who is the best algae eater in my aquarium tank?

Question

I have a 55G live-plant aquarium.
I tried to change parcial water(about 10G) every 2 days to keep water clean. However, hair-like algea grows on leaves. here and there..
15 Ghost shurimps, 1 mid size pleco and 3 algea eaters have already been in my tank.
I am wondering who is the best cleaner expect them? If somebody have idea, please give me the information. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Algae won't harm your fish, but it can easily overrun your plants, preventing the light from reaching their leaves, leading to dead plants... If you are seeing algae in a planted tank, you should either start adding CO2 through a DIY reactor or a purchased reactor. CO2 is vital for photosynthesis in plants, and increased plant growth can prevent algae from receiving necessary nutrients... reduce your lighting to 8 hours a day, add CO2, and keep up on weekly water changes and you will see the algae disappear... Ghost Shrimp do not eat algae, just scraps of food (not poop) on the bottom of the tank. Algae Eaters may eat algae as juveniles (as will Rainbow and Red Tailed Sharks), but as they mature, they become extremely aggressive... Most Plecos will eat algae as they please, but would much rather eat some crustaceans like crabs or shrimp... As MonsteerFishKeeper said, Otos are great for many types of algae, but not Black Beard Algae or Hair Algae... The best way to remove these two types of algae is to prevent them from growing in the first place (with the above listed measures)... If you really want a shrimp that will eat algae, try Red Cherry Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, or Crystal Red Shrimp... Contact me if you have any questions...

Soop Nazi

Answer 2

I don't know what you mean by the 3 algae eaters. They could other fishes or snails. Give more detail on that.

So far it sounds like its the shrimps winning the contest. Pleco are not very good algae eaters because they're clumsy and don't clean the plant leaves often. But if the "3 algae eaters" are snails (also there are different species of snails and some snails are bad algae eaters) or Otocinclus Algae Eater fish or some other fish. Then the shrimps are probably not the best.

Answer 3

Snails are ok, but they can easily overpopulate your tank and then you'll have that problem on you hands. Try oto cats, they don't get to big so you can have a few of them. The pleco you have is going to get big if it a common one, they can get 18 - 24 inches so you might have problems in the future keeping it. I'd say try to cut back on the lighting as much as possible and still keep the plants alive. Algae though is not harmful to the fish or the tank, so if you can live with the little amount you have then it shouldn't be a problem.

Answer 4

Plecos, otos, and "algae eaters" don't eat hair, or thread algae. The only fish I've ever seen eat that kind are rosy barbs and mollies. I got rosy barbs to eat the thread algae in my tank and never saw it again, even after they died. Your tank is overstocked if the pleco is a common one and the "algae eaters" are the gold Chinese ones. They all get way too big for a 55 gallon tank.

Answer 5

I think the algae eater is the best cleaner because it eats the algae very fast than other fish or shrimps.
Usually, shrimps eat the smaller size algae.
I also have 4 algae eater in my aquarium and never have algae problems anymore

Hope I can help=)

Answer 6

lol the hair like algea is hair from youy sticking your hand or arm in there and the algea grows on it honest mistake but to answer your problemth shrimp will clean a rock or tywo and the pleco loves the bog wood or plants to suck on for extra stuff the algea eaters are good the best in yyour case as well because they rest 30 minuteas a day as i observe the lights go out they start to work harder because to much fish cammotion will mess there cleaning prossce up

Answer 7

I would think that the shrimp is the best algae eater, but what are the fish that you call "algae eaters"?

Answer 8

I have 2 plecos one of them is albino. But I have found that my red tailed shark does most of the cleaning.

Answer 9

You need to incorporate live rock and add a refugium, skimmer and to add some large snails.

Answer 10

i have the same combination(not as many shrimp),as well as pakistani loaches(4)&two small crays.AND in my tank,hands down,the shrimp WIN/they keep it soooo clean.
Bristlnose mianly hide in their logs in the day.