How many algea eaters are suppose to be in a 30 gal tank?

Answer 1

As many as you want?

You don't need an algae eater.


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Answer 2

You don't HAVE to have any. And the number will depend on the type. Some (common plecostomous) will be too large as adults to keep in a tank of that size as they get to be about 18", but one of the smaller plecos, like a bristlenose would be fine with just one.

Another option would be to keep a small school of otocinclus catfish (these stay around 1 1/2 inches), but you shouldn't add these to a new tank.

Chinese algae eaters only eat algae as juveniles, and tend to get a nasty disposition toward othe fish in the tank as they get older. They stop eating algae and develop a taste for the slime coat of the other fish in the tank, harrassing them, and leaving them open to infection without the protection of the slime. It would be best to avoid these entirely.

Siamese algae eaters are better, and they're one of the few fish that will eat brush algae.

Don't get one unless you want an algae eater in the tank though - not all fish will eat all types of algae, and if you've got a problem already, the fish won't keep the tank 100% clean. Some of this is up to you. Algae only forms when there's an abundance of light and nutrients, and adding another fish will only increase the total amount of nutrients in the tank.

Answer 3

I would only have 1, and one of the smaller varieties, like a bristlenose or rubber lip pleco. They stay about 4-6 inches, where as the common plecos get to be about 2 feet long-way too large for a 30 gal. There is a smaller algae eater called an oto cat(otocinclus), and they only grow to about an inch. If you had those in the tank, I would say 3 would be good, but they're super sensitive to water conditions/quality. Whichever fish you end up with, it'll still need to be supplemented with algae wafers and shrimp pellets though.

EDIT: Mud beat me by 10 seconds :)

Answer 4

Chinese Algae Eaters do get nasty. Avoid them and avoid the larger types of plecostomus. The bristlenose variety are good because they only get up to 4-6 inches or so and are very docile. You only need one bristlenose for your 30 gallon.

There is also a little algae eater called an Otocinclus Cat. Sometimes they are hard to find, but very docile and great little algae eaters. Get one Oto for every ten gallons. They are sometimes delicate when moved, so get 3 in case you lose one. They only get about 1.5 inches so they aren't going to be too much if they all survive. I have 6 in my 55 gallon and they are busy all day long with fat little bellies. Cute!

No matter which one you decide on, just be sure there is algae for them to eat before you get any. They like romaine lettuce and spinach too if they look thin at any point. The other fish will like it too.

Answer 5

It's not so much how many, as how big. Technically you should have 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water. So in a 30 gal. you take 30 inches, subtract the total size of other fish then see how many inches you have left. I have 1 algae eater in a 10 gal. So probably 2 large ones, or 3 average size.

Answer 6

they inch per gallon is a guideline, for a 30 i would say one for every 10 gallons. Plecos do a better job of cleaning though. if you have small fish like tetras or neons, dont even count the algae eaters in the "inch per gallon" but goldfish are super sloppy, so 1/2 inch per gallon for them.