Suggested fish to eat my algae?

[georgia]

Many of the plants within our tank have started to develop a kind of algae (?) which looks a bit like blue fluff. I keep removing the affected leaves but its growing everywhere!!

Can anyone suggest any fish that I could buy which will eat this hair like algae? someone suggested tiger barbs but im worried they will attack my guppies

Thanks in advance
Georgia

 

[Jen]

I know my platties like to graze on the algea. Oto's are small, and you could easily keep 3 in that tank to do the same.


edit... blue algea? that im not too sure of. I think there is an article pinned about algea, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Jen]

Here's the link to the article. It's worth a read. Algea removal.

Hope that helps.

 

[Mike Rathnow]

georgia;

In all actuality, you're not going to get any fish to solve your algae problem. When you set up your aquarium, you started a new ecosystem in which you're in complete control of. You're Mother Nature now. Algae is caused by too much light, and nuitrients in the water. Mother nature has her own ways of solving it's problems. By allowing water to constently change and flow. Either from underground water sources, rain, snow, current. There's a hundred different ways. Now it's all up to you to solve this problem. Is your tank setup where it's getting a lot of direct sunlight? If so, there's your #1 problem. How strong is the wattage of your lights, and how long are they on? Are you vaccuming your gravel, and doing proper water changes? Yes, there are certain fish that will feed on algae, but you can't expect them to solve this problem. You took this so called new ecosystem you started, and condensed it down to a very small area. And when not taken care of properly all your asking for is disaster. Remember when this happens in nature, and water quits flowing and it get over grown with weeds and algae. All the oxygen is starved out and everything begins to die off. This isn't a slam against you or anyone else. But like I said in the beginning. Now, it all up to you to keep everything going and running like good ole Mother Nature does it. Good Luck.

Mike

 

[Nik_boyd]

Georgia, its a huge generalisation, but Bristlenose catfish seem to be highly recommended for helping (not curing) algae problems. I've only had my pair for 2 days, but they are already making a noticable difference to algae on plants

Nik.

 

[georgia]

what about Algea shrimps?? would they work in my tank to clean up??

 

[georgia]

Ive just come back from a 3 week holiday and the tanks plants are covered with hair algae, I brought 3 algae eaters and treated the tank with interpet Anti Hair Algae, but there is so much now. What can i do? is there any other fish i can buy to eat it?

Thanks

 

[Sky042]

My rubberlip pleco seems to love the small amount of alage that grows in his tank.

in my 46 Bow my 2WPG and no live plants currently is developing plenty of food for my Otto's to consume.

 

[georgia]

I have read that Barbs are good for algae? are they compatable with Guaramies??

 

[boxman]

As far as I'm concerned, without a doubt Oto's are the best for eating algae.

I have 6 and apart from the odd bit here and there my tank is spotless!

I have mollies and I've not seen them tackle it myself, nor have I seen tigerbarbs eat algae but that doesn't mean they don't.

 

[Hels]

have to second that...ottos are the best i've come across...... keep them in groups though.... 3 upwards...i've got two groups of 5 and they are great.... v. effective on the algae....sweet and they dont grow nearly as big as any other 'algae eater' i can think of... mine are not much bigger then an inch and a half...

 

[jflowers]

Not many fish will eat hair algae, but the american flag fish springs to mind. Japonica (Armano) shrimps are also partial to hair algae. But as stated above, once the system settles down you will have less of a problem, especially if you get some fast growing plants to out compete the algae for nutrients.

[EDIT: Steer clear of fish labled as chinese/golden algae loaches, while they like algae when young, they graduate to fish scales as they grow to 5 - 6"!!!!]

Jon

 

[abstract]

most "algae eaters" actually don't touch hair algae, including bristlenoses, otos, and the likes....however, many livebearers LOVE hair algae...you would be amazed at how quickly a couple female guppies (males don't eat close to as much as females from my experiences) can clean up an algae issue...

however, your best bet is to use a toothbrush (one that hasn't been used yet!) and twirl the hairs up....they should come off of the plants pretty easily and this way you can keep the amount in check while your fish help to graze it down to a minimal level

as has also been suggested, your probably need more tank cleanings (to minimize waste and in turn nutrients that the plants feed off of) and lower light levels...it may also help to introduce a co2 setup if you have a high light system

p.s. you say you came back from a 3 week holiday and there was an algae problems..i assume you had the light on a timer? - how many hours per day? it sometimes helps to introduce a gap of 3 hours in the middle of the light cycle to help to limit algae growth - this is easily done with a timer. also, were the fish fed over this holiday? -maybe they were fed too much and the tank was cleaned too little (or not at all) hence the burst of algae

 

[Lil]

I had hair algae on the plants in m tank my mollies and swordtail soon ate it up LOL