Fish To Remove Brown Algae.

[kjharve]

Hi,

I have a 35g tank with two F8s and 4 Bumblebee Gobies, SG is 1.005. All is well, water quality is good and everybody seems happy. The tank has been set-up for nearly 3 months now so it is still early days though.

Some brown algae has been slowly appearing on the sides of the glass and on the decoration. Whilst I think it look good on the decoration, I don't like it on the glass.

Is there a fish I could put in this tank to help clear it up or am I stuck with scrubbing? I know shrimps aren't an option with the puffers.

Thanks

 

[Flumpus]

I have a similar tank (29g with Figure 8 and knight gobies), and like you, I think the algae looks good on my rocks, bad on the front of the glass. I just use a mag float on the front of the glass, but I've let the algae grow on the back. I got a couple mollies a few weeks ago, and they're actually starting to make a dent in the algae on the back glass. So while I wouldn't expect them to clean up your glass overnight like a plec would, eventually it seems like they definitely will help.

 

[kjharve]

I have a similar tank (29g with Figure 8 and knight gobies), and like you, I think the algae looks good on my rocks, bad on the front of the glass. I just use a mag float on the front of the glass, but I've let the algae grow on the back. I got a couple mollies a few weeks ago, and they're actually starting to make a dent in the algae on the back glass. So while I wouldn't expect them to clean up your glass overnight like a plec would, eventually it seems like they definitely will help.

Do the puffers show an interest in the mollies or not?

 

[Flumpus]

I only have one, but no, he shows no interest in them at all. One of the mollies is even pretty small. I was actually more worried about the gobies than the puffer.

 

[nmonks]

I'd give olive nerites a go. They love diatoms (the golden brown algae on glass). They're brackish water snails (though sold as freshwater snails) and I suspect will be too tough for puffers. Certainly worth a shot. You can buy them mail order (e.g. here) but a lot of aquarium shops regularly have them in stock, e.g., the Aquatic design centre in London.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[kjharve]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice!

I've looked on the site though and they don't appear to have Olive Nerites. Do they come under a different name? They have the following:

Tiger
Ruby
Horse Shoe
Staghorn
Bumblebee
Flash Tiger

Thanks,

Kev

 

[nmonks]

I'd drop them a line and ask what the Latin names of the snails are. Specifically, the ones I know to be brackish water are:

Vitta usnea (a.k.a Neritina reclivata, olive nerite)
Neritina natalensis (African zebra nerite)
Pachymelania spp. (spiny periwinkles)

It is likely that all nerites are tolerant of at least slightly brackish water (most nerites are marine) and certainly worth trying. What SG are you aiming for? SG 1.005 should be harmless enough to any nerite species.

Cheers,

Neale

 

[kjharve]

It ranges between 1.003 and 1.007 - more often than not it's at 1.005 though.