20 Gallon Tank Shrimps to control algae

Hello everyone!
I have a 20 gallons tank divided into 6 gallons and 14 gallons. In the 6 gallons side I have my betta fish with 1 nerite snail, and 14 gallons side 4 albino corys, 5 harlequin rasboras and 2 nerite snails. My Amazon sword plants and one of my anubias is growing that type of algae that floats on their leaves. I tried before putting my Amazon sword in a 5% bleach solution and it was good for a couple of weeks, but now I see the algae growing back just on the leaves of the plants again. I was thinking to add some shrimps to the aquarium for them to eat the algae, but I’m not sure because I don’t know anything about shrimp, what they eat, cares, Ph levels and the correct type of shrimp I should get to fit properly in my aquarium stock. Can anybody tell me if shrimps are a good idea, or if there’s another way to control this algae? I attached pictures. Thank you

 

Amano shrimps do a good job!

 

Shrimps and fish aren't a good mix. If it fits into their mouth a shrimp is a tasty little snack. I have Neon Tetras in with shrimp and they seem OK I haven't seem them eating the babies but they do scatter the shrimp when they want a particular piece of food the shrimp might be eating. On the other hand I have a couple of Siamese Algae Eaters and some eat babies others don't look sideways at them. Clown Loaches chase the babies but haven't seen them actually eating them. Mollies and Platies seem OK but still havent seen them snacking on them either.

Dwarf Cherry shrimp, (Neo Cardina) are bullet proof and live quite well in fish water parameters and don't need special treatement and eat algie and anything else and breed like rabbits.

 

Amano shrimps do a good job!

How’s their temperament? Are they aggressive like to harm my harlequin rasboras, corys or betta fish in order to get the food?

 

No other way around they just go about their business quiet achivers....... eating left overs and breeding. They are looked on as clean up crew they scrounge around eating what drops to the substrate and looking for algae. Keep in mind they are dwarf and quite small about 1/2" would see them out. Best of all they don't eat their young if you ever want to really get into breeding them.

 

I believe amano shrimp are the best algae eating shrimp on the market.

Check out these two pages from Tropica for info on how effective they are:
Algae control - Tropica Aquarium Plants, https://tropica.com/en/guide/algae-control/test-of-algae-eaters/.

 

I believe amano shrimp are the best algae eating shrimp on the market.

Check out these two pages from Tropica for info on how effective they are:
Algae control - Tropica Aquarium Plants, Test of algae eaters - Tropica Aquarium Plants.

I was doing research and that’s what I saw too, but I have the concern about their personality, if they would become aggressive about the food to the point of hurting my fishes. Do you know anything about it? I’m also concerned about my tank size, because I explained above that my betta side is only 6 gallons, and the corys and rasboras side 14 gallons. Amano shrimps are big and I’m not sure they’d fit good in my tank. What do you think? Can I get 2 and 2?

 

I was doing research and that’s what I saw too, but I have the concern about their personality, if they would become aggressive about the food to the point of hurting my fishes. Do you know anything about it?

I've been keeping amano shrimps for a long time...nearly 20 years. I've kept them in all sorts of planted tanks with all sorts of fishes. They are aggressive eaters, but I've never seen them hurt any fishes. The worst they do sometimes is "tickle" a fish away from a contested bit of food.

Now, if they are starving, they will not only eat your algae; they will also eat your plants. So, if you run out of algae, let them have a bit of fish food too.

I’m also concerned about my tank size, because I explained above that my betta side is only 6 gallons, and the corys and rasboras side 14 gallons. Amano shrimps are big and I’m not sure they’d fit good in my tank. What do you think?

I think they'd fit. In fact, considering how many you have to get for effective algae control, small tanks are much easier to stock effectively. I'd put 2 or 3 in the 6 gallon and 5 or 6 in the 14. You can get away with less once the algae is under control. They don't seem to add much bioload, at least when you're not feeding them directly.

Note that amano shrimp don't eat all kinds of algae. I like to pair them with snails ("pest" snails or nerites) to get most of the bases covered.

 

I've been keeping amano shrimps for a long time...nearly 20 years. I've kept them in all sorts of planted tanks with all sorts of fishes. They are aggressive eaters, but I've never seen them hurt any fishes. The worst they do sometimes is "tickle" a fish away from a contested bit of food.

Now, if they are starving, they will not only eat your algae; they will also eat your plants. So, if you run out of algae, let them have a bit of fish food too.

I think they'd fit. In fact, considering how many you have to get for effective algae control, small tanks are much easier to stock effectively. I'd put 2 or 3 in the 6 gallon and 5 or 6 in the 14. They don't seem to add much bioload, at least when you're not feeding them directly.

Note that amano shrimp don't eat all kinds of algae. I like to pair them with snails ("pest" snails or nerites) to get most of the bases covered.

Thank you so much! Then I’m getting amano shrimps and I’ll make sure they eat food besides of the algae I have 3 nerite snails, so we’re good thank you !

 

Thank you so much! Then I’m getting amano shrimps and I’ll make sure they eat food besides of the algae I have 3 nerite snails, so we’re good thank you !

You're welcome. Just make sure not to entirely rely on the algae eaters, or your algae issues may never resolve. They are an important piece of the puzzle, but not a complete solution. For the rest of the pieces, check out this article for great info on how to keep algae under control in a planted tank: Algae Management & Algae Myths: Updated Version | Aquarium Plants Forum | 495705.

 

You're welcome. Just make sure not to entirely rely on the algae eaters, or your algae issues may never resolve. They are an important piece of the puzzle, but not a complete solution. For the rest of the pieces, check out this article for great info on how to keep algae under control in a planted tank: Algae Management & Algae Myths: Updated Version | Aquarium Plants Forum | 495705.

I don’t have a huge problem of algae, it’s just appearing on the top of some plant leaves, so I think the shrimp should be good enough to help me with that, hopefully.

 

Your substrate I think holds a lot of waste, providing more nutrients than your plants can process. I would at least take half your substrate out of the tank.

I'm not sure what filtration you have; does it occur on both sides? I would see to it that you have water movement throughout your tank; not just on one side.

Most importantly, add more plants, restrict light to 8 hours and, if possible, dim the light a bit. I would choose a big but slow growing plant on both sides (java fern). Together with decent water movement, it should starve algae out.

Shrimp help of course. My shrimp only tank is just incredible clean-looking. But with fishes, it is best to take preventative measures regarding algae as well.