Choosing an algae eater that fits your tank size
Algae eaters are handy for cutting down the scrubbing between maintenance sessions, but Aquarium Co-Op is clear that they do not completely replace other methods of algae control. Their guide sorts the options by tank size, which I found a practical way to think about it.
For small tanks the suggestions are Amano shrimp, pinocchio shrimp and nerite snails, with ramshorn and bladder snails as helpful cleanup crew that often hitchhike in on live plants. In tanks of roughly 20 to 40 gallons, platies and mollies pick at filamentous algae and detritus, while otocinclus, stiphodon gobies and panda garras suit tanks with lots of surface algae. In 40 gallons and up, the Siamese algae eater is the classic active choice, and rosy barbs are a hardy schooling fish that eats hair algae.
The caveats are worth reading. Amano shrimp and nerite snails need mineral supplements for shells and molting, and nerites suffer shell erosion in low pH, so keep pH stable above 7.0. Otocinclus should be kept in a school at pH 6.0 to 7.5 and mostly eat surface algae and biofilm, not hair algae. Rosy barbs are semi-aggressive, and juvenile Siamese algae eaters can outgrow a small tank.
The guide also suggests identifying the type of algae first, feeding sinking pellets or wafers so the animals do not starve, and offering driftwood and catappa leaves. Choose a species that will fit the tank for its whole life, and have a backup plan. Personally I like that the advice is cautious rather than promising a miracle cleaner.
Source: Aquarium Co-Op
For small tanks the suggestions are Amano shrimp, pinocchio shrimp and nerite snails, with ramshorn and bladder snails as helpful cleanup crew that often hitchhike in on live plants. In tanks of roughly 20 to 40 gallons, platies and mollies pick at filamentous algae and detritus, while otocinclus, stiphodon gobies and panda garras suit tanks with lots of surface algae. In 40 gallons and up, the Siamese algae eater is the classic active choice, and rosy barbs are a hardy schooling fish that eats hair algae.
The caveats are worth reading. Amano shrimp and nerite snails need mineral supplements for shells and molting, and nerites suffer shell erosion in low pH, so keep pH stable above 7.0. Otocinclus should be kept in a school at pH 6.0 to 7.5 and mostly eat surface algae and biofilm, not hair algae. Rosy barbs are semi-aggressive, and juvenile Siamese algae eaters can outgrow a small tank.
The guide also suggests identifying the type of algae first, feeding sinking pellets or wafers so the animals do not starve, and offering driftwood and catappa leaves. Choose a species that will fit the tank for its whole life, and have a backup plan. Personally I like that the advice is cautious rather than promising a miracle cleaner.
Source: Aquarium Co-Op
Comments 0
Leave the first comment, in any language.
Log in to comment