clean up crew?

[Jaster]

I have a couple Albino Bristlenoses in with my Africans and everyone seems happy enough. Got the occasional fin nipping but nothing too bad. My issue is the green algae is starting to take over my 80g and my 2 BN's can't keep up and honestly neither can I. Its not a huge deal, I actually kind of like the green on my background and rocks... to a point... My 2 BN's are getting pretty fat so I was wondering if I should just add a couple more or something like a pack of corys? Thinking 6-8 maybe? I thought about ghost shrimp but figured the fish will eat them before they can clean up anything. Though my boys thought that would be awesome life/death race... they want to place bets on how much algae 25 can eat before they get eaten. (gotta admit it would be interesting. lol) My kids are twisted... Anyway, would shrimp survive? for a little while at least? Any other thoughts on good cleaners? 80g, lots of caves, sand bottom, 7.8-8pH

Thanks all!

[gabbyguppy]

The best cleaners in my tank, by far, are my SAE's. They are worker bees and keep my tank very clean. They don't stick to the glass, but they do a pretty nice job of cleaning it.

Cories are great. I have them too. They don't eat much algae that I can see. They are more of a clean up crew for food that hits the bottom.

Try to find some true SAE's. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Karen

[Taurus]

Corys aren't going to help clean up very much algae. SAEs are your best option if you can find true SAEs. Make sure you know how to identify true SAEs before you purchase any. :22:

[Jaster]

Everything I've read about SAEs so far has said they don't like to be around aggressive fish though. Would they be ok in a cichlid tank?

[gabbyguppy]

Everything I've read about SAEs so far has said they don't like to be around aggressive fish though. Would they be ok in a cichlid tank?

OOOHHHH! Good question. Should have been reading closer. Didn't catch that it was for the Cichlid tank.

I'd say they could get easily bullied as they are very peaceful. Then again, they might be 'ok' since they never go looking for trouble.

Karen

[Taurus]

On second thought Jaster, I'm leaning toward a couple of BN plecos. At least they can escape the cichlids by hiding if given enough hiding places. I have one BN pleco in my 29 with the Angel and I've noticed some algae growing on the back glass wall. I'm tempted to get another BN pleco. If given the chance, I think the Angel might make a SAE vanish, and certainly larger mouthed, agressive cichlids might.

But remember the water chemistry is different for a pleco when compared to the needs of Malawi cichlids.

[Lab_Rat]

I would not add an SAE to an african cichlid tank...you're going to quickly have a dead SAE. Ghosties would get eaten quickly. Really your best bet is a couple more bristlenose plecos. I'm surprised the mbuna aren't eating the algae too, it's a big part of their usual diet.

[sanddigger]

BN's are the best bet with Africans IMO for algea. I put some in my Tang tank 2 years ago, since I had put the tank too close to direct sun.

DUMB move on my part....

Keep in mind the BN will get lazy if you over feed your Africans. They will feast on the leftovers. Make sure they have drift wood. Essential for BN's. (I think this should apply to Albinos too???) This is a conflict since drift wood will lower the PH. I'm fortunate that my H2O out of the tap is on the high side, (8.2) so the drift wood doesn't seem to bother the PH much.

Just make sure to not over feed your Africans, As Lab Rat said the Mbuna should be grazing on some of the algea too.

[Jaster]

Thanks all. Ya I think I'm just going to go with a few more BN's. I have them in all my tanks as it is and I just love them. They get along with just about everyone too. I pretty much figured anything else would get eaten... I was just thinking something else might be cool too. Just going to have to bug my fish guy to get something other then Albinos.
Thanks again all! :22: