Algae eater recommendations

[Damascus]

Hello all,

Anyone have any recommendations for a fish that will eat algae but can live with fish like arowana and big SA's?

 

[fishhead0103666]

Possibly nerite snails.

 

[FJB]

Depending on the type of algae, a flagtail Prochilodus could be answer. They forage constantly and never stop. It would take care of diatom films growing on surfaces, but it would not eat blue green "algae" (virtually nothing will). They are also good at preventing hair algae from having a chance of establishing themselves.

 

[Damascus]

Depending on the type of algae, a flagtail Prochilodus could be answer. They forage constantly and never stop. It would take care of diatom films growing on surfaces, but it would not eat blue green "algae" (virtually nothing will). They are also good at preventing hair algae from having a chance of establishing themselves.

I have an ongoing issue with brown algae due to a tank location in the sun. Would a flag tail eat this?

 

[FJB]

In my experience, yes it will solve the problem. Hopefully others will chime in.
Good luck!

 

[kno4te]

Tough to find brown algae eating fish with the tankamtes. I’d suggest water changes, scrubbing and reducing nutrients etc.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Tough to find brown algae eating fish with the tankamtes. I’d suggest water changes, scrubbing and reducing nutrients etc.

Along with the following suggestions a shorter light period would be good.

 

[qldmick]

I have a sailfin and a goldspot pleco that take care of the algae on the glass and anubias in my 6ft, lights on 12 hrs day.

 

[Toiletcar]

I’ve reduced growth a lot by cutting back on feeding and shortened the light period. I have a 150g near windows too. I like to encourage some growth for a more natural look, but don’t want too much.

 

[duanes]

If you have sun hitting the tank (and I do too) I would suggest some broad leaf terrestrial plants growing from the tank.
this can arguably solve two problems at the same time.
Broad leafed plants with create shade, and use the nitrates that feed algae growth.
Below, one end of my 180, that gets some late afternoon sun.

Now the other end of the tank that gets quite a bit of mouring sun.

BelowI have pulled one of the dieffenbachia out of the water to show the root system below water in the tank.

Because nitrates test 5ppm and under, even with the heavy sunlight for 6 or 7 hours per day, algae is minimal.
A caveat, the tank itself is also heavily planted, and the sump, is in direct sun, acting as a partial algae scrubber.


I am also not a heavy fish feeder, my average routine is to feed once per day for 2 days, and not feed anything on the 3rd.