Good algea eating fish.

tran2255

Hi guys, I'm just starting to get an algae problem in my tank that getting a lil out of hand. I just wanna noe what fish is good at eating algae, good with platies and gouramis, and isnt a pleco. I noe it a lot but its also a good chance for adding another fish to my tank. Thanks a lot for your help.

briggadane

Need to know your tank size and what fish(how many) are in it now.

Wouldnt hurt to tell us your pH either.

Shrimp,snails,SAE's....

Albert

how long has your tank been set up? Is it exposed to a lot of light? You should test for nitrates. We need a lot more info to give a good recommendation.

crazy4fish

snails! otos

tran2255

Sorry for being so vague. Yes the tank has a lot of light, its right next to a window. Its a 55 gallon tank with 4 gouramis, 7 platies and 4 cories, no invert. As of now I keep the tank at 76-78 F. pH around 6.8-7.0. Nitrate at around 0-.25 ppm (mg/L). Theres also a little salt in the tank, just about 1 tbs per ten gallons. Hope thats enough info, thanks. :D

tran2255

Snails and otos? Never thought of them, Thanks!!!

Albert

snails though they look cool are less efficient. snails can go a little too far sometimes(eat everything and everyone).

Flashygrrl

Your tank being right next to the window sets you up for a lot of algae...snails or otos then since you can't exactly just pick up a 55 and move it, and shrimp don't seem to be very capable of cleaning tank sides (or mine are just lazy :) )

Albert

Well you probably shouldn't keep the lights on much. Thats not really enough nitrate to let the algae take over. The way u describe it, it seems in good care. I wouldent get catfish so much for your tank. You should come up with something to reduce the lighting anyway.

briggadane

I too have my tank set up at a window. A 75G. I have "0"'s on all readings and a pH of 7.5ish.

I have pygmy cories, a choc pleco, 24 shrimp(red and ghost), 3 otos, a few(for now) freeloading ramshorn snails(they even climb into the hornwart to eat algae) and maylasians. I also have a Raphael cat and a Khuli loach, but they are seldom seen. All the others LOVE algae. So I do have some, but it stays under control.

And I find it a myth that SAE's or Otos harrass Discus. -Not sure what you are getting/have in your current tank.