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Hi guys. I have a horrible problem with algea in my tank. It is covering absolutely everything, including rocks, glass, gravel, drift wood, and even my live plants. I can manage the stuff on the glass and the rocks by scraping it with a spunge but i can't really scrape the live plants. I was wondering if there are some kinds of fish that are especially good and known for cleaning off the algea in tanks, and how many of them would i need, to clean off a 25 us gallon tank (about 98 littres). Two possibilities that i have heard are good, are the Otto and the Bristtle nose pleco. Thanx for your input.

nikola_89

Yes there are several fish that could do a good job on algea.

But before adding any fish I would try to establish what is causing all this algea.

Can you do a full water test? Tell us about the tank its age, and what you add to the tank chemicals, water changes how often and how much etc.

Once all this has been established some one here will be able tell you how to commence to remove all the algea.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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In addition to the above, do you have room to add algae eating fish? Could you list the fish that are currently in that tank? If it is already fully stocked, you will just have to get rid of the algae without extra fish.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Ok, I'll give you as much info as i can. I don't have a home testing kit so i would have to take the water to the lfs to get it tested but i'll tell you everything else. I have had this 25 gallon tank running probably for a year now. I don't like adding any chemicals into the tank except for melafix. I put melafix into the water either when i handle the fish with a net, or if i think that they might be looking a bit sad or shabby. (Of course I also use the dechlorinating chemical). I usually do 20% water changes every week to week and a half. I think that i would have enough space for some algea eaters. In my tank i currently have.

1 golden gourami
1 blue paradise fish
3 rosy barbs (which don't bother any of the other fish, at all)
1 very old harlequin rasbora(that is like 1 year over due it's death)
1 useless 3 inch algea eater (that doesn't eat enough algea to clean the tank)
5 zebra danios
4 swordtails (and one is just two weeks old)

This may seem over stocked for you professionals but all of the fish are happy and the only ones that bother each other are the golden gourami and the blue paradise fish. Although neither of them get hurt nor do they ever have missing fins and stuff. I hope this is enough information for you people to help me out if not just ask and i'll tell you as much as i can. Thanx for your help!

The deal with these "algae eater" fish is that they are not very good at eating algae. In fact, the one you have will eventually stop consuming algae altogether. These fish grow to almost a foot long, and eventually turn pretty mean. If you want a peaceful and small algae eater, I'd remove the one you've got, and add a bristlenose catfish. That way, your tank will be cleaner now, and more peaceful down the road.

Last edited by sirbooks at 27-Dec-2004 11:45

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Thanx for the advice, but do you think that one brisstle nose pleco will be enough for a 25g and will it eat the algea off the plants. That is my main concern.

I have to agree with sirbooks...get rid of the algea eater...get a bristlenose....or maybe 3-4 ottos...but if you go with the ottos be aware that they are a fish that have a very hard time getting use to a new tank, so you may end up with just one and have to buy another batch...

ottos with eat the algea off the plants for sure...as for the pleco i'm not sure

Nikola,

Keith asked you to describe the algae that you have before making any recommendations. The reason that he asked for a description of the algae is that it may be the type that no snail or fish will eat.

For example, if the algae that you is a dark, almost black green and forms sheets on your plants and gravel, it may be cyanobacteria also known as blue-green algae or BGA. No animal eats it.

Please let us know what the stuff looks like and you will receive some great advice on how to kill or minimize it!

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

nikola_89

As you can now see once all the infomation is given help is on the way very quickly. I hope this problem clears up quickly for you. I am far from an expert on Algea but I do know the correct questions to ask so that others can assist you.

Please keep in contact as soon as you get all the water tests done. You have not mentioned the lighting, type and lenght of time it is on, and its room location, natural lighting etc.

I once fixed a very bad algea problem by covering one end of the tank as it was getting full sun for most of the day.

Some times these problems can be fixed very quickly once all the facts are known.

I fully realise you are new to FP and you will soon discover help is never far away.

It might also help to know your exact location as a helpful member could also live close to you.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Ok, i got some more descriptions of the tank and the algea. There is some fluffy stringy type algea that is on the front glass, the wood and the plants. There is also some green to almost black, algea that grows on everything except for the front and side glass. I believe that they are totally two different types, but I really don't know since i am far from an expert. I have fluorescent lighting that is on probably 15 hours a day. The tank is about three meters away from a window but i don't think that it's natural light that makes the algea grow, because one weak i kept the shutters closed for most of the time and i still had lots of algea.

Today i went to the LFS and found a bushy nose pleco. The man that worked there told me that i would nead 1 to 2 of them two clear up the algea. Do you think these guys would help! If yes please tell me quickly while the LFS still has them.
Thanx for all the help!!

Nikola,

You do have two different types of algae. One cause will be excessive light, another cause will be poor water conditions and the last reason will be because it exists naturally in the environment.

You should check this link to identify your nasties:
http://www.plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9

The "stringy" stuff is likely to be beard or hair algae. The green to black stuff may be either BGA or brush algae.

Initially, I would remove as much algae as possible by cleaning your tank. Scrub the glass interior with an aquarium safe scrub pad. Vacuum your gravel to remove any mulm or garbage that would feed the algae. Thoroughly clean your filter but preserve its bio-filter. Perform a large water change after cleaning your tank.

If your tank has "hardscape" that is algae encrusted you can kill the critters by giving the rocks, wood or plastic plants a dip in a bucket that contains 1 cup of bleach to 19 cups of water. Dip the hardscape for 30 seconds and then scrub it under tap water to remove algae and cells. When you place the hardscape back into your tank you will want to double your chlorine/chloramine removal dosage.

Next, you will want to reduce the light that your tank receives. Put a timer on your light and be sure to light it for no more than 10 hours. If you like, you can light it for a period, then schedule a "dark" period in the middle of the day, then have the light come back on in the evening. There is anecdotal evidence that a period of interrupted light would have a beneficial impact on controlling algae.

I would schedule large, regular water changes at least twice a week to reduce the buildup of nutrients that "feed" algae. If your dark green/black algae is BGA, it will regrow very quickly if you do not reduce the nutrient levels and cut down on light. Note that increasing the number of fish means more nutrients even though they may eat algae. If you have more nutrients going into the water then add another water change to the weekly schedule.

If it proves resistant to housecleaning I would consider erythromycin to kill the bacteria.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 28-Dec-2004 15:59

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

hey I have a farowella or stick fish for a long time and when I first got him he cleaned all the alge straight off rocks plants and the class he is interesting to watch as he gets on my violet goby for a ride he also cleans the alge off my snail I would get that sorry Im not to fond of the bristle nose even though I have one my spellign might be a little off please excuse that for I am only 12

Farowellas are okay algae eaters, but they are pretty lazy. In my opinion, they aren't nearly as effective at cleaning a tank as the bristlenose. Either way though, that tank is currently overstocked. Adding anything else would create some difficulties, especially in the case of Loricariids. They produce tons of waste, which would cause water quality problems.

Age doesn't matter man, especially on this site. There are really knowlegeable youngsters here, and ones with good spelling.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Off topic for a few lines. switchbladeclownloach you say you are 12 but you have some thing which is sadly missing in some of the younger generation who use FP. I call it manners "please" the famous missing word.

Dont worry my spelling is not the best any way.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Thanx, everyone, for your advice. I'm going to start doing everything you all told me to do to fix the problem. If you have any other ideas please tell me, just in case the stuff you already told me doesn't work. Thanks again!!!