Algae eater?

[Demi ^_^]

I ahve quite the clean-up crew: Corys, FW Shrimp (Eats bits of debris in gravel and algae), FW Mussel (Water filterer' :)), Apple Snail...

Yet, is their a type of algae eater that can help me with my on-going algae problems?

I used to have BN's, but they all just kept disappearing, thus I am skeptical about them now... Have I anymore choices, or am I just gunna have to make do? :11:

[Red]

you can get some otos. Or some MTS clean algae pretty darn good.

[Northernguy]

Otos are a great idea as Red said!
Here is something on algae.If you understand exactly how you get it ,its easier to fight it![Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Demi ^_^]

Thx guys! I am off to do soem proper research on them then ;))

Oh and thanx NG for the link, I'll have to have a nice long read, :))

[Wild Turkey]

I also am always hearing good things about otto's abilities to consume algae. so let me third that suggestion

[JaredCBell]

not sure what they were but i was at petsmart today and they had "algae eaters" .... that was their name. Not sure what their real name was but they were really small, narrow and had sucker mouths. About 2.49 for each fish. Just a suggestion!

[Mvjnz]

I have noticed some pet stores sell BN's when they are extremely tiny. If you've been buying these, they are less likely to survive. They should be at least 4-5 cm when you buy them.

[angelcakes]

I have noticed some pet stores sell BN's when they are extremely tiny. If you've been buying these, they are less likely to survive. They should be at least 4-5 cm when you buy them.
i will agree with you there,the bigger you find them the more chance of survival they have

[mac]

not sure what they were but i was at petsmart today and they had "algae eaters" .... that was their name. Not sure what their real name was but they were really small, narrow and had sucker mouths. About 2.49 for each fish. Just a suggestion!


More than likely you saw SAE's. They can be good at eating algae. But you have to be careful choosing them. Because one type which is often confused with a Algae Eater is the Flying Fox, which will become a big pain in the tank terrorizing the fish in it. Where as the SAE group are completely different.

As for Ottocinclus I would second that.
Plus with the BN I would try and get ones that are 4-5 cm. IME and IMO they tend to survive the transition stage much better. Also from what I have heard they very young BN's don't tend to east algae at first, but like to eat plants till they grow larger.

mac

[Demi ^_^]

But thats whats wierd with the BN's. I bought them SOOOO tiny, yet they grew and grew and grew to 2" before they disappeared... I did not find any of their bodies... they just... disappeared...

Don't get me wrong, I ADORE BN's! But they are so expensize here that I don't really want to spend heaps to buy another that will just disappear like the others...

[bushwhacker]

i'd be more willing to bet that what jaredcbell saw was a cae and not an sae