Bottom feeders for African cichlid tank

[African Cichlid Lover]

Hi, I need something to clear up my algae problem, it's not out of control, but it's covering a few bit's of the tank, and I just scratch it off, but a little help would be appreciated. Any bottom feeder's welcome. Ph of 7.0, Temperature of 28, sandy substrate, semi-hooded, no plants. Needs to be able to stand up for itself. Thanks

 

[Justin David]

Featherfin catfish.

 

[African Cichlid Lover]

Sweet, I'll look out for one

 

[james99]

Featherfins aren't going to eat much algae. They'll pick up leftover food though. I've had good luck with bristle nose plecos. I've had one in my 125 for a few years and he does a great job.

 

[Frank Castle]

Hi, I need something to clear up my algae problem, it's not out of control, but it's covering a few bit's of the tank, and I just scratch it off, but a little help would be appreciated. Any bottom feeder's welcome. Ph of 7.0, Temperature of 28, sandy substrate, semi-hooded, no plants. Needs to be able to stand up for itself. Thanks

could always do a good ol' Chinese Algae-eater, cleans more algae than my other 50 bottom-feeders COMBINED

 

[Justin David]

Bristlenose and chinese algae eaters do eat algae, however they can not stand up for themselves like featherfins can.

 

[DJRansome]

I find bristlenose work with algae on glass and rocks. Why do you have algae on the bottom?

Both the mbuna and Synodontis will eat algae but leave clean spots and dirty spots in between so not all that helpful.

 

[African Cichlid Lover]

I find bristlenose work with algae on glass and rocks. Why do you have algae on the bottom?

Both the mbuna and Synodontis will eat algae but leave clean spots and dirty spots in between so not all that helpful.[/Q

I find bristlenose work with algae on glass and rocks. Why do you have algae on the bottom?

Both the mbuna and Synodontis will eat algae but leave clean spots and dirty spots in between so not all that helpful.

Ask the freaking algae!

 

[markstrimaran]

Midwest creek chubs, mine are from Iowa. Also sold as bait fish, at most tackle shops.
I have two varieties one has a sucker mouth, they look the same otherwise.
Mine have never been even fin niped, their quick, and spend all day grazing.
They generally stay in a tight group.

 

[chazwood918]

Honestly, all plecos will eat algae but as they grow they'll become less and less effective and more interested in meatier foods. Although a bushy isn't a terrible idea. A Chinese will eat voraciously but with that comes explosive growth, and unlike most in this genre of discussion, it will actually potentially become aggressive and territorial.

Bottom line is preference. Do you want to add another fish? And NOTE- plecos come with arguably the largest bioload of anything you can put in the tank. Which is fine but it means more diligent cleanings. But on the same token, there are tons of options, some of which may even be more impressive than your cichlids. I myself have a blue phantom and a green phantom.

But if you'd like to not go the fish route you can try using CO2 boosters (every LFS sells them), decrease the amount of time that you have the lights on, orrrr you could even use snails who will almost ONLY eat algae for you. Just make sure that if you go with snails, that you know which species you're getting.

If you get the wrong snail you'll have a million of them before you know what happened. Zebra snails and others of the nerite family are the PERFECT option. They're extremely cheap, they WILL clean your tank, they're large, and they won't reproduce unless they're in brackish water.