Small Fish

[Adam09]

Hello everyone,
Ive got a small fish tank which contains only small fish, but the problem is i cant seem to find a algea eater small enough to fit the tank, so i was wondering what is the smallest algea eater available for my tank, it only really effects the glass because i have 3 corries in the tank and the do a good job of cleaning up. But the glass is annoying, i saw a fish that looked like a twig in the lfs which looked about the right size, but i was worried it would out grow my tank, any ideas ?

 

[BigC]

You could use Otocinclus but I doubt they will clear all of it to a standard you require. Best to use an algae magnet for the rest.
Regards
BigC

 

[sic0198]

Try a Red-Cherry Shrimp. They get about a inch long and they will eat the algae (I think).
Just put some stuff in there for 'em to climb around on. They'll be stressed out if they don't have anything.

 

[MegTheFish]

I'll have to disagree on the comments about the ottos (however this is just my personal opinion). I have two in my 55 gallon, and I have yet to see one speck of algea in this tank. I actually take plants from my 50 gallon that is sitting near a window (so gets tons of aglae) and place them in the 55 with the ottos, and within a few days all the aglea is gone of the plants. If your tank is a decent size and you have a major algea problem, I would say go for a minimum of 5 ottos.

The twig-like catfish you saw was most likely a farlowella. According to a few sites I checked they are great at cleaning up aglea, but grow up to 10"
http/fish.mongabay.com/species/Farlowella_acus.html
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile57.html

 

[Adam09]

Thanks for the replies, i like the look of the ottos, my tank isnt very big i would only like 1 otto or 2 at most is there different types of ottos like the corries? or is it just bogstandard otto? Yeah it was def a farlowella 10inchs is too big for this tank maybe for my other tank thou

 

[BigC]

There is a new green variant

or

or most commonly like this shot of one in my own personal tank

then scurry along to
http/www.otocinclus.com/
Regards
BigC

 

[karin15]

I'll have to disagree on the comments about the ottos (however this is just my personal opinion). I have two in my 55 gallon, and I have yet to see one speck of algea in this tank. I actually take plants from my 50 gallon that is sitting near a window (so gets tons of aglae) and place them in the 55 with the ottos, and within a few days all the aglea is gone of the plants. If your tank is a decent size and you have a major algea problem, I would say go for a minimum of 5 ottos.

The twig-like catfish you saw was most likely a farlowella. According to a few sites I checked they are great at cleaning up aglea, but grow up to 10"
http/fish.mongabay.com/species/Farlowella_acus.html
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile57.html

agree, I bought two of them for my 20 gallon that was going threw an algy chrisis and one of them got killed by my angel fish the other one is still alive, anywais the one little otto ate all of the algy in about 2 weeks and my tank looks spotless, hes doing a great job = D
I think they don't realy show well though.