom of the glass a lot of brown and bright green algae builds up which is very tough to get rid of. I was just wondering what the best inhabitant to add to the tank would be. I have got about 50 Malaysian Trumpet Snails in a breeding tank but if I added them they would probably all be eaten by my 6 yo-yo loaches so was thinking about a couple of Nerite snails but wasn't sure if they would be eaten as well? I was also thinking about adding a bulldog Pleco or another type of plec that's main diet is algae but I've got 3 other small peaceful plecs in the tank and worried if I added a bulldog it could bully the other three plecs plus my tank is around 26c and I've heard bulldog plecs prefer temperatures of around 21/22c. The last thing I can think of is a Amano shrimp but worried that this could also be eaten by the loaches and I've heard that they're not that good at dealing with all types of algae?

I know this topic gets brought up a lot but considering the predicament I'm in with the loaches, plecos and snails I'm not too sure what to do for the best?

Any advice is welcome and thanks for reading.

Sorry meant to post this in tropical discussion

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

I've got bristlenose plecs and MTS and between them they get the job done!

 

[gazb5590]

I've got bristlenose plecs and MTS and between them they get the job done!

Funny enough I was just looking up Bristlenoses to see which types there is

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

They are great little fellas i've just got babies at the moment and from what i understand, the little ones can work through algae quicker than adults! They cleared out my tank in no time

 

[dinsdale]

When I had an algae outbreak, I was recommended Chinese Algae Eaters to abate the problem. They cirtainly did that, but now they're fully grown, they're the terror of the tank and they don't bother much with the algae too. This is common knowledge to me now of course so I would advise to avoid them if you're offered. I understand that a Siamese Algae Eater does a similar job but is a bit more sedate as are otos but I've never had either so I couldn't say. I would recommend a Bristle nose pleco. Not easy on the eye when they mature, but they'll do a good job and generally have a good temperament. I had one for years and he was lovely.

 

[gazb5590]

When I had an algae outbreak, I was recommended Chinese Algae Eaters to abate the problem. They cirtainly did that, but now they're fully grown, they're the terror of the tank and they don't bother much with the algae too. This is common knowledge to me now of course so I would advise to avoid them if you're offered. I understand that a Siamese Algae Eater does a similar job but is a bit more sedate as are otos but I've never had either so I couldn't say. I would recommend a Bristle nose pleco. Not easy on the eye when they mature, but they'll do a good job and generally have a good temperament. I had one for years and he was lovely.

Think I'm going to go for a bristlenose. Preferably a L182 starlight

 

[TwoTankAmin]

L-182 (Ancistrus punctatus) gets a bit too big for your tank- over 9 inches. The other bn called starlight, which stays under 4 inch is L183 (Ancistrus dolichopterus) is a blackwater species which normally needs a lower pH.

Go with a regular "tank" bn.

 

[gazb5590]

L-182 (Ancistrus punctatus) gets a bit too big for your tank- over 9 inches. The other bn called starlight, which stays under 4 inch is L183 (Ancistrus dolichopterus) is a blackwater species which normally needs a lower pH.

Go with a regular "tank" bn.

Sorry I was given the wrong info I just realised that when I went on planet catfish. L183 looks a lot nice new grows less than half the size as you probably already know. I am still 50/50 about adding a spotted bulldog Pleco (L187a) but not sure if the temperature will be too high and if they will get too territorial.

 

[OldMan47]

Add lots of fast growing plants, not fish. Nothing controls the simple plants, which includes all algae, like needing to compete with a higher order plant.

 

[FishLover66]

If you have a planted tank and want an algae eater that doesn't harm them, than Otos are very good at clearing algae without harming plants.

I recently purchased a group of otos and in a matter of days, they cleared my entire tank of algae. They are pretty cute too.