Introducing Algae Eaters to Control Algae in Your Tank
One of the most common problems new aquarium owners experience is unwanted algae growth. Algae growth is natural in the home aquarium and a small amount of it provides a healthy food source for fish and invertebrates. If algae growth is allowed to go uncontrolled, however, it can take over your tank and cause a number of problems. In addition to being unsightly, excess algae can decrease water quality which may in turn cause your fish to become stressed or to fall ill. One of the simplest ways to control algae growth in your tank is to introduce an algae eater.
Choosing an Algae Eater
When it comes to selecting an algae eater for your tank there are several options to choose from. Before you visit the pet store, however, there are a few things you should keep in mind. An algae eater is different from a bottom feeder – these two types of fish are both useful in the home aquarium but they serve different purposes. Bottom feeders primarily feed on uneaten fish food and sinking pellets. While some algae eaters perform this function as well, many are known for their suction cup-like mouths that enable them to clean algae off the glass and decorations in your tank.
Types of Algae Eaters
Pleco Fish
One of the most well-known types of algae eater is the plecostomus, often called the pleco. These fish are a species of semi-aggressive catfish and, provided enough space and food, they can grow to two feet in length. This type of algae eater is recommended for large tanks where they can be kept individually or with a small number of community fish. Another type of catfish, the Otocinclus affinis (Oto cat), is another popular algae eater. These fish generally stay under two inches in size which makes them the perfect algae eater for small aquariums. Oto cats are typically not aggressive so they do well in community tanks.
Another popular species of algae eater is the Siamese algae eater, or Crossocheilus oblongus. These fish are typically friendly, though as they age they may become aggressive toward others of their own species. Siamese algae eaters are unique among algae eaters because they feed on the red algae that many other algae eaters tend to avoid. Gyrinocheilus, or Chinese algae eaters, have large suction-cup mouths and can grow up to ten inches long. Though generally friendly in their youth, older fish of this species can become territorial and aggressive.
Tips for Keeping Algae at Bay
While introducing an algae eater into your tank is one of the easiest ways to control algae growth there are several other things you can do. Keep your tank out of direct sunlight and perform regular water changes to keep the water quality in the tank high. You can also install an EcoBio-Stone in your tank which will maintain good water quality and help to keep your tank clean and algae-free. EcoBio-Stones are made from porous volcanic stones and cement and are infused with special beneficial bacteria that multiply in your tank, working to break down wastes and speed up the nitrogen cycle. Combined with an algae eater and routine maintenance, an EcoBio-Stone is an easy way to keep your tank free of unwanted algae.
January 9, 2012 at 3:20 PM
January 15, 2012 at 9:22 AMJM Armstrong
I keep 7 tanks. My 75 gal. is for my fancy goldfish. I agree that pleco and oto cats are good at their jobs. I have found drawbacks to both where goldfish are concerned. Fancy goldfish are slow swimmers because of their finnage or their shape. This makes them ideal targets for pleco fish. My little 3″ bristlenose now lives next door with angel fish after it went on at blitz attack on two of my Ranchus. There was algea to eat, plants to nibble on, etc.,but it still went after the fancies. I then did a stupid thing I got oto cats. Too small to do damage to my fancies – right, no. I had forgotten that anything small enough to to fit in a goldfish’s mouth will be eaten. Oto cats when caught by another fish put up their top barb. This prevents them from being swallowed, but it also stop the fish that caught them from being able to spit them out. I lost a big Hama to damage done to its mouth from the barb of the oto.
Just yesterday I had to extract a small oto from the mouth of a small moor. Both where in my 20 gal baby tank. Both seem to be doing fine after the extraction using tweezers.I use a 20 gal for new small fancy gold fish. One it sort of acts as a quarantine tank and two it lets the small fancies get to a size that they can compete with the big fancies (all 4″+ not including fins). I had forgotten that there were oto babies in the 20 gal. They are the progeny of the oto’s that I moved from the 75 gal. One thing about oto cats that no one seems to mention is that they breed like rabbits. I did a hard look in the 20 yesterday and found that there are about 30 baby oto cats. They blend into the dark gravel and they hide in the driftwood and plants. To prevent a repeat of yesterday I will be setting up a 10 gl for the 3 small fancies. The goldfish are much easier to catch than all those oto cats.
Just thought some of you might find it interesting.
So what do I use to keep algea at a low level – snails and elbow grease in the goldfish tanks. Oto cats for any tank that doesn’t have goldfish.
Snails for the other tanks. When the snail population gets high I just move them into the frog tank or loach tank.
Judi
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