best algae eater

**stormydax** · 27th Apr 2006, 23:08

Hi guys,
may i know whats the best algae eater in a small planted tank...

is it right to sayt that oto and flying fox?

thank you

yours sincerely,
Storm

**budak** · 27th Apr 2006, 23:14

define: small.

Otos are good for diatoms. That's about it. Shrimp will take care of soft hair algae.

Controlling black brush algae and other tough groups involves ensuring that adequate CO2 and nutrient levels are maintained. Algae eaters won't help much.

**stormydax** · 27th Apr 2006, 23:16

hi,
are black brush alage the type that sticks on the side of the tank...i have some in my tank...i am cutting down on my lights to reduce the propagation of it...

thank you

yours sincerely,
Storm

**Justikanz** · 27th Apr 2006, 23:55

What shrimps are good for hair algae? Cherry shrimps are practically useless and Yamatos are too big... Malayan shrimps?

What other algae eater would be good for hair algae, besides shrimps?

**AkionLCG** · 28th Apr 2006, 10:16

Smaller yamato are much more hardworking than the bigger one.

Maintain high CO2 level (20ppm.. correct me if I'm wrong.. Too long have not post..

) for high maintenance planted tank. The algae would lose out to the plants and will be an easy meal for any algae eater.

**stormydax** · 29th Apr 2006, 15:06

hi guys,
so i should up the co2?...what about the lighting?

thankyou

yours sincerely,
Storm

**AkionLCG** · 29th Apr 2006, 22:36

Keep the lighting at 3 Watt per gallon of water. That will be fine.

**zenscape** · 4th May 2006, 10:36

Have you guys tried Bristlenose Pleco? Heard from Gan it is a good algae eater. Where can i get it? My tank is full of moss, any other recommendation of algae eaters which do not harm moss?? Malayan shrimps?

**diki** · 4th May 2006, 11:13

Originally Posted by Justikanz

What shrimps are good for hair algae? Cherry shrimps are practically useless and Yamatos are too big... Malayan shrimps?

What other algae eater would be good for hair algae, besides shrimps?

Yes. My malayan seems to eat green hair algae very well. Whenever my plants have them, putting them into the shrimp tank always clears up in a few days. Just don't feed them when u want them to clear your algae.

Not sure which fish eats hair algae.

**Justikanz** · 4th May 2006, 14:53

The bristlenose is good for encrusting algae and green spot algae.

**pioneer** · 5th May 2006, 20:36

my preference is oto and Yamatos

**taygu** · 6th May 2006, 10:52

Flying fox will eat algae initiately but will start to go for the fish food that you feeed and will stop eating the algae and worst, they grow really big comparing to other resident in the tank. Do not over feed the fish or shrimp, this will help to contain the algae growth..

Prevention is still better than cure but still easy say than done.

I have accepted that algae is one of the plant....

**isda** · 6th May 2006, 13:25

nerites are good algae eaters.

**PeterGwee** · 6th May 2006, 13:56

Do the prevention rather than cure. That will be the best way out and why you are in the hobby. To grow plants well and have a nice home for the fish!

Regards
Peter Gwee

**XnSdVd** · 6th May 2006, 20:36

Do yamatos eat staghorn algae? my substrate's practicall covered by them.

**|squee|** · 7th May 2006, 01:06

They don't in my experience. Staghorn on your substrate? Try this: Rip up all your foreground plants... you should have tons of mulm. It's all these rotting stuff that's causing the problem.

Don't go off topic guys..