Algae Eaters
Algae Eaters
algae eaters?
I need some sort of algae eater (that wont try to escape from the tank) for my 10, 29 and 55 gallon tanks. What would you recommend? If you must know, my 10 gallon is a small community tank, the 29 is also a community and the 55 has a couple of goldfish and cory cats. I have tried otos before in all of the tanks but they always die 
can you help me out please and recommend some algae eaters? thanks to all who answer 
okay, since a pleco or any other algae eater wont work in my goldfish tank, then will they work in the smaller community tanks (all the fish in those are 1-3 inches)?
I think you'd be better off with plecostomus, though you don't see them much, they like to hide. But I think they're more effective cleaners than algae eaters. More info:
http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pleco.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plecostomus
http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Catfish,%20Plecoctomus.htm
Some get pretty large, but there are smaller dwarf ones available. Maybe stick with the Cory cats for your small tank, or dwarf plecos if you can find (such as Clown Pleco, or Dwarf Bristle nose Pleco).
Hope this helps--Good Luck!
For More Algae Eaters Info Click On The Blue Links Below
 350 Snails Algae Eaters Reef Safe Saltwater Aqaurium US $25.20 
|
 25 CLEAR FRESHWATER SHRIMP ALGAE EATERS cherry shrimp US $2.25
|
 20 CLEAR FRESHWATER SHRIMP ALGAE EATERS cherry shrimp US $17.99
|
 25 Bullfrog Tadpoles Algae eaters US $40.00
|
 50 Bullfrog Tadpoles Algae eaters US $85.00
|
 300 Saltwater Snails Coral Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $23.80
|
 100 Saltwater Aquarium Snails Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $16.50
|
 12 Bullfrog Tadpoles Algae eaters US $15.00
|
 50 CLEAR FRESHWATER SHRIMP ALGAE EATERS cherry shrimp live freshwater shrimp US $37.28
|
 100 Saltwater Snails Coral Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $16.80
|
 200 Snails Algae Eaters Reef Safe Saltwater Aqaurium US $18.52
|
 300 Saltwater Snails Algae Eaters FARM RAISED REEF OK US $23.80
|
 200 Saltwater Snails Coral Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $25.65
|
 250 Saltwater Aquarium Snails Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $19.12
|
 265 Saltwater Aquarium Snails Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $19.98
|
 25 Saltwater Snails Coral Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $16.00
|
 50 Saltwater Snails Coral Reef Safe Algae Eaters US $17.60
|
 6 Bullfrog Tadpoles Algae eaters US $22.00
|
 AQUEON Natural Algae Rounds For all Algae Eaters 30 oz 86 grams US $7.39
|
First off, being a freshwater aquarium enthusiast I am only talking about algae eater fish for the freshwater aquarium and focusing on smaller tanks, simply because if you have the expertise to set up and run a large tank, you are probably past asking questions about algae eating fish.
First off what do I call small? Well anything between 10 and thirty gallons. Anything less than this and you are into micro tanks which are managed completely differently to what I call normal aquariums. I am also going to assume that you have a planted tank simply because I believe wholeheartedly in planted tanks in preference to unplanted.
So now on to the algae eating fish. One of my favourites is the Oto Catfish. This little fellow grows to an absolute maximum of two inches, often smaller and stays quite slim so it's load on the biological filter is minimal. They are a shoaling fish and best kept in small groups of between three and six. They will happily eat the algae off of the glass and plants without causing any damage to leaves. A word of caution, they are quite delicate so only add them to an established tank that has fully cycled and make sure that you acclimatise them slowly. Once they have settled in they are easy to keep. Supplement their algae diet with some pellet food for catfish every now and again.
Siamese Algae Eaters grow to about 4-5 inches when mature so think carefully before adding them to a smaller tank. Having said that they are probably the most effective algae eater, clearing plants and gravel of algae and uneaten food. They can be confused with other fish so always buy from a reputable dealer.
Chinese algae eaters, although great when they are young quickly develop aggressive behaviour as they grow so I would avoid them in a small community tank.
Finally the Plecostomus. The Plecostomus is probably one of the most popular algae eaters for beginners and many beginners have lived to regret the day that they got one. Get the wrong Plecostomus and it will grow up to two feet in length, far too big for all but the largest tanks. It will also eat every plant available leaving the tank bare. There are now several rivers in the USA where these fish have become a real pest, destroying the local eco-system after being released into the wild by irresponsible owners.
Don't expect to be excited by algae eater fish. Most of them move slowly and stay in one place for hours on end. Their beauty is in how they keep the tank clean so that you can enjoy all your fish.
If you found this article interesting and would like to know more about starting an aquarium check out my website at http://www.aquariumhintsandtips.com
Nick North is a keen freshwater aquarium enthusiast and spends a great deal of his time writing articles to promote the hobby to anyone interested in taking it up as a pastime. He has now got his own website aimed at the new aquarium enthusiast which gives lots of useful information on starting your first freshwater aquarium. If you found this article useful check out the site at:
http://www.aquariumhintsandtips.com
Many thanks for reading our Algae Eaters article
Tagged with: algae eater fish for micro tanks • algae eater for micro aquarium • algae eaters • algae eaters for micro tank • algae eaters micro tank • algae eating fish for micro freshwater aquarium • best algae eater for a micro tank • bst algae eater for a micro tank • freshwater aquarium • ppl