Algae Eaters - Suggestions please

[TrikkyMakk]

So typically I buy a bunch of mystery snails that are decent size and let them clean up the little bits of algae that happen.

The problem is that these snails tend to over a period of a few weeks to a few months get snacked on by the cichlids in my tank.

So here is the question: What is the best algae eating animal that is preferably south american (although I will accept central if there isn't anything decent) that gives you bang for your buck value as far as algae eating savagry and cichlid snacking?

 

[darth pike]

Part of it will depend on which cichlids you are looking to add the algae eater too. Bristlenoses are generally considered to be the hands down favorite when it comes to algae eating, but they do produce a lot of waste as well and can bully smaller cichlids.

 

[wild bill]

I don't know how big your tank is but the best bang for your buck would be a rhino pleco buy them young and let them grow if your tank is smaller I know our 6 incher can keep a 200g tank clean and cichlids don't bother themgive them a try.

 

[brich999]

pond snails will multiply faster than almost any fish can eat, and work relatively well.

 

[Chad55]

I have three siamese algea eaters and a bristlenose in my 75 with very high lighting and they are all only about an inch big, I had algea when I got them and not even a speck now. I have mine in with a rainbow cichlid, sajica, inca stone cichlid, and soon to be an ebjd... And they are fun to watch lol.

Ps make sure you get true siamensis

Chad

 

[cichlid2006]

it definitely depends on the cichlids they are going in with. I would suggest bristlenose plecos, they seem to eat algae with gusto almost all of their lives. They can also live all but the most violent tankmates but they are very capable of defending themselves, I had one fight a 6" male GT over a cave and win.
I have mine in with a proteus pike, midas, salvini, synspilum and hopefully a freddy soon.
They can get a bit little lazy as they mature because they learn that pellets are less work but they still eat the algae off of rocks and decor.
They do not, however, touch green spot alage on the glass. I know they don't because I have 3 ranging in age from quite young to mature and my rocks/wood are spotless but the spot algae remains.

If it is rams or other dwarf cichlids then ottos work like troopers and do an amazing job, even on leaves.

Avoid chinese algae eaters because they get mean as they age and they latch onto high bodies fish even when well fed and attack/kill other fish for no apparent reason.

 

[Otherone]

Probabley best to ID the algae 1st, find out which conditions cause the specific algae bloom, and correct it. Snails and Plecos eat specific variaties of algae not all types.

 

[Aquanero]

Probabley best to ID the algae 1st, find out which conditions cause the specific algae bloom, and correct it. Snails and Plecos eat specific variaties of algae not all types.

I agree with this.

To try and answer your question but it also depends what cichlids you have. I can't keep any algae eating fish with my RD he'll hunt it relentlessly until he kills it. I have a common pleco in my Trimac tank but it does nothing except crap. In my other tank with my GT & Krobia I have a Bristle nose and Mollies that do a good job, Mollies are great on beard & hair type algae, this tank is a low tech planted tank with Java Fern & Water Sprite. Ottos, amano shrimp, Goast shrimp and Trumpet snales with my Rams & Neons in a heavly planted tank. Sometimes like with the RD & Trimac it has to be done by hand, I also keep the lights on for a shorter time and keep the wattage on the low side.

 

[ryansmith83]

I just wanted to boost this thread to share my experience with rhino plecos.

After reading this initial thread I decided to buy a couple on Aquabid and give them a try. Snails have done wonders in my smaller tanks but they quickly get eaten by certain cichlids as I found out the hard way. Bristlenose used to keep my discus tanks clean, but all the ones I currently have are spoiled on pellets and algae wafers so they refuse to touch algae.

Even though my tanks are well-filtered and I do frequent, large water changes, my water out of the tap already contains nitrates and phosphates, so algae has been a constant battle for me since I moved into this house. I have changed lighting, length of time with lights on, upped water changes, scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed... I wanted to build an algae scrubber but there's no room under the tank and I don't want that eyesore sitting out in plain view.

So as a last-ditch effort, I got the rhino plecos. In two days, one 4" rhino pleco has cleaned about 80% of the heavy algae build-up on the overflow boxes and back glass of my 210 gallon. I was in awe. The larger cichlids leave him alone, he hangs out under driftwood during the day, and then at lights out he goes to work. Within a week that tank will be spotless.

Now for the down-side, and most pleco keepers know this already. This guy is a pooping machine. The first day I turned on the lights, I almost gasped out loud when I saw the bottom of my tank. Long, black poop EVERYWHERE. It was in huge piles all over the sand. So for the last two days, I've been having to siphon out about 10 gallons of water a night to remove all the poop.

So I guess my suggestion is to try to figure out what's causing your algae problems and fix that first. But if you've tried everything and nothing's working, try out a rhino pleco (if you have a tank large enough for it). Just realize that it's going to add extra work in the form of water changes and siphoning. In my case, I do large water changes and daily tank maintenance anyway, so it's not really too much of a hassle. The beautiful, clean glass is worth it for me.

 

[Sapper]

I have never been a fan of snails since they cant defend theirselfs and once they multiply can really take over a tank.