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I was wondering if anyone can tell me what fish is the best for algea in a 20 gallon.. well actually fish, shrimp, snail, anything...thanks

Get a bristlenose pleco, they do good work on algae. just make sure to feed them some algae wafers/veggies sometimes.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

What kind of algae is it?

If it's filamentous algae (thread, hair, BBA, etc), then a pair of American Flag Killies would be best. Their appetites for any kind of algae is insatiable, but they are one of the few fish that will eat filamentous algae as well.

They may eat very soft plants though.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

It's brownish coloured, and seems to be growing really fast I just did a tank clean two week ago, and the water changes aren't helping. I have trumpet snails that got in there from a live plant but there not doing anything..
All thats in my tank right now are two dwarf gouramis and a baby platy smaller then your pinky nail...

what u want is a dwarf otocinclus it eats algea loads and gets only to 4-5 cm and it is very common

Don't get just one oto, in a 20 gallon, get 4 if your other stocking isn't too high. I added 4 to my 25g and they have cleaned off the algae-encrusted-so-bad-I- forgot-what-colour-it-started-as castle ornament and now I can see that it was off-white to begin with! If you have live plants like moss a BN will eat them and leave the algae, another good algae eater that may get too large for you tank unless it is a 20 long, is a Siames Algae Eater, sometimes they are sold as flying foxes, be sure to specify you want the SAE, not the fox, the foxes stop eating algae, get bigger than the SAE's and become aggressive as they get older. Your best bet is an army of otos attacking the algae, when you introduce them they go straight to work, ignoring other fish and food sources!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Ottos do a great job. Some say they a delicate but if they a aclimated proporly they can be very hardy.

20 Gallon Long:
Aquaclear 300
2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey

well I got two ghost shrimp, and three otto's..
I left them in the bag for about half an hour, they seem ok right now but I worry. I have had otto's before and they all seem to die but one..hopefully they work..

If ottos eat the type of algae you have and there is enough of it, they shouldn't die. They need a continous supply of algae though. Most won't eat algae wafers.

BN's are good, but they make lots of waste. I wouldn't put one in a 20g. I know you already have your ottos and shrimp, just letting others know. I have to constantly clean up after my BN. And he doesn't eat my plants. They are known to be clumsy and knock over plants...but mine has never ate them.

*Kristin*

Ottos & BN's are very good in Algae Eating.



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I have observed my ottos eating algae pellets. They have been in there for months but it is recently that i have seen them eating them. Maybe it takes the a while to be comfortable enough to eat with the cories i have?

20 Gallon Long:
Aquaclear 300
2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey

I'm so happy they are eating the algea like crazy they have cleaned off so much... I can't get over the job they are doing, that and my dad loves them and wants to get more, how many can I get for a twenty gal..

i had 4 in my 40 gallon but u have to remember that when they eat all the algea u will need to feed them tablets so u could aways get some more but the amount that u have is a good amount and i would stick to that but if u were going to feed tablets u could get 2-3 more