New Guy Again: Algae Advice

[Hinnant]

Hi all my second post this time im having trouble with keeping a pleco in my tank. In my previous post i stated i have 1 oscar, 1 green terror, and one flowerhorn in 100g tank all the are between 4-6.5 inches. So the tank has been running for a couple months and algae has starting to build mainly cause i leave the light on for a bit to show the tank off . But anyway about three weeks ago i purchased a albino pleco (bristlenose) to help and three days later he was found dead. So i figure i brought him to small only being about 2" so i purchased another one this time 4". He did fine until today i did my cleaning and cant find him at all. Last time i saw him for sure was 3 days ago. Im assuming he's being eaten by the other fish, cant be starvation i gave him wafers( actually seen him eat a wafer) and had plenty of algae for him to eat. So my question is what should i do, should i get another type of algae eater? Do i just need a bigger pleco and if so how big??

 

[peathenster]

green or brown?

I don't do pleco anymore....flagtails do all the cleaning for me now

 

[jonclark96]

Do you have a lot of rock and driftwood in your tank? I have 3 bristlenoses in my 180G, and most times the only way I know they are still in there is the long trails of pleco poop. They stay hidden or camoflaged most of the time.

 

[TrikkyMakk]

To control algae keep temperature around 78 degrees, stop overfeeding (Oscars appear to be eating a lot but half of it comes right out through their gills) and pick up some apple snails (not the tiny ones). Algae thrives when there is too much nutrients and too much warmth.

Lastly, plecos tend to like fish food more than anything. I don't even think they eat algae. Mine seems to prefer Hikari pellets at any rate.

Chinese algae eaters do good too.

 

[jworth]

To control algae keep temperature around 78 degrees, stop overfeeding (Oscars appear to be eating a lot but half of it comes right out through their gills) and pick up some apple snails (not the tiny ones). Algae thrives when there is too much nutrients and too much warmth.

Lastly, plecos tend to like fish food more than anything. I don't even think they eat algae. Mine seems to prefer Hikari pellets at any rate.

Chinese algae eaters do good too.

CAE's can actually be vicious to other fish. I wouldnt go that route. Some plecos dont even eat algae, although the bristlenose should. Odds are its going to get eaten with those fish and they dont grow that large to assure its survival. I wouldnt get a flagtail either in that tank with the current stock. Best bet is to make sure your nitrates stay down and turn the light on a little less.

 

[Sarah88]

yeah snails wont really help either, the babies eat mainly algae but once they are the size they are sold at in stores they arent very efficient algae eaters and should be supplemented with feedings of veggies, but yeah move your deco around a bit to see if you can find the pleco because usually fish wont mess with them since they dont pose any kind of threat to them if your water is up to par they shouldnt just be dying like that

 

[LowCel]

I know this isn't what you are asking but you really should pick up another tank in the very near future. Otherwise you are going to have a 100 gallon tank with one flowerhorn in it.

 

[bob965]

It's best to find and correct the cause of the algae rather than buying a fish you don't really want because you think it's gonna clean your tank.

 

[Sarah88]

It's best to find and correct the cause of the algae rather than buying a fish you don't really want because you think it's gonna clean your tank.

 

[Hinnant]

It's best to find and correct the cause of the algae rather than buying a fish you don't really want because you think it's gonna clean your tank.

Dont get me wrong have no problem with the look of pleco itself at all when i say more of a looker it wasnt because i think its a ugly fish just wondering if they had one with a bit more color or marking the one i had was all brown. And as far as hiding spots i have a cave and drift wood which he could have used for hiding. But judging by the post i guessing the size of the pleco wouldnt help him stay alive in my tank?? So it best i just manage algae myself?? More work for me