Make more algae in my fish tank?

Question

I have African Cichlids. The ph in my tank is a bit higher, since that is what they do best in. Unfortunately, the plecosamus algae eaters were not doing well so I got Chinese algae eaters, I believe. I only have 2 in a 30 gallon tank but they already ate all the algae! They guy at the pet store said they might start sucking on my fish if they don't get enough algae. I tried wafers thinking it made more algae but all it does is dissolve in the water before they even notice it! How do I make more algae in my tank?

Answer 1

A lack of algae is not what causes them to suck on your other fish. They feed less and less on algae as they grow older, and become more and more agressive. They do begin to suck on the sides of other fish as they age, weakening these fish and eventually causing death. Unfortunately, this makes them unsuitable for most tanks. I would suggest you take them back to the store. You don't NEED an algae eater in your tank--regular water changes and an algae magnet will keep your tank clean.

BTW, what kind of african cichlids do you have, and how many? Most are not good choices for a 30 gallon tank! Did you research the species before you set it up?

Answer 2

Some good advice some weird. Algae eaters, even though they are algae eaters also need other food to do well. Supplement your algae eaters with a veggie food like Emerald Entre. Algae is a plant, adding veggies to your tank will supplement the lack of algae you have and keep them from becoming too aggressive due to fighting for what little food is in the tank. This is a better alternative than building up too much algae in your tank.

You can add to the algae by increasing the light and the temps in your tank.

Answer 3

Algae- TO grow more in your tank, leave the light on longer.
Chinese algae eaters will in fact start going after your fish, especially when they get older. Two in one tank is going to be a problem, they're not going to get enough algae to eat and will start to look for others sources of food.

This is complicated by your cichlids, especially of you have mbuna. Mbuna graze algae off rocks in their natural habitat. In your tank they'll graze as well, basically all your fish are eating the algae.

I would recommend getting rid of the algae eaters and not adding more light to your tank. You should be fine.

Answer 4

Pleco's strengthen to approximately sixteen inches and don't strengthen to the dimensions of their enviroment. you will discover rather smaller varieties yet all are frequently too massive for a 10g tank. you need to objective to get Dwarf Oto's yet they require an exceedingly mature tank and frequently die with the aid of puppy save circumstances. whether whether you keep them alive they're going to consume some distance much less algae then you will think of. No algae eater eats all varieties of algae nor will they consume in basic terms algae. maximum folk feed their plecos and different such scavengers greens to supplement what they do graze. the main sensible algae cleansing critter is you. Algae desires 2 issues to strengthen, meals and lightweight. as long as you do no longer over feed your fish and in basic terms turn your lighting fixtures directly to view your fish you are going to be completely advantageous. you nonetheless could get some algae, whether it should not be something slightly algae scrubbing pad can no longer take care of. yet another tactic is to function stay flora. stay flora will take in a similar meals and lightweight and commonly out compete the algae. in case you nonetheless pick a scavenger that deals with the occasional algae you could probable injury out with a single secret snail or a small team of purple cherry or ghost shrimp. they are going to regularly consume the algae bits they like alongside with a proportion of fish meals yet will require slightly scavenger meals on the area too. whether till you somewhat need some extra critters i does no longer advise including extra animals. you're enormously close to to approximately how many fish you could have now and including extra animals will in simple terms make any potential algae situation worse to boot to the different problems of overstocking. it is even till now you think approximately that "algae eaters" are particularly scavengers and convey so plenty extra waste then different comparable length animals.

Answer 5

If you want excess algae, try leaving the light on longer than usual. Light is a main factor in algae growth and if you give more light, more algae will grow.

Answer 6

Chinese algae eaters get more agressive as they get older, more algae in the tank won't change that.

but if you've just got your heart set on more algae, get a full spectrum florescent bulb and set it to 12 hrs on and 12hrs off and decrease your water changes a bit (the increase in nitrates will encourage growth)...
side note: adding plants won't increase algae... plants compete with algae for nutrients and CO2.

Answer 7

That's what the tablets are supposed to do!
I recomend ggeting a cave or sunken ship to put in it. Plastic objects attract more algae then the res of the tank. I had a sucker fish and it never left the sunken ship!!! I didn't see any algae in the tank but it was doing just fine. Don't worry!

p.s. I have never heard of algae eaters sucking on other fish, there herbavors, they don't do that!

Answer 8

trust me you dont want more algae....... if you do you can put your tank so that it gets some sun light. not direct sunlight all day

Answer 9

Well, i have fish and a way that makes algae grow real fast is to plant real plants in your tamk, they naturally create algae. Another alternative would be to stop your filter for a couple days to allow the scum to grow to algae. Good luck!

Answer 10

If that's really the way you want to go, then increase you lighting an extra hour per day. If that doesn't do it you can always use some aquarium plant fertilizer. With no plants it will go right to growing algae.

MM