Algae eater for 10 gallon?

[360º]

what would you guy suggest? i dont want one of those pelcos that grow a few feet long.

something that will stay small

 

[logansmomma1228]

Otos are about the only other fish you could get, they are pretty finicky at first and hard to keep alive unless you get healthier ones and have a better established tank. Most are picky eaters as well, and will only eat veggies.

Other than that, shrimp and snails would be good choices if you like those.

 

[krap101]

oto's, shrimp and (nerite) snails are all good choices for algae. I'd probably learn towards the inverts unless it's a really lightly stocked tank.

 

[360º]

thanks, wont snails reproduce like crazy tho?

 

[krap101]

Nerites only reproduce in saltwater (maybe brackish). I bought some the other day, and they're really cool, and supposedly the only thing that will eat green spot algae.

 

[maxima423]

yea nerite snails dont reproduce in FW, i would suggest getting some shrimp, they are pretty cool and dont somehow end up outside of your tank =]

otos are great but they are a huge risk since they have a high death rate

 

[360º]

yea nerite snails dont reproduce in FW, i would suggest getting some shrimp, they are pretty cool and dont somehow end up outside of your tank =]

otos are great but they are a huge risk since they have a high death rate

i didnt know shrimp eat algae off the glass..... hmmm any kind of specific shrimp? and how many should i get?

i currently have 5 guppies in there (brothers tank)

 

[maxima423]

oh off the glass, i dont know about that lol, i never had shrimp in my tank because the fighting fish would just rip it to shreds

 

[krap101]

Amano and cherry shrimp will clean the "reachable" areas of certain kinds of algae. I'm not sure what kinds nerites eat besides gsa, which they're doing a pretty good job (bought 3 on Monday, and they've almost cleaned about 1/8 of a 29 gallon (It was pretty bad)). I'd assume they also eat other kinds of algae that sits on your glass.

 

[maxima423]

krap101, so how many you think i should buy to clean a full 20g high? around 5-6???

 

[krap101]

I have 3 in my 29 right now, and going by the estimate of their rate of consumption of my gsa, and assuming the gsa has constant growth, I'm thinking I'll want around 6-8 for my 29. That said, once my plants take off, and I finally take the time to balance my nutrients, the gsa (green spot algae) might go away, and I heard that people have trouble feeding their nerites veggies.

I'm probably not the best person to ask for that matter. I think mgamer is the first that comes to mind.