FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi, there are some very fine worms and a layer of slim on the sides of my tank. I have 3 Ranchu and 7 cories in my 30 gallon tank. I am thinking of adding a SAE to my tank to get rid of the slim and worms. Will it work ? Thanks.

Can you describe the worms a little? A common worm found in tanks are planaria. They survive well in tanks that are not mainitained optimally and when there is excess food available. Give the tank a good gravel clean and you should see the worms disappear as their food source disappears.
The slime you are talking about, is it algae? Can you describe it? Is it brown or green?

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

A bit confused..in the title ,you mention otos..but in your post, you mention SAE..
Agreed with other poster about worms/slime..
If you are looking for an algae eater(s) still, SAEs can be aggressive..while Otos are very peaceful (except for the very occasional slimecoat sucking which is not serious that I have seen)..but should be kept in groups..

Thanks for the reply. I think I am confused with otto, SAE and CAE. I thought that SAE is an otto. Please advise. The slim has no colour but looks brown when it wipe it off with paper from the glass after I drained off the water. I agree with Lindy about the worms from overfeeding and poor water conditions. I don't think I have that problem but I somehow still find a couple of these worms here and there (maybe 2-5 worms per side of the tank).

CAE = Chinese Algae Eater (often becomes aggressive with age)
SAE = Siamese Algae Eater (likes to be kept in a school)
Oto = Otocinclus (tiny, likes to be kept in a school)
BN = Bristlenose (4-5 inches max, fine solo)

I think the brown slime you see is brown algae, common in newly set up tanks, and in those maintained with low light. Actually diatoms, I beleive. Otos do like to eat it, but then again, so would a BN, I believe. I would go for one BN rather than a school of ottos. I would also make sure no overfeeding is happening and probably step up on the water changes, using a gravel vac, alternating which side of the tank is done each time.

Hi, I believe pleco can be a good algae (slime?) eater, depend on the personalities of it. I have heard stories of pleco sucking the eyes out of some fishes in aquarium. Pleco can be nasty when large. I am still trying to find a good algae eater (& small worms eater) for my aquarium which house peaceful fishes.

Bristlenose pleco is great to keep brown algae under control. I have kept Bristlenose plecs in all my tanks and have never had one suck on another fish.
SAE's are infact peaceful and a great eater of brush aglae commonly found on plants. CAE's are the problem fish, as they get older they become aggressive and stop eating algae.
Green algae is a favourite of the Otto i think? Someone will come along and correct me if i'm wrong.

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Thanks for the replies. Can anyone tell me if the slime on the sides of my tank is algae ?

I'm 99.9% sure it would be algae.

---

Before you criticize someone walk a mile in their shoes. That way you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

What color is this slime ? It could also be cyanobacteria.

The Amazon Nut...