Small algae eater???

[Jezah]

I have a 29 gallon with 1 brichardi cichlid, the kenyi cichlid, 1 albino cichlid, 1 spotted pictus cat and a rubbernose plec. I need a small algae eater though for my plastic plants, as the rubber nose is too big to sit on the leaves and clean the algae. What other small cleaner can I use? I mean my cichlids are al babies, none are bigger then 3 inches yet. Would a school of Otocinclus catfish be ok...?

 

[MasterP]

A school of otos or cories would be fine. I think that otos work really well.

 

[freddyk]

I wouldn't expect the Oto's to do to much on your plants, and you had better hope they go unnoticed by the cichlids (it's likely that they will, but if not they're dead)

 

[Ferris]

IMO Otos would be too big a risk. As the cichlids grow the Otto's could be in trouble, if the cichlids don't actually kill them, the stress probably would.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

get one apple snail and one large ramshorn. neither can breed all on its lonesome and they'll do a number on any algae or leftover food. but if you have any live plants, they'll be happy to munch on those too. (not that your cichlids will leave the plants alone anyways.)

 

[spanishguy111]

A school of otos or cories would be fine. I think that otos work really well.

[snapback]902373[/snapback]​

See this is where you know this guy doesn't know what he's talking about right here when he suggests corys (dont eat algae... at all) to eat algae.

Given what fish you have they might beat on an algae eater down the line, also you have to take into consideration your pH (it has to be under 8 for a good deal of plecos). A bristlenose pleco might work, but will become too big for your problem. The best thing imo to do here is rub the algae off with your hands. If you're really hard up, get a large golden algae eater. They're long skinny and goldfish colored. Readily available. It'll be able to defend itself and its dexterous enough to clean the leaves. It can also tolerate the high pH.

My recommendation however is rubbing off. BUT the golden algae eater will be fine. I just think they are ugly.

remember with ANY algae eater you need to feed it algae tabs and bottom feeder tabs. Almost all algae eaters take a little protein in their diet. Failure to supplement their food properly = dead or sick fish eventually

 

[freddyk]

The best thing imo to do here is rub the algae off with your hands

This is about it. Adding a pleco will end up adding to the bioload and making little difference to the tank. Just pull the plants out and rinse them every now and then. Pleco's are pretty heavy on the bio-load anyway, so they're really only worth keeping for pleasure rather then livestock lawnmowers. Now that I think about it I wouldn't mind some sheep to take care of this front lawn.

 

[Jezah]

I think also that Golden Algae eaters are ugly as sin...but if he can clean my plants without me having to constantly wash them....cool beans. I cherish my one live plant so snails are a no-no....plus arent Ramshorns hermaphroditic? Also...anyone know if with the fish I have now if I could consider adding another Brichardi...?

 

[modernhamlet]

I think also that Golden Algae eaters are ugly as sin...but if he can clean my plants without me having to constantly wash them....cool beans. I cherish my one live plant so snails are a no-no....plus arent Ramshorns hermaphroditic? Also...anyone know if with the fish I have now if I could consider adding another Brichardi...?

[snapback]904645[/snapback]​

FYI, "Golden Algae Eater" usually means "Chinese Algae Eater", which don't really eat algae. Make sure you have a positive identification of what species you're getting instead of relying on the words "algae eater" written on a tank...

 

[freddyk]

anyone know if with the fish I have now if I could consider adding another Brichardi...?

Absolutely not. A spawning pair of brichardi need the tank to themselves or they'll kill all tankmates, and two brichardi of the same sex will result in unnecessary, and possibly fatal, aggression between them. I would suggest doing research on the fish you want to keep, learning about them is the best way to provide a proper environment for them.

 

[Jezah]

Uh.....I work at a pet store and the golden algae eaters we have look like the regular algae eaters....just gold? Does that mean they are just a gold version of the chinese ones? Cause their is no scientific name....

 

[xamdarb]

See this is where you know this guy doesn't know what he's talking about right here when he suggests corys (dont eat algae... at all) to eat algae.

...yes they do idiot

 

[pica_nuttalli]

See this is where you know this guy doesn't know what he's talking about right here when he suggests corys (dont eat algae... at all) to eat algae.

...yes they do idiot

[snapback]906479[/snapback]​

not to the extent that they'll make a visible dent in an algae problem. cories are carnivores.

 

[xamdarb]

they still eat it though

 

[pica_nuttalli]

yeah, if its in a spirulina pellet

cories are worse algae eaters than guppies or mollies. they won't get your glass clean.