diatom or algae control?

baylee767

I have diatoms present in my tap water and algae and diatoms grow all over my substrate, walls, and decorations in my tank.

I was wondering, are there any catfish that can live in a 10 gallon with 5 pygmy cories and a male Betta that'll clean up the stuff? As far as I know, the cories don't eat it, so I was just wondering.

Lupin

I don't advocate using fish to clean up the diatoms. It should go away on its own. It tends to proliferate in new setups and presence of high silicates.

baylee767

I had been planning on getting zebra nerite snails for it, but they wouldn't be happy with sand substrate.

And it's the silicates in my tap water. Ufortunatly I have a saltwater setup with great params that is nearly a year old and it still has them /= So that's why I assume it's in my tap.

The reason I was considering fish is because the diatoms tend to grow deep into the sand bed (So if you stir it they'll reform after about 30 minutes...) and form on hard to reach places. Of course I'd research to see if I could manage to care for that fish and if it would be compatible. But, I'm guessing there aren't any fish like this? If not I guess I'll have to go for a substrate that zebra nerites would like better.

Byron

I certainly agree with Lupin. However, if you really have diatoms from tap water then a fish is suitable. Otos will devour diatoms, as will Farlowella and many pleco. But a 10g is too small for plecos (in my view), but a trio of otos would work. They are shoaling, so 3 is minimum. And with diatoms (or common green algae) present, they will setlle in happily. They will control the diatoms, and get accustomed to tablet food (such as you feed the corys) if they get hungry and once they are settled.

Byron.