Algae!! =X

[Yajimari21]

Quick question: my mom has a 36 gallon tank at her office that has a big algae problem. The other day I came in and got all of the algae off with an algae pad; the next day I came in and it was already coming back! Since I can't come in everyday just to scrape down her tank, I was looking for a biological alternative. Would 3 Otto cats do the trick for this 36 gallon, or are they too small to handle it all? I want to consider a bristlenose, but I just find them to be so ugly! Any advice?

[angelcakes]

ottos will do the trick,where is the tank positioned?

[Tooch]

How long is the light on? Too much? Not enough? Is it in direct sunlight? Either of these could be causes. What color is the alge?

I agree, Bristlenose's are pretty ugly! I would think about maybe 6 oto's if you want to go that route. What's the tank stocked with? You could also consider a Rubberlip Pleco. They stay pretty small, are cool lookin, and love alge as well.

I would try these options before I go the chem route.

[Adrian]

I would go with at least 4 oto's and about 4 gold mystery snails. NOT apple snails, there is a huge difference....literally.

[Yajimari21]

The tank positioning and lighting are the problems, but nothing can be done about the former since that is the only reasonable position for the tank. I've told my mom to make sure that her employees turn the light off at night (I'm assuming that they didn't since the bulb had burst by the time I arrived and the ENTIRE tank was coated in algae). I'm getting my mom algae-eating fish to fight poor management and tank placement.

Color of algae: Green

Current Stocking for 36 Gal:

7 Black Neon Tetra
6 Neon Tetra
11 Guppies (these numbers are going to be halved in the next few days)
5 Corys


I've heard bad things about snails, so I kinda want to avoid them at all costs. Would 4 ottos work? I know that the tank is pretty heavily stocked already, so I don't want to get more than I absolutely have to.

[smaug]

With that much algae growth,I wonder if 4 little otos will be able to keep up.There is a big help you can do for this tank concerning the lights,go to any hardware store or even walmart and pick up an appliance timer.They are under 10bucks normally and will solve the bad employee thing.There reliability is first rate and I use 2 of them on my tank to control my lights and air pump.Good luck.

[angelcakes]

With that much algae growth,I wonder if 4 little otos will be able to keep up.There is a big help you can do for this tank concerning the lights,go to any hardware store or even walmart and pick up an appliance timer.They are under 10bucks normally and will solve the bad employee thing.There reliability is first rate and I use 2 of them on my tank to control my lights and air pump.Good luck.
good advice...............:19:

[Yajimari21]

With that much algae growth,I wonder if 4 little otos will be able to keep up.There is a big help you can do for this tank concerning the lights,go to any hardware store or even walmart and pick up an appliance timer.They are under 10bucks normally and will solve the bad employee thing.There reliability is first rate and I use 2 of them on my tank to control my lights and air pump.Good luck.

Thanks a lot! I need one of those for my home tank as well (when I was away my sisters left the lights on and algae was everywhere when I came back!). You don't think 4 otos will be able to do it though? Any advice on numbers, or do I have to go with a bristlenose :( (lol-- I'll get one if I have to).

[smaug]

Thanks a lot! I need one of those for my home tank as well (when I was away my sisters left the lights on and algae was everywhere when I came back!). You don't think 4 otos will be able to do it though? Any advice on numbers, or do I have to go with a bristlenose :( (lol-- I'll get one if I have to).
I was hoping someone with more experiance with otos would either refute or back up my statement,they are just so small imo to be thought of as whole tank cleaners,a rubbernose plec may be a better bet.

[Ellen4God]

Well, I have two otos for my 10g tank, and they do a pretty nice job at keeping it clean. Yes, there's still algae in certain places, but it's mainly because they don't even go in those places to clean. I had a big algae problem (well, not really problem - I was trying to 'grow' algae in the tank after it was set up just so that I could get otos), and they cleared it up pretty fast as well. They're worth a shot, I think. I love mine.

But, if you do decide to go the pleco route, I think rubber lip plecos are pretty cute. A lot better than BN plecos!

[smaug]

Well, I have two otos for my 10g tank, and they do a pretty nice job at keeping it clean. Yes, there's still algae in certain places, but it's mainly because they don't even go in those places to clean. I had a big algae problem (well, not really problem - I was trying to 'grow' algae in the tank after it was set up just so that I could get otos), and they cleared it up pretty fast as well. They're worth a shot, I think. I love mine.

But, if you do decide to go the pleco route, I think rubber lip plecos are pretty cute. A lot better than BN plecos!
well,there you go>The Ellen has spoken!

[Ellen4God]

well,there you go>The Ellen has spoken!

ha...makes me sound all important-like. Which I'm not! Of course, it wouldn't hurt to get more opinions, but those are my experiences with otos.