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I have 1 CAE and 2 SAE's in my 29 gal.
Are either of those known to damage plants ?

Do SAE's become less effective algae eaters as they grow ?
Thanks

The Amazon Nut...

I can't tell you about the CAEs (I assume you've heard all about their, um, quirks already), but the SAEs are perfectly safe, and IME become better algae eaters as they grow. You may take them for granted after a while, though, because you simply won't see BBA, hair algae, or any other type they snack on - they'll eat it before it becomes noticeable. Just means they're doing their job!

Guarantee you'll enjoy having the SAEs a lot more if you let them have a small school of five - they're the most playful, fun, active, endearing fish on the planet, but much more so in a small (or large!) group, if you have space for five 4-5" fish.

-Molly
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Thanks Molly ! Yes I've heard about the probs associated with the CIA too. I'm keepin close watch on 'Jaws'.
I don't have room in my 29 to add more SIA's it's pretty packed in there. I wish I did ! Now I have to figure if it's the CIA or platy damaging the plants.

The Amazon Nut...

what kinda plants you got??

one thing i learned is that if it is the fish that comes out at night (pleco, oto...) you'll see the difference in the morning. and if it is normal fish, you usually can catch them red handed if you watch them long enough. i am not sure if cae is night or day, but i am sure you do, so if you are experiencing waking up and going *#$%^@# then yeah its the cae, else watch yer other fish.

good luck

CAE's????? What problems???

SAE are siamese algae eaters right?

You're right on the SAE front.

Common CAE problems: starvation, aggression, slime-coat sucking, growing to about 10", ceasing algae consumption. Certainly they're not unkeepable, but, for 95% of owners, they're not a great choice as an algae eater.

-Molly
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To answer your questions, here's the plant list.

Hornwort - Ceratophyllum demersum
Limnophila Sessiliflora (Asian Ambulia)
Hygrophila Polysperma
Cryptocoryne x willisii
Anubias barteri var. nana
Bacopa caroliniana
Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum Spicatum)
Anacharis (Elodia Canadensis)
Jungle Val ( Vallisneria Americana )

The prob is the Straight Val was gettin chewed somehow.
It couldv'e been the platy ? I don't see not enough light as a prob, that Val grew alot since I bought it. I'm assuming iron and potassium are ok, I use Lily pond tabs and occasional liquid fert. There's co2 also.

Do you think a Chinese Algae Eater would damage the plants when it tries to scrape the algae off ? Or more likely the platy ? I've recently added the Jungle Vals and want them to do well and take over the tank.. For a 1 wpg tank, the Straight Val did extremely well and despite the holes I was pretty pleased.

The Amazon Nut...

Whoops, yes Falstaff, SIA's are Siamese, CIA's Chinese. I had to ask that also before.

The Amazon Nut...

Drop the cae as soon as you can and get another sae instead. The cae stops eating algae and starts eating fish slime. They don't really eat the slime they eat fish food and little algae. But they are very aggressive when they get big. Mine was 6 and a half before he killed my prized fire eel e-lie. I got rid of him soon after that.

That really sucks, I can pop him in oscar tank

The Amazon Nut...

I like the idea of throwing him in a oscer tank. But no matter how mad i am/was i still couldn't do it. He was my first algae eater and he had a lot of personality. Some good some bad. But he went to My friend marks 300 gallon south american cichlid tank. Last time is saw him he was beautiful and belive it or not he was 8 inches. And happy. One part of me still hates him but another is glad he found a tank that he and his tankmates are happy in.

There's a good chance he'll live in the oscar tank, there's lots of places for him to hide, just have to sneak him in and distract oscar. But the 4-line pimodellus cat is just large enough to try and hunt him down. Either that or take him to my stepdad in 3 weeks. He has 3 large ones to keep him company. Which should it be ?

The Amazon Nut...

IF you really think he would be ok then put him in with the oscer. Because he would be picked on at your stepdads because he is small and the new guy. But if you really don't think he would be ok then take him to your stepdads because he would eventually fit in. But if you can keep him cause they have a lot of personality. ( but as i said earlier some good some bad )