do SAEs eat other types of algae other than black brush algae

I got 2 SAEs to get rid of the black brush algae in my tank and they did an EXCELLENT job, but now I have a lot of other types of algae. I want to know if SAEs eat algae other than bb algae or if I'll have to get a chinese algae eater to clear the different algae

 

Welcome to Fishlore.

SAEs eat a wide variety of algaes. I have 3 in my planted tank and coupled with my pair of BN and have very little issue with algae. I would not recommend a CAE as they are not good algae eaters and become very territorial as they age. Not a good community fish.

If you are having issues with a wide variety of algaes, maybe you planted tank(s) are not balanced with lighting, fertilization and CO2 supplementation. If you follow the link in my signature on algae, it can help you identify which forms are growing and how to deal with stopping its growth.

 

Thankyou! I looked at your 'Why is there algae in my tank?' page and the algae I'm having problems with is brown algae on my plants such as ambulia. It says ottos help get rid of it, would you recommend them for a discus tank?

 

You are welcome Lauren. Glad you found the information helpful. If your discus are small, it shouldn't be an issue adding otos. Full sized adults may try to eat small otos.

 

They do. I had a lot of algae before, including bba on my Windelov ferns, which took me a long time to get and I really didn't want to clip the leaves and risk losing the ferns. So I got a true SAE and it took care of my problem very nicely.

Despite a lot of sites saying to cover the top, I have no top and my SAE has never once tried to jump out of the tank, but I've only had him for almost two months, so I can't say if he will or will not in the future.

I recommend getting floating plants. They will compete with algae for nutrients in the water and starve the algae out. With my SAE, four Otos, L183 Starlight White Beam Bristlenose Pleco and my floating water lettuce, I don't have an algae problem except for a light layer, which is fine for the fish to graze on.