Three Guppies - What Type Of Algae Eater Should I Get?

[jordan.m]

Hello everyone,

Yesterday I purchased a 10 gallon tank from PetSmart, and it came with the heater, filter, etc. I set it all up and let it 'cycle' (I think that is the correct term) for 24 hours.

I have since added three guppies. A red tuxedo, a tequila sunrise delta, and I forget the name of the other, but it was yellow something. (It has a yellow tail, silverish body). My question is, what type of algae eater can I put in the tank, that would be friendly to the guppies? I don't want the guppies to kill it or vice versa.

Thanks,
Jordan

PS - How soon should I add the algae eater?

 

[donna123]

Hi,
dont add any fish yet,
you need a test kit to keep an eye on ammonia nitrite ans nitrate,
a cycle with fish can take up to 6 weeks.
there is advise on a cycle in the begginer section at the top.
good luck Donna

 

[jordan.m]

The fish are already in there. =\

 

[Bignose]

No, donna was talking about cycling in the sense of this thread: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=10099

This explains how to keep the fish healthy and happy with a brand new tank. And how cycling to a fishkeeper means something very different from the way you meant it.

In a smallest of nushells: Fish waste is primarily ammonia, which is toxic to fish. Fortunately some bacteria will grow to eat ammonia, keeping the fish's water free of ammonia. Those bacteria excrete nitrite, which unfortunately is also poisonous to fish. Fortunately, some other bacteria come along and consume the nitrite, excreteing nitrate. Nitrate is poisonous, but not nearly as bad as ammonia or nitrite. When a fishkeeper says his tank is 'cycled', he means that enough ammonia consuming bacteria and enough nitrite consuming bacteria have grown so that at no time when the fish's water is tested, will there ever be any ammonia or nitrite present.

This is all discussed at length in the link above. Please read it through, and if you have any questions at all, please ask the forum. Everyone on here started somewhere and made some mistakes, so everyone should understand your potential confusion and will do whatever we can to try to help eliminate confusion. Welcome to the forums and please ask away.

 

[JamonaX]

When you do get a algae eater get a common pleco algae eaters are called plecos so that is wat i recommend that is what i have in my tank

 

[Bignose]

Jamona, I really wish you would NOT recommend getting any more fish until the tank is cycled, also a common plec that grows from 18 to 24 inches is incredibly irresopnsible to put in a 10 gallon tank. Not to mention exceptionally cruel to the fish.

SInce I didn't actually answer the original poster in her question, actually guppies are decent algae eaters on their own. Large quantties of algae are an indication of other problems anyway. Like letting the nitrates build up too much by not doing water changes. Or possible overfeeding of the tank.

Frankly, the first goal is to get the tank cycled and healthy for the fish. Then other issues can be tackled, like algae. Like I said, guppies are decent algae eaters on their own, but a much more responsible and non-cruel algae eater for such a small tank is an otto catfish. They only grow to 2 to maybe 3 inches. But, ottos can be extremely sensitive to water quality, so the tank has to be cycled -- ammonia and nitrite free -- before you can even consider purchasing some otto catfish.

 

[jordan.m]

I was told not to get pleco's because they would grow to be too big for my ten gallon tank.

 

[raeburter]

Ill recommend around 3-6 ottos....They are cute and wont grow big are veri effiecient as well

 

[kcalbat]

hi jordan,

You are right, the common pleco will get too large for your size tank. I agree with ottos as a first choice. But it will be a while before you will need to worry about that. Now you should focus on cycling your tank and keeping your current fish alive.

Welcome to fishkeeping. It can all be very overwhelming in the beginning with the cycling, testing, water changes, et cetera. Im still somewhat new and still learning! Its worth it though.

Just a little research and youll be on the right track. Keep us updated, and keep asking questions.Many great people here, they helped me out alot!

 

[jordan.m]

Thanks kcalbat. I'm sure I'll have loads of questions. :]

 

[three-fingers]

I would recommend amano shrimp and ottos, between them they would eradicate any algae before it could even think about becoming a problem .