Algae-eating fish

[uwe]

Hello,

if the algae-eater is a fish you may have problems ...

- the algae-eater will be eaten (especially if you are keeping ornates)
- the algae-eater will be ... (as above) ... but is a bit too big and that kills the bichir
- the algae-eater loves the bichir's slime coat - up to the bichir's death
- the algae-eater don't love algae - like my ancistrus ... thea are all carnivores!

What about snails? Some of them are excellent algae-eaters!

For example: Vittina semicronica, Neritina natalensis, Pomacea bridgesi, Pomacea canaliculata
... the are also looking cool!

Greetings

Uwe

 

[tezr]

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/4656/product.web

The variegated shark is another one to stay away from in my personal experience. I had one and he would just casually swim by a fish and then take a nibble of slimecoat. He ended being the reason I lost 6 bichirs and a goldfish I put him in with after I figured out what was going on.

 

[ClownKnife28]

Thanks for the response, guys. The problem I have with snails is the fact that they are UGLY! Also, won't the fish eat the snails when they get larger? There are some shrimp that eat algae, right? Should I just buy shrimp to put in the tank when I see some algae growth? When the other fish eat the shrimp, not worry about it until I see more algae in which case I buy more shrimp. Will that work or do I need to have a constant algae-eating animal in the tank?

 

[ClownKnife28]

gars can be fast (in bursts) but usually it just stays in one place or slowly swims around. they are not in perpetual motion like aros for example.

Never kept clown knives so don't know if it constantly swims. If it does, then OK

My clown does not swim much during the day. So you are telling me that if I put an algae-eater in there, it will hurt my clown knife as well as my bichir?

This whole thing sounds hopeless...

 

[ClownKnife28]

No its not.In fact using fish to combat algae is probably the worst option -Anne

How do you combat algae?

 

[Infblue]

How do you combat algae?

i just use elbow grease really though i just try to scrape the front glass and the sides. the rest i just let grow. i mainly get green algae now, so it looks good and is good for the system. Regardless of the type of algae though, i've always used elbow grease...

 

[ClownKnife28]

i just use elbow grease really though i just try to scrape the front glass and the sides. the rest i just let grow. i mainly get green algae now, so it looks good and is good for the system. Regardless of the type of algae though, i've always used elbow grease...

Okay, so if you had a 200g tank (actually, they are in a 55 gallon grow out tank, not the 200 yet), you take the fish out, drain it and then scrub? Also, you just let the algae grow on the rocks and plants? I thought algae could kill off the aquarium and that it was dangerous.

 

[Infblue]

Okay, so if you had a 200g tank (actually, they are in a 55 gallon grow out tank, not the 200 yet), you take the fish out, drain it and then scrub? Also, you just let the algae grow on the rocks and plants? I thought algae could kill off the aquarium and that it was dangerous.

of course not. i just scrub the algae on the glass (like i said, front and sides are my main focus) using an algae pad/scraper during water change. and if my tank is acrylic, i make sure i buy the pads/scrapers that are acrylic-safe so i don't scratch the acrylic. Why do you think you need to take the fish out, drain it and scrub??

and yes i just let the algae grow on rocks/plants. like i said i get mostly green algae. you must not have seen my pics of one of my tanks

 

[Infblue]

of course not. i just scrub the algae on the glass (like i said, front and sides are my main focus) using an algae pad/scraper during water change. and if my tank is acrylic, i make sure i buy the pads/scrapers that are acrylic-safe so i don't scratch the acrylic. Why do you think you need to take the fish out, drain it and scrub??

and yes i just let the algae grow on rocks/plants. like i said i get mostly green algae. you must not have seen my pics of one of my tanks

sorry let me clarify.

the algae on plants, i do periodically scrub them (using a toothbrust during water change) once they build up enough on the leaves, since i don't want the leaves to be coated with too much algae and hence affecting the plants' growth. But i definitely wasn't doing this every week. And the plants i keep are the hardy easy ones like java fern etc.

as for rocks/woods, i've never really scrubbed them in my years of fishkeeping. I scrub them and clean them before i add them to the tank, but once they're in, that's pretty much it. i don't bother with them anymore.

 

[ClownKnife28]

When you scrub the algae off the glass during partial water changes, the scrubbed algae doesn't just go from the side to the water and turn it green when you add the new water? I mean, the algae has to go somewhere, right? It all just sticks to the scrubbing pad? Sorry to ask so many questions about algae and all.