algae problem

[ryanj612]

I have a 29 gallon freshwater tank that is starting to have some kind of algae or 1 mm and smaller worms grow on the sides of the tank. I took out my monster 9 inch common pleco and moved him to a 90 gallon tank belonging to my friends then this problem started. I put a rubbernose pleco into my tank today to take care of the algae or worms or whatever it is and so far he has been continuously eating. I have been thinking about putting a few otocinclus into my tank and was wondering if otos would do well with a rubbernose pleco or not. Would I be able to do it for a long time or would they end up fighting down the road?

 

[cmsbthebest]

I think the oto's would be fine with a rubbernose, mine lived together fine for a couple months until they all died in a giant bacterial infection

 

[in2cichlids]

Yes they both will live in harmony. Many people have that same combo for algae.

 

[ryanj612]

sweet. my tank just has a much bigger algae problem than my little rubbernose can deal with right now at his small size. im sure he would still have a lot of food when he is at full size. ill probably end up getting a few otos for my tank soon. also as for the little worms on the side of my tank, i cleaned the side of my tank just now and got most of them off but fear that they will come back. any idea what they may be or how to get rid of them?

 

[Tokey]

Sounds like planaria

 

[ryanj612]

I thought of those when I was looking at them, trying to clean them up. Is there anyway of getting planaria out of a tank?

 

[dallas]

plecos and cats get along just fine
http://www.liveaquaria.com/general/fwcompatibility_chart.cfm
as for your algae problem
algae needs 3 things to grow (light ,nitrates,and high ph)
limit any 1 of these and your problem will go away
i find that limiting the light is by far the easiest (8 hours per day) this includes sunlight room light and tank light

 

[mark1963]

planaria is the result of rotting food in your tank
refresh more water and feed some less