Algae control species

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by francoisve, Jul 25, 2013.

  1. francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    Hi all

    What fish can you reccommend for helping with algae control? Are Plecos effective with this? As mentioned I am busy stocking a 180 liter planted setup and plan to keep some community fish. Also want to have some nice catfish (small).

    Are there any species of community fish that are also good with algae control or that at least can help with it?

    I dont want to sit with a huge pleco in a year or two...
     
  2. Guest




  3. Ray Port Elizabeth

    Ray Port Elizabeth

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2013
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Port Elizabeth
    I would say Shrimps but they are blacklisted, snails may eat plants and over populate your tank. how about reducing your lengh of light exposure with a timer? algue needs 4 hours of light to grow so if you have a timer only letting the light burn no more than 4 hours and then switch off with a 2nd 4 hour cycle later the algue will strugle because of the lack of light. just an idea?
     
  4. MarcF

    MarcF

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Bristlenose pleco's or siamese algae eaters :)
     
  5. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    I "liberated" my wife's timer that she uses for our slow cooker so that is a good option. What effect wil this have on the other plants???
     
  6. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    Thanks Marc

    how big does the brittle nose get?
     
  7. hviviers75

    hviviers75

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2012
    Messages:
    4,789
    Likes Received:
    196
    Location:
    Brakpan
    Plants need a minimum 5 hour lighting period so only receiving 4 hours at a time wont work nicely. Every tanks needs a couple of SAE and 1 or 2 Bristle nose Ancistrus plecos or some Ottos.
     
  8. Camcam

    Camcam

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2013
    Messages:
    81
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Durban
    i would recommend a couple otocinclus, they are small peaceful sucker fish with a veracious appetite for algae, and they will not eat your other plants in the tank. while plecos are also good, they can be selective as to the types of algae they eat and can grow to huge sizes. Siamese algae eaters only eat algae as juveniles, and as adults eat very little if any, and can grow up to become quite territorial and aggressive towards your other fish. they shouldnt harm the other fish but its annoying to watch the others get chased around by these, so i would nt recommend them.

    otos are awesome little fish, get em in there!!!
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2013
  9. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    Any idea who stocks them?
     
  10. Ray Port Elizabeth

    Ray Port Elizabeth

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2013
    Messages:
    371
    Likes Received:
    3
    Location:
    Port Elizabeth
    that's the whole thing the lights will do two 4 hour cycles a day, my friend is doing it and if I look at his tank I beg to differ about it being bad for plants he has one of the nicest planted tanks at PEAS.
     
  11. hviviers75

    hviviers75

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2012
    Messages:
    4,789
    Likes Received:
    196
    Location:
    Brakpan
    Cool man I just read that plants need a minimum period of 5 hours so sure if it gets 8 hours in total all will be well.
     
  12. hviviers75

    hviviers75

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2012
    Messages:
    4,789
    Likes Received:
    196
    Location:
    Brakpan
    Petstop do have them now and then they are one of the sponsors speak to Mark he is the Main dude their.
     
  13. hviviers75

    hviviers75

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2012
    Messages:
    4,789
    Likes Received:
    196
    Location:
    Brakpan
    My SAE group are always busy cleaning the plants I got 6 of them in my 575 liter tank and they are the best cleaning crew around. Just need to get myself a BN pleco will probably get one next weekend. Struggling to find nice big ones the smaller ones dont always make it. Looking for one around 8-9cm hope I can find one :)
     
  14. MarcF

    MarcF

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2013
    Messages:
    196
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Cape Town

    not very big around 10cm - 13cm depending
     
  15. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    Thanks everyone

    While we are on the subject of plants - when do you start adding plant supplements to a new aquarium?

    I have an Aquasoil substrate, will this have enough nutrients for a while or does it work like my veggie garden that needs compst etc from the word go?
     
  16. hviviers75

    hviviers75

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2012
    Messages:
    4,789
    Likes Received:
    196
    Location:
    Brakpan
    You must not dose for the first 4 -6 weeks plants need time to settle in. And yes the ADA should be giving enough ferts for the plants for now.
     
  17. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    And then dose with what? Had a look at everything available on the shelves - all very confusing when you have 20 odd years to catch up with...
    everyones help and advice will be appreciated!
     
  18. hviviers75

    hviviers75

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2012
    Messages:
    4,789
    Likes Received:
    196
    Location:
    Brakpan
    Most of us use EI dosing very cheap and affordable you wont go wrong with EI or you could get Tropica Specialized the orange/brown one it is all-in-one, I think it just lacks potassium.

    Most important thing with using ei is the 40-50% wc of total water volume once a week

    EI for dummies..
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2013
  19. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    thank you sir!
     
  20. Dinky

    Dinky

    Joined:
    May 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,685
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Pretoria
    @francoisve

    +1 for Camcam on the Ottos

    Don't know where in Pretoria you are, but Dory Pets in Centurion also have a lot of Ottos and the Petshop in Lynnwood Road at Willow Way Shopping centre have Ottos and SAE.

    I've got a pleco, beautiful and completely in love with him, but he sucks my plants dry - don't know what type of plants you have. He's only around 8 cm but moves at an incredible speed when spooked and will probably uproot most your plants or get hurt. Bought mine when I was unaware of how big they grow. Delivering him to his new home this weekend.

    The Ottos and Cory in my 100 liter does a great job.
     
    Last edited: Jul 25, 2013
  21. OP
    francoisve

    francoisve Killinut

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2013
    Messages:
    1,234
    Likes Received:
    13
    Location:
    Moreletapark, Pretoria
    Thanks Dinky
    Dory is actually about 200 meters away from my office - not a good thing for the budget:bigsmile:!
    Didnt see them theere but also didnt look for them, will have a look when I am back in PTA..
    I am not even going to try and ID all the plants I have right now, bought somee here and there, got some free and have not had the time yet to put names to all of them, so before I send all of you into a fit of laughter let me go make sure first...

    More questions:
    What is the stocking guide for bottom feeders/cleaners? The same as other fish? Reason I ask is firstly because of the algae, which you guys have addressed, and secondly because I quite like the catfish and loaches. OK to keep catfish, ottos, a loach and plecos???
     

Recent Posts

Loading...
Similar Threads - Algae control species Forum Date
Algae out of control New members Feb 26, 2021
Algae out of control Algae Feb 26, 2021
Algae control in dwarf puffer planted tank? Algae Apr 10, 2015
Method of Controlled Imbalances Algae Summary Aquatic plants May 13, 2013
PMDD and Algae control Algae Apr 11, 2012
Halp! Brown algae and rotala pink losing color and turning green. Planted Tanks Mar 14, 2025
Redefining Aquascaping: The Magic of Algae Balls Jungle Aquatics May 18, 2023

Share This Page