caravela

I have a 125 litre tank that gets a lot of algae. I've had a lovely bristlenose for about a month, and he's doing his best at eating the algae, but I think I need to get another algae-eater as there's more than he can manage! What other algae-eaters would people recommend? I don't want anything that gets too massive. The other tank-mates at the moment are rosy barbs and columbian tetras. There are lots of hiding places, so the new catfish shouldn't have to compete with the BN.

Barbrella

I would get a couple more BNs, maybe a lovely albino or an albino long-fin.

They're commonly available, aren't outrageously priced and get along fairly well. You might even get fry!

Or, you can go here: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/index.php
With the search feature, you can choose size etc., that you're looking for.

Gamer

There are many options. Upside-down catfish eat algae but if you want some of the top algae eaters available then go with a school of otocinclus catfish (if your tank doesn't contain fish big enough to eat them), golden algae eaters, SAE's (Siamese algae-eaters) or flying foxes. Another good algae eater comes in the form of a snail...a nerite snail. They are without a doubt the best algae eating snails in the world. These eat algae and do not reproduce in freshwater and do not eat plants, they only keep them clean as well as keep glass clean.

purple_phoenix

125 litres is only about 30 gallons. If you go by the inch per gallon rule, the bristlenose would be about 6", each of the barbs 4" and each tetra 2". How many rosy barbs and columbian tetras do you have?

I'd stay away from buying any more BNs, as they are big waste producers. This can make more algae grow, and as the plecs grow, they often tend to 'go off' algae and stick to wafers you put in for them. I agree with gamer - go with golden or siamese algae eaters, or a few snails. You'd need to keep a close eye on Otos, though, as they are very sensitive to water quality.

You may also want to test your water. Too many nitrates (from waste) make algae grow, and also phosphates (which are in fish food - you may want to cut down on what you are feeding them, and make sure you only feed what your fish need.)

Barbrella

I agree that BNs produce a ton of waste, but for me personally the extra water changes and vacuuming I do is worth it in exchange for having all my beautiful plants kept clean and free of algae.

I think 2 BNs in a 30 gal tank is fine.

susitna-flower

I DO NOT recommend you get SAE, or CAE's....THEY are the fish that will eat algae when young, but after grown don't eat the algae any more, and there temperament is not community tank friendly.

My best suggestion is to first calculate the # of fish inches you currently have in your tank. As purple_phoenix said your tank can only support 33" of ADULT fish. When you are counting even if the fish is not yet grown to full size, you have to count them as the adult size. Reason for this is that the nitrification bacteria colony in your tank grows as your fish grow. The tank is able to change the ammonia and nitrite to nitrate for an increasing size fish without over powering the cycle and having problems.

It sounds like you need to address WHAT is causing the algae, before you add more fish to combat it.

High nitrate levels in the water, and light for too many hours a day, both contribute to excessive algae.

Do you have an API Master test kit? Most here recommend this as the most reliable. This kit contains liquid tests for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate as well as pH tests. It is cost effective, and easy, if you follow the directions (especially the nitrate bottle #2). Chart your results then you will see how the water quality will shift and you will have a better understanding of what is causing your algae.

Nitrates over 10 and you will start getting algae. At 20 you will grow algae readily, and add light over 10 hours a day and you can have a problem. Water changes bring down the nitrate. Any time nitrate gets over 10 you should be doing a 25-50% water change every week. If your nitrates are over 20 you should do several 50% water changes every other day until they come down under 20. This includes vacuuming the gravel.

For lighting, if you will have them on no longer than 5 hours twice a day with a 2 hour break it will help, and if you have the tank where natural light hits it during the day, it should be moved out of this light.

I hope this helps, I guess I would have to weigh in on improving water condition, and if that doesn't help, if your tank isn't overcrowded, add 3 otoes, or another bn pleco.

Gamer

But I like SAE's. Or I did. But you learn something new every day. I just knew they were one of the top algae eaters out there but I am starting to learn of some of their drawbacks. Like their temperment and their appetites which are not for algae alone but for plants such as Java moss and hair grass and I honestly don't know if I'd like to have some of these guys in my planted community tanks in the future.

MrWaxhead

SAEs I have never had a problem ever with them snacking on any of my java mosses ferns or hairgrasses, but as others said, they are really only good algae eaters while they are young, then they pretty much switch to food and you have to limit there food to keep them eating algae, which is very hard to do in a community tank. I like to keep them anyways as I do find them a great looking fish.

I also don't find upside down cats are not good algae eaters at all especially larger ones like Synodontis eupterus, and once they hit about the 5 to 6 inch mark they can get aggressive at feeding time. But again I love to keep them, but in larger species like eupterus, I keep them in singles as they get very territorial and will take on others of their kind and plecos etc. I have a 6 inch eupterus in my 50g that unfortunatly decided the bottom of the tank and I mean all of it was his and he over the course of two nights killed off my corries. With smaller upside downs like S. nigriventris or S. contractus you can keep larger numbers of them, but again I don't find them a algae eater at all but are a very neat fish.

Bristols are a great algae eater and do breed nicely and do a great job of cleaning but they are such neat fish.

My personal fav are shrimp and ottos, they are small and peaceful with minimal load on the tank and do a great job of keeping the tank clean.

I have also heard of people using american flag fish for algae cleaning, I have never used them personally and don't know much about them.

But the key to algae is controlled lighting 8 to 10 hours a day is about as much as you will want to use, and a healthy fast growing very heavily planted tank ( as the plants WILL outcompete the algae for nutrients once they are growing strong). Not overdoing your ferts, if your tank doesn't need them, IE your plants don't use them (ie more ferts then your plants photosynthesis cycle requires) which is strongly based of your fish load, light cycle, and light strength (WPG). And a STABLE c02 level.

If you can keep your c02 stable, your plants growing strong and only getting as much light and fert as they need you will not get algae. The plants simple outcompete the algae. In lower light c02 is not really needed nor are ferts for the most part, if you start adding ferts to a low light tank and the plants don't need it, the algae will feast away (especially macro ferts N P K). But if you start throwing high light to a tank, and have no ferts or c02 the algae will explode in your tank faster then you can shake a stick at. I have had algae go bezerk over a two day span when I didn't notice my c02 was empty, and had to excel dose my tank to help the cleaners get rid of it.

I am at the point now where I have to feed my cleaners as much as my community fish as there is not enough algae to sustain them, and what little tries to grow they take care of it.

Gamer

That's good to hear you've had positive experiences with SAE's especially the young ones. I've just been reading sites and countless experiences from people who have had them snacking on their plants, in particular, their java moss. I may end up giving them a go afterall though.