who will eat my algae?

[nino]

hey,
i'm got a 5.5 gallon tank in my dorm room with two ADF's and two guppies (guppies may be relocated to home later on this year). i've got brown algae on a couple parts of the glass, as well as on one of my plants. i've got a couple ramshorn snails but they just sit on this bit of wood all the time.

what would you recommend i put in there? fish? different snails?

 

[enchanted]

You could put one Oto in that tank. They stay nice and small and will eat up that Algae.

 

[Mizuro Ami]

i have one golden algae eater in my tank, and after the first day i had him in there, my tank was practically spotless. i had to buy algae wafers even though i thought the algae would be sufficient for him

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

i have one golden algae eater in my tank, and after the first day i had him in there, my tank was practically spotless. i had to buy algae wafers even though i thought the algae would be sufficient for him

keep in mind though that golden algae eaters can grow quite big and become aggressive as they mature

i think an oto or two would be fine

 

[nino]

You could put one Oto in that tank. They stay nice and small and will eat up that Algae.

i was thinking about that, but it seems like everything thinks that they should be kept in groups and do not do well alone.

 

[Matty]

how big do Oto's get?
do they also eat the green algae that grow on bogwood and stuff?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

You could put one Oto in that tank. They stay nice and small and will eat up that Algae.

i was thinking about that, but it seems like everything thinks that they should be kept in groups and do not do well alone.

This is true. Some people say their otos don't interact but all the literature I have read and my experience suggests that they should be in pairs or groups. I think 2 otos would be ok in there as long as you monitor your water. Obviously you could just clean the lage or tackle the probem at base level.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

how big do Oto's get?
do they also eat the green algae that grow on bogwood and stuff?

Sorry missed that...

They get to about an inch and a half and yes they will eat that algae.

 

[Matty]

So how many do you think i culd keep in a 90g with some Oscars?

 

[Dwarfs]

Your oscars would eat them.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Your oscars would eat them.

Indeedy.

What do you mean by some oscars? How many do you have in there? They are not in with the balas are they?

 

[thapsus]

It would be more easier to detect why you have algae. I think 5.5gal tank is too small for any algae eating fish.

Do you have plants? Do you fertilize your plants? How much nitrate do you have in your water? How often do you change water and how much? What is your pH and hardness? How long period your lights are on?

Usually brown algae is a consequence for too high nitrate and algae problem will desappear when increasing water changes. Acidic and soft water would reduce algae also but because you have guppys your water must be alkaline.

If all these are right and you still have algae, then I would recommend you to take some apple snails. Thought guppys can nip their antennas. How about amano shrimps?

thapsus

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Apple snails get way too big for that size of tank, they get fist sized. I agree that the reason for the algae should be tackled or just clean it. Adding fish to such a small tank is not the best option IMO.

 

[Matty]

I'm getting rid of the balas...but could you get a school of algae eaters?

 

[Cheese Specialist]

With what? Otos are small fish and peaceful fish and so need to be in a tank with fish that are not inclined to eat them. There are other algae eaters that school including flying foxes. I have 5 SFF in my biggest tank and they are always together.

4 of them chilling with a glass cat: