Southerrrngirrl Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 Just looking at algae control options I seem to get a lot of green algae (and a little bit of brown algae) growing on the front bottom half of the tank, the tank is in our lounge, which gets quite a bit of sunlight. Which fish would be best for my tank? I have an AR850 150ish litres stocked as below. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 Bristlenose are my recommendation, and get young ones - as they get a wee bit lazy with cleaning glass as they get older. You should also invest in a magnetic glass cleaner so they aren't overburdened. Don't expect then to be able to handle the job by themselves if the tank is getting direct sunlight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benlee Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 I have an army of 7 Baby Brisltenoses keeping my 620T clean and it gets direct sunlight from lunchtime to dark. There is not a spot of algae on the glass, or anywhere else for that matter. Be interesting to see if it stays that way as they get older however. I think Siamese algea eaters will eat that brown algae too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 I have 4 bristlenoses and 4 SAEs in my 4 footer - no green algae or that nasty hair (black beard) algae. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Ottos!! Ottos are great! All they do is eat algae! Brilliant little fishies with heaps of character. Siamese algae eaters and ottos are said to be the best algae eaters, SAEs tend to get a little bigger (15cm), and ottos (5cm). One thing tho, ottos are very picky about their water. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebInde ... lusart.htm <-- good info about ottos http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/saes.htm <-- siamese algae eater and the other ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 These freshwater shrimp are probably the best, from what I've read, but don't have any first hand experience. Biggest problem is stopping them being eaten by other fish. http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/shrimp ... 14384.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southerrrngirrl Posted July 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Thanks guys! Ottos are on my wishlist as I read they were good algae eaters and had lots of character, just a bit worried as I've also read they can be quite fragile when first introduced to a tank. Was thinking about bristlenoses too, but don't you have to add some drift wood for them as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 I have found ottos mostly good, but expensive. Unfortunately I lost all of mine a couple of years ago when treating the clown loaches for ich. Made the dreadful error of raising the temp AND adding meds. :oops: I now have a bristlenose and I must say he's doing a brilliant job. He has kept the tank cleaner than the 5 ottos ever did. IME he seems to eat more varieties of algae than the ottos, and he seems to have a stronger mouth to scrape off some quite stubborn stuff. And he was way cheaper than a school of ottos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Yea the bristlenoses are no doubt very good at algae eating apart from getting lazy like most fish when they get older (e.g black line flying foxes). There's a brief article on breeding otos (as yes $15 ea is rather expensive and they like to be in schools of at least 6). There is a brand that make algae tabs that have wood particles in them Mystic, can't remember what it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faran Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 There is a brand that make algae tabs that have wood particles in them JBL Plecochips. Also one of the only ones that have no copper in them, if that's any importance to anyone.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Good if you have clown loaches... *looks at my 14 clown loaches* hmmm *runs and buys JBL pleco chips* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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