hozzie

Sorry to keep asking stupid questions.... but heres another one (sorry )


I have brown algae in my tank. If I take the ornaments and plants out to clean them, will it affect my water? I have worked hard to get the tank sorted out (ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 10) and am concerned that if I give the tank a good clean to remove the algae I will upset the bacteria.


Its starting to look quite grubby but the water is clear.

Thanks Helene

Darkfishy

cat fish?

hozzie

I have 3 gold barbs, 2 clown loaches (who will be moving house soon) and 2 guppies...

do I have room for a catfish as well? and can you recommend one who likes algae

Darkfishy

hmm..maybe this will help you.
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm

capekate

Hi Helene
It sounds like Diatoms are now developing in your 'new' cycled tank. Which is normal. does it wipe off real easy? If it does, its Diatoms. I would suggest Otocinclus (oto's) for the Diatoms, they love to eat that stuff up.
I understand your concern about messing with the bacteria by cleaning off the decorations. There is a way you can do that tho, by only cleaning off a few at a time when you do your water change, rather than cleaning them all off at once will help not disrupt the cycle.

hozzie

Hello Kate

yes it comes off very easily. I will just clean the glass and a few of the pieces.... and get a catfish....


thanks

capekate

Your welcome
The oto catfish is very small and should be able to fit with your stock of fish. I would recommend three of them, as they do like to be in some type of group and it would be better than just one.

hozzie

Sadly my fish shop doesnt have any otos, only plecos which I dont want due to their size. However she sold me two of the cutest little fishlets who do seem to love eating algae. Sadly I dont know what they are and having looked at 200 catfish on planet catfish I am still non the wiser (nor was she ). They are tiny striped wriggly worm-like fish with short bristles, mainly silvery with yellow stripes. They also climb up the glass and are not at all shy. They are hoovering the glass and all available surfaces wonderfully. I love em! Will go back when manager is in and find out what they are.....

And isnt it lovely to have a tank that is not problematic

capekate

A tank with no problem fish is a heavenly thing!

eaglescout316

Kind of weird that the fish store employee didn't know what kind of fish it was. If i ask the guy at my fish store what kind of fish is in one of his tanks, i just hope his answer isn't, "**** if i know, here i'll bag it up for you." haha

musicman4567

Siamensis algae eaters will also eat the diatoms (and most types of algae, actually). Very diligent workers. You could probably put one, maybe two, in your tank. The other option for diatoms is snails. They don't add much to your bioload, but clean extremely well!

eaglescout316

I have heard that siamese algae eaters aren't quite as good at keeping the algae under control once they get older because their dietary preference changes. Can't remember where, it was the internet somewhere. Can anyone confirm that?

isis

Hi Helene I have that exact problem now with my newly cycled 200l tank. So I got my big golden apple snail in there (Deloris) and it's doing a FANTASTIC job!

guppywhitecloud

[quote=hozzie;478124]Sadly my fish shop doesnt have any otos, only plecos which I dont want due to their size. However she sold me two of the cutest little fishlets who do seem to love eating algae. Sadly I dont know what they are and having looked at 200 catfish on planet catfish I am still non the wiser (nor was she ). They are tiny striped wriggly worm-like fish with short bristles, mainly silvery with yellow stripes. They also climb up the glass and are not at all shy. They are hoovering the glass and all available surfaces wonderfully. I love em! Will go back when manager is in and find out what they are.....]


then u shoul get a snail

dinatwin

I'm having the same problem with diatoms. It's gross looking and my tank is already overstocked I can't get anything to help get rid of it

hozzie

I know now never to buy fish when the managers teenage daughter is minding the store!!

But the two wee wrigglers are gorgeous fishes and they like sucking algae so they may well be fine.

All I have to do is find a snail lol they have baby lobsters at the shop but no snails... what can I say ? its a very small island I live on.

And I read the same thing about siamese algae eaters...that their tastes and personalities change as they mature.


Helene