HELP! hairalgea going to over run the tank

[ShadowBass]

Your better off to get rid of the Chinese Algae Eater now. they do not eat algae. More or less, fish, and fish food. That and the aggression that's in them.

Flying foxes and chinese algae eaters aren't the same fish. Siamese flying foxes don't become aggressive and DO eat algae.

I am, however, skeptical that a LFS would have one since I've never seen a true one at any fish store. Best to make sure that is actually what you have since CAE can look similar and may be sold under the same.

 

[bmxdannyo]

well my chinees algea eater is absalotly tiny! lol he is smaller than my neon tetra

 

[WyldFya]

Howdy,

While it sounds insane, true hair algae is an indicator of excellent water quality. Other algae, however, indicate pollution and other water trouble.

For hair algae,you can

• use a wooden stick and roll it on it like cotton candyto remove bulk
• add Amano shrimp (Caridina japoinica)
• add any species of Garra sp.

If nothing else: Congrats for having stellar water. My 40 gal is also growong hair algae. I will start worrying when the hair algae disappear from my tank...

HarleyK

Amano shrimp = Caridina multidentata, japonica is no longer the valid name. The two species were found to infact be one, and were merged under the older name.

 

[saltydog_1]

try a ferric oxide or ferric hydroxide based phosphate remover in your filter. no phosphate means no algae.

 

[Mr.Firemouth]

I'm with Salty on this.
You are probably introducing phosphates via Tap water and fish food.(especially pellets and flakes).
If so, chemical filtration such as Warner Marines phoSar HC would eliminate the problem. When algae returns it is time to change/replace the resin for new.
HTH, Rich

 

[Alistriwen]

I use snails to get rid of algae.