Algae Eaters
 

Hello. Was wondering what type of algae eaters or any type of algae eating fish would be suitable in a 10g with platies and a 29g with 2 red zebra cichlids and two gouramis. Any help would be great, algae is really taking over the 29g

The best action is to address the cause for the algae, which is light. Less light will mean less green/red type algae. Nutrients also play a part in tanks without plants.

All algae-eating fish have limitations because they will not eat all algae, only specific types. Many get very large too, and some can have other issues/problems associated with them. Snails can help, minimally. And shrimp (might work in the 10g).

Plants are not mentinoed, this also has an impact on algae and obviously will dictate the light to some extent. If there are no plants, algae is a blessing; the only downside to algae is suffocating live plants.

Byron.

There are no plants in the 10g but the algae isn't quite as bad in that one. It's mainly the 29g I'm having a problem with. Its a green/brownish colored algae. And its just over taking the side of the glass and such. Although a good water change, some cleaning and testing the water perameters is needed with both of them as well.

With no plants, there is nothing to use either the light or the nutrients. And if I'm reading you correctly, and regular maintenance has been lacking, the nutrients will quickly overpower the system. Algae will use these in the presence of light. As I mentioned preivously, without plants, algae is a good thing; like plants, it uses nutrients and produces oxygen. However, there is a limit; this indicates deterioriating water quality which will be detrimental to the fish.

Avoid Chinese Algae eaters, mine had an appetite for guppy flesh when it got larger.