Black Skirt Tetra AGGRESSION

MetalArm3

So I was just cleaning my tank (25% gravel vacuum water change) and I see something that appears to be swimming in the vacuum tube and sure enough it was a miniscule Guppy the size of a pencil tip. Is there any precautionary measures or special care I should know about, or do I just continue on with normal operations hoping to see it grown up one day?

MetalArm3

I was wondering if maybe a couple of algae eaters (in addition to the 6 cories) would be beneficial, I am seeing algae growth on my gravel which my cories seem to neglect.

P.S. sorry for bombarding you guys with questions, just want to make the best decision.

Byron

All so-called "algae" eaters only eat specific algae, and there are several types of algae than nothing will eat (except snails or shrimp perhaps). Corys do not eat algae; they may graze through it looking for tiny bits of food, but they do not eat algae itself.

If you tell us the type of algae, or post a photo, we can help further. Algae "on the gravel" sounds like cyanobacteria, and nothing eats that.

MetalArm3

The type of algae I am beginning to see is a brown fuzzy type coming off the gravel. This is the only place that i have seen it so far, and it attaches itself firmly so my vacuum doesnt get it. I have two pics below that i hope are clear enough. The type of algae eater i was looking at is an Otocinclus becuase they stay small, good price, and heard great things about them. But thats only if they can help me out in this situation.

Attached Images

	Algae 1.jpg (47.6 KB, 8 views)
	Algae 2.jpg (55.0 KB, 8 views)

Byron

That looks to me like brush algae. It is actually a red algae, though it always looks nblack or very dark green/brown to most of us.

Otos will not eat this, nor will almost all other fish. The only one I know that does eat brush algae grows much too large for a 27g tank. It is the Siamese Algae Eater, included in our profiles, but again it is not suitable for your tank. It will be more problems than solutions.

Also, that is minimal brush algae, I have tons of it. As long as it is not rampant to the point where it begins to suffocate plant leaves, I leave it alone.