Algea Eater Question. . .

[Phaedrus]

I have had my tank fully stocked with excellent water conditions for about 6 weeks and am starting to get a little bit of green algea on rocks/ornaments and on the sides of the tank. Should I get something that will eat it and if so what would be a good fit?

 

[mr86mister]

what size tank....and i would recomend the small docile Otocinclus, they only grow to about 2 inches

 

[megladonsharky]

pitbull pleco

 

[greenmaji]

I personaly think the best measures against algae is maintiaining good water chemistry or plants if your tapwater has too many nutrients..
What is your PO4 level? do you have a PO4 testkit?

 

[megladonsharky]

humm that is a good pt I got a pleco cause he is a cutie not for algea control ...

 

[Phaedrus]

I have a 55 gal but no natural plants. I do not have a phospate test kit so I don't know about those levels. There is not really much algea in the tank but I wouldn't mind having an algea eater anyway.

 

[greenmaji]

No algae eater(including all pleco's) actually eats all types of algae (some types no algae eater will consume it)
If you keep your PO4 level down (most of the time your tap water shouldnt have any PO4 so water changes will keep algae away) and keeping the lights on for less then 8hrs a day..

 

[kristen]

i would recommend a pleco. siamese alage eaters are too aggressive and might harass some of your fish. Otocinclus are awesome and soo cute but in my experience they are best in a planted tank, they often die mysteriously even in the right conditions. plecos are pretty hardy and always hungry, you will most certainly have to provide alage wafers. Plecos are territorial towards their own kind so i would only have one in your tank. provide them with a couple places to hide as they are nocturnal.

 

[mitch86]

i got a few brittlenose catfish for my tank and are awesome for my algea problems.

 

[aquanoob]

One of the guys at my fish store suggested shrimp... of course he could be totally wrong.

 

[Felf]

amanos are supposed to be the best for algae but i havent had any personally since they're illegal here.