Algae Eaters And Stingrays

[JohnG]

I had to take my pleco out of my 6'x6' tank, caught him sucking slime, and now the algae is starting to build up. Its not really possible to use a brush on this tank, it has about a 3ft square hole in the middle but there is no way I could reach the walls without reaching my entire arm into a tank full of rays while standing on a ladder.

I was wondering if anyone has tried snails with stingrays and if they had any problems. Don't really care if the rays eat the snails, just want to make sure the snails won't hurt the rays.

Already cut the lights to just during feeding hours to hopefully deal with this algae outbreak, just looking for another option.

 

[ShadowStryder]

Doubt snails will be able to keep up with the algae growth, best suggestion I can give is cut back on light
and rig a longer handle on the brush/scrubber. Thats what I ended up doing so I could reach areas that I
could not reach originally.

 

[snake8myelbo]

You can try a flagtail... but they can eat slime too. but VERY good algae cleaner!

 

[michalm]

Or you can try this: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180385&highlight=santa

It is working !

GL

 

[brich999]

uv steralizer should clear it up

 

[JohnG]

You can try a flagtail... but they can eat slime too. but VERY good algae cleaner!

Yeah might try a flagtail, can always move it to my cichlad tank if it misbehaves.

Or you can try this: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=180385&highlight=santa

It is working !

GL

Never thought about doing something like that, definitely seems like it would be a good nitrate filter.

uv steralizer should clear it up

Already have a 25W and 9W on there, keeps the algae from clouding up the water but doesn't seem to help on the walls.

Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[cheon]

Srry for my newb response but what slime did u catch him sucking on ?

 

[wing888]

What type of algae eater was it, I think it depends on the variety of pleco.

My royal panaque leaves the rays alone as its a strict vegetarian.

 

[JohnG]

Srry for my newb response but what slime did u catch him sucking on ?

He was sucking on the rays slime coat. Happens sometimes with plecos, same as they suck on the glass they attach to a ray and suck on its slime coat, really not good for the ray.

What type of algae eater was it, I think it depends on the variety of pleco.

My royal panaque leaves the rays alone as its a strict vegetarian.

It was a common pleco, sometimes called a trinidad pleco, about 8-9". It had been fine with the rays for a good 3 or 4 months.

 

[spotfin]

You could try something like the MagFloat glass/acrylic cleaning magnets. The scrubbing piece inside the tank floats, and you can make corners with them. I use one in my tank for the back corners where I can't reach.