What's the best algae eating fish that can move with monsters and isn't a pleco?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Dan F said:
While it is true that no fish can replace a Mag-Float, you can't use a glass cleaner on driftwood,substrate, or in many cases, the back of the tank.
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Yep. This is the problem I have. My tank is against a wall and I can't use a mag float to clean the back. I use it to clean the front and it does a good job of that. I have a pleco but he poops so much and doesn't eat much algae.
 
David R said:
I've heard that flagtails algae eating decreases when they get bigger. My royal panaques keep the wood spotless, but make q fair mess doing it!

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Yep, depends on the species of pleco how well it does. and yeah they make a mess.. they love using those big teeth an wittling wood! but they always do a good job of algae eating w/out messing with tank-mates.. I'e heard horror stories about flagtails attacking tankmates slime coats like common plecos do.

I actually found the best algae eaters are the hillstream loaches that look like lil' stingrays... fast lil' buggers and they clean algae 10x better then anything else I've tried. though imo a good algae crew includes a few nerite snails.
 
MonsterMinis said:
Yep, depends on the species of pleco how well it does. and yeah they make a mess.. they love using those big teeth an wittling wood! but they always do a good job of algae eating w/out messing with tank-mates.. I'e heard horror stories about flagtails attacking tankmates slime coats like common plecos do.

I actually found the best algae eaters are the hillstream loaches that look like lil' stingrays... fast lil' buggers and they clean algae 10x better then anything else I've tried. though imo a good algae crew includes a few nerite snails.
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Been looking into some good algae eaters myself and came across these cool looking little fish. Haven't read much about their algae eating abilities, but I doubt they could live with my severum, geos and jack dempseys without being eaten. :(

I have been thinking about getting a flagtail and rehoming it when it gets 8-10" or more (depending on personality).


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something called an magnetic algae scubber.
 
Algae is a result of another issue at hand. A sign of some type of imbalance. Too many nutrients in the water, over feeding, over abundance of light, lack of tank maintenance/WC, too much water conditioner that contains phosphates. Any combination of these and other issues can cause or lead to algae.

I prefer to use a razor blade in order to avoid scratching the glass.
 
My flagtail is a GREAT algae eater. Someone posted here they don't do so good after a certain size, but that was the first I ever heard of that. Mine is only around 9" so has a lot of growing to do. He grew about an inch a month so far. They can be slime eaters just like pleco's so be aware of that. I think they are a great looking fish. It is my wife's favorite fish and I had to get rid of one that was harassing it.
 
Anchovie said:
I have a big flagtail that eats 0 algae. It waits for flakes like everyone else


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Funny, mine will eat a pellet or two during feeding time, but he is always looking for algae. He loves water change days because I vacuum the gravel and he knows that in doing so I expose some fresh algae on the bottom walls of the tank.

ASM, I thought your screen name looked familiar...can we see a pic of your sump?
 
lix.ma14 said:
something called an magnetic algae scubber.
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You gotta go up and read post #12.

aldiaz33 said:
Funny, mine will eat a pellet or two during feeding time, but he is always looking for algae. He loves water change days because I vacuum the gravel and he knows that in doing so I expose some fresh algae on the bottom walls of the tank.

ASM, I thought your screen name looked familiar...can we see a pic of your sump?
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You still mad, bro? You gotta move on and forget about any disagreements we had. Because right now it looks like you're holding onto grudges like a woman.

Sump picture just for you. Now leave me alone:
lfAKkHD.jpg
 
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