Thread algae infestation

[harryxing]

Hi my 1ft tank had thread algae infestation and I read that Rosy barb eats thread algae.

So I went to buy 8 rosy barbs home.
when I first release them they swam to all the thread algae and started slurping them.

Very surprised it is so hungry for algae.
but they can't seem to swallow the algae because it is too long.

I will see if my algae is gone tml.

[harryxing]

[mUAr_cHEe]

Otos and cherry shrimps cleared mine almost overnight.

[harryxing]

Otos and cherry shrimps cleared mine almost overnight.

my 2 otos didn't seem interested in the flowing thread algae.

But I agree they wiped my green algae glass walls sparkling clean overnight. I need to pay them OT pay. Hahahaha.

But my cherry shrimps are all not interested in cleaning algae

But I'm still amazed at rosy barbs' hunger for thread algae

[Urban Aquaria]

Maybe you need to cut the thread algae into shorter strands so they can eat... like how parents use scissors to cut noodles for small toddlers.

Seriously though, rosy barbs are very good thread algae eaters, it should be cleared up very soon (just don't feed them commercial foods until they clear the algae).

But my cherry shrimps are all not interested in cleaning algae

You'll need an army of cherry shrimps to have any noticeable effect on that amount of algae, like the whole tank crawling with them, then it'll work... if only just a few they'll have limited algae eating capacity (small shrimp = small appetites).

[harryxing]

Today the thread algae are totally gone but then they also uprooted a few hair grass because the thread algae was stuck to the hairgrass. Good thing also. they never touch healthy hair grass.

[Cmlee]

Can rosy barb be in same tank with guppy and fry?

[Urban Aquaria]

Can rosy barb be in same tank with guppy and fry?

Possible... but rosy barbs do eventually grow up to 14+ cm in size, so chances are they'll snack on the guppy fry.

[tetrakid]

I once kept a group of female Rosy barbs because their bodies look like beautiful gold.
With a green whole background of Java ferns, they look absolutely superb.
But unfortunately I found that they do not live well in a small tank.
They need a big tank, since they are very active darting swimmers, especially in a big group.

[hongweijie]

use yamato shrimp. most effective in clearing thread algae.

[harryxing]

use yamato shrimp. most effective in clearing thread algae.

yeah next time I should try Yamato shrimp because my rosy bard uproot all the hair grass

[mUAr_cHEe]

Take note that Yamato(s) also tend to uproot non-establised plants as they are bigger and tend to be stronger compared to the smaller shrimps like Cherry and Malayan shrimps.