Are otocinclus supposed to be good algae eaters? Mine have not been eating the algae in my tank? I have three of them do I need more? I have had luck in my other tanks with bushynoses but I only have a 20 gal and I think that will be too small for a full grown bushynose.... Is there any other small algae eater that eats as well as the bushynoses?
Otocinclus not eating the algae....
- Thread starter Pirwhana
- Start date
Otocinclus often are the best algae eater for green algae. Bushynose/bristlenose is a broad group, but Ancistrus sp. "3" would do fine in a 20 gallon for life.
There are lots of Ancistrus sp. you could try. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/genus.php?genus_id=4#190
there are also the Chaetostoma genus which can be just as good, if not better than the Ancistrus... http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/genus.php?genus_id=26#57
Remember... don't just feed algae, give them something a bit extra!
there are also the Chaetostoma genus which can be just as good, if not better than the Ancistrus... http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/genus.php?genus_id=26#57
Remember... don't just feed algae, give them something a bit extra!
I give them algae wafers too and they don't touch them. I try to give them zuccini and that is all they will eat.... I have brownish algae that I am trying to minimize and my ancistrus eat it like crazy....
What strength/sort of lighting does the tank have, what are your nitrates levels, how often are water changes done on the tank (and how much is taken out) plus does the tank have any healthy thriving live planting in it?
The best way to get rid of algae is to treat the root cause of the problem
. Do you just have brown algae, or are there other types of algae in the tank too? How long has this tank been set up?
The best way to get rid of algae is to treat the root cause of the problem
. Do you just have brown algae, or are there other types of algae in the tank too? How long has this tank been set up?The tank has 15 watt light over a reg 20 gal, my nitrates only hit 10 ppm becuase I do a 50 percent water change weekly and it has java moss and java ferns that are healthy. It is only brown algae that I can see...Tokis-Phoenix;1098734; said:What strength/sort of lighting does the tank have, what are your nitrates levels, how often are water changes done on the tank (and how much is taken out) plus does the tank have any healthy thriving live planting in it?
The best way to get rid of algae is to treat the root cause of the problem
Your lighting is not very strong, brown algae is a common side effect of weak lighting in aquariums, what i would personally do is upgrade the lighting in the tank to something stronger and you should start to see the algae start to disapear as your plants will also be more able to effectively out-compete the algae for nutrients etc .
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