Siamese algae eater alone to eat algae?

Due to not being able to get rid of brown algae after adding sand to my tank I'm weighing up my options. One is to remove phosphates with a phosphate remover. Its growing on the plants and some are too fragile to keep rubbing it off

My other idea is to add a siamese algae eater. I have a fluval Roma 125L with 15 various danios. None giant, 2 nerite snails, 2 rabbit snails and 7 peppered Corey's. I know stocking wise its probably full. Would this be suitable for an algae eater or is the tank too hectic and busy. Or is it not advisable to have one on it's own?

 

I have one on its own, and I got them after I watched one at the LFS who is on their own (sole SAE I mean) with other fish, has been for 3 years too.

I'd suggest not doing it solo. Because they get quirky when on their own. They tend to try to 'play' with other fish in the tank, including the Panda Cory, who really don't appreciate it. I moved them to the tank they're in now because they liked to nibble on my chill Bettas long fins - to clean them off I'm sure, but not cool for my Betta.

That being said, they do a fantastic job, esp when younger, of green algae cleaning. I had handfuls of green hair algae that had overtaken some plants in another tank - I pulled the entire green mess in to the tank with the SAE and between them and the amano shrimp (mostly the sae nibbling all day long) it was gone in days.

 

Due to not being able to get rid of brown algae after adding sand to my tank I'm weighing up my options. One is to remove phosphates with a phosphate remover. Its growing on the plants and some are too fragile to keep rubbing it off

My other idea is to add a siamese algae eater. I have a fluval Roma 125L with 15 various danios. None giant, 2 nerite snails, 2 rabbit snails and 7 peppered Corey's. I know stocking wise its probably full. Would this be suitable for an algae eater or is the tank too hectic and busy. Or is it not advisable to have one on it's own?

Siamese Algae Eater's are pretty outgoing, so being a tank with very active species shouldn't be a problem. It's definitely recommended to keep them in groups, though, as they are a schooling fish.

 

I definitely dont have the room for another school. From searching the internet it said one on it's own or a school of at least 4 but I hate having one on it's own but I need something to consume the algae. Unless I get more nerite snails instead

 

I definitely dont have the room for another school. From searching the internet it said one on it's own or a school of at least 4 but I hate having one on it's own but I need something to consume the algae. Unless I get more nerite snails instead

U could try to "rent" one from ur lfs.

 

My Corey's are quite active except during the day they sometimes look dead. They're not they're just sleeping. I love my Corey's. The most chilled are the rabbit snails. They get bashed by the Corey's a bit but once they get going they're wonderful to watch and a gorgeous colour

 

I couldn't cause that much stress on a fish! Once it's in my tank its there to stay

 

I couldn't cause that much stress on a fish! Once it's in my tank its there to stay

Thats true... maybe its an excuse to buy a new fish tank...?

 

I cant do that either haha this tank is only six months old. I changed from gravel to sand a few months ago and now I'm getting this brown algae due to the silicates. You do one thing right and then something else rears its ugly head!

 

Do amano shrimp eat this type of algae?

 

My other fish would more than likely eat the shrimp. They get fed frozen shrimp as a treat

 

My other fish would more than likely eat the shrimp. They get fed frozen shrimp as a treat

No way a danio or cory would eat an anano shrimp. My amanos are bigger than my danios!

 

But will they not be tiny when you first get them?

 

But will they not be tiny when you first get them?

You can usually find Amanos quite large

I’d advise against the SAE both for what Addictedtobettas said and the size/activity of the fish. I wanted to put my adult from my Roma 200 to my Roma 125 and it just wasn’t practical when you see them

 

So my choice is amano shrimp or some more nerite snails? How many shrimp?

 

So my choice is amano shrimp or some more nerite snails? How many shrimp?

I have 6 in my 36 gallon

 

Would putting that many in mine with what I already have not overstock it?

 

I have 6 in my 36 gallon

No, id say u should get 5 or 6 no problemo

 

I have a few Siamese algae eaters. They grow very fast. They seem to get to 9 cm in 8 months (4 inches)
I suggest you organise rental from a shop as at anything more than 4 inches i believe they will be to big. Or almost to big for a 32 gallon.

 

What size is your tank flyfisha? Them blue and black fish are beautiful. I'm considering getting some more nerites as two for a 125L isnt enough. I'm also considering some kind of phosphate remover to remove the silicates and phosphates. Will removing phosphates cause any other kind of issues?

 

It's a choice of the shrimp or nerites then. Tough choices

 

That tank is a 32 cube with two on temporary holiday in it. I have groups of 4 and 5 in the 55s and 40s . These two in the photo will only be in their for a few weeks.
I had one Siamese algae eater on his own a couple of years ago. He turned into a polar bear at the zoo , doing a circle routine around and around. Pretty sad really even if he was brought with the consent of the shop owner to return at 4 inches. If others also a
say don’t get one on his own I agree from that one I
experience .
Good for eating black beard algae

The neons are green neons.

 

I hate getting anything on it's own but a male betta for example has to be. I'm definitely doing the shrimp or snail route but I'm tempted more snail as I know the fish wont bother more snails whereas shrimp I'm bothered the fish getting them. I want a happy tank but thanks for letting me know getting one is a no go