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

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
rodger said:
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.
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It's isn't so much that they don't do well after a certain size as it is that there are reports of going after slime coats and refusing to eat algae when they get larger. But it all varies. Fish have different personalities just like people do. I know people with 13" flagtails that wouldn't hurt a fly and I have read of 7-8" flagtails who go after the slime coats of their tankmates.


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asm129 said:
You gotta go up and read post #12.



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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lol- I was just messing around. Sump looks good. :thumbsup:

Can we see a pic of the 240G? Sounds like a nice setup.
 
rodger said:
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.
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I had a 12" flagtail before but he almost never ate any algae. He'd just wait for me to drop pellets or worms into the tank. I've seen some other people's flagtails eat algae but they were all smaller ones. So maybe it is true that big flagtails are less likely to eat algae. I think I'm done with flagtails though because the ones I had so far would chase my other fish around.
 
Aquatic plants, magnetic scrubbers and flagtails will do the trick. So far, the the aquatic plant and the pothos work for me by starving the algae of the nutrients they need.
 
In my tank i have two very large bristlenose pleco that help me keep the hard to reach areas and decor clean. I clean the glass myself. I dont have any fish that would eat them whole though. Would be my concern in your. I really havent seen a fish care much plecos if added discreetly and large enough.


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Pothos and Rubberlip plecos. The Pothos out competes the algae in the big tank nicely. I've yet to try a Rubberlip in the 8' but I have one that I rotate between my 135, 90 and 60 because all he eats ( besides food) is the algae on the back wall of every tank he goes in but is way too fast to become food.

I put him in my 135 and within about 4 days the tank had a hi-def look to it. That's when I noticed his affinity for the back glass. I'm sure he hits the front and sides at night, but all day long he works the back wall. Cost about $5 at petsmart and stays fairly small.


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