Strange Bristlenose Info

Just wanting to double check some info I got from the locally owned fish store the other day. I was looking for something to help eat up some of my hair algae growing in my 10 gallon. He told me that a bristlenose would not be compatible with my Male betta (the only inhabitant in the tank, totally spoiled) because they have had incidences in the shop where the bristlenose will eat the bettas fins. He mentioned this happened at night while the bettas slept on the substrate, however, my betta has a java moss wall that he sleeps in near the waters surface. Is this true and would my betta be compatible or is he at risk?

 

Plecos are known to eat the slime coat off of goldfish. That could be what the store was talking about.

However, I would be hesitant to add a pleco to a tank to get rid of hair algae. I've never seen any of mine go for it. Plecos, the bristlenose kind, also require at lease, IMHO, 30 gallons and will end up pooping a lot and making the tank messy.

Instead of getting a new fish to try to cure algae, I recommend the black out method. You just wrap a black towel around the tank to prevent sunlight from entering. I usually leave it dark for 3 days.

 

Plecos are known to eat the slime coat off of goldfish. That could be what the store was talking about.

However, I would be hesitant to add a pleco to a tank to get rid of hair algae. I've never seen any of mine go for it. Plecos, the bristlenose kind, also require at lease, IMHO, 30 gallons and will end up pooping a lot and making the tank messy.

Instead of getting a new fish to try to cure algae, I recommend the black out method. You just wrap a black towel around the tank to prevent sunlight from entering. I usually leave it dark for 3 days.

Thank you for clarifying that info. I have a lot of plants, no CO2, and have been adding flourish trace and flourish once a week. The fish store also said I could use flourish excel to help get rid of it?

 

That might work. But a cheaper method is hydrogen peroxide and a syringe. I've heard of it, but never tried it.

I prefer adding as little to my tanks as possible.

 

I am definitely on that same track. I just want to do what's going to be healthiest for the tank. It seems like my snails always cause me issues...laying eggs everywhere, poop everywhere, uprooting plants lol. I almost feel like they are more trouble than they are worth. Thought maybe I could shop some other options but there may not be much. Currently working on establishing some neocaridinia and once they are breeding I would like to add them to my other tanks. Hoping to provide some live food for my betta and that the shrimp may eat up some of the waste.

 

I feel the same about Malaysian trumpet snails. I use the water bottle trap with algae wafers to catch them. I feel like I barely made a dent in the population.. .

 

See and I have a single olive nerite and it literally laid probably 30 or so eggs yesterday. Its torn out my microsword so many times, moves the heater, etc. Maybe I should name him ragnarok

 

See and I have a single olive nerite and it literally laid probably 30 or so eggs yesterday. Its torn out my microsword so many times, moves the heater, etc. Maybe I should name him ragnarok

Nerites' eggs will not hatch in freshwater so you are safe from the invasion of the nerites at least, they just bejewel everything when they are female.

Ramshorns will eat most hair algae, but they reproduce ridiculously fast and are considered a pest snail.

 

Yes, I picked my nerite for the fact that they cannot reproduce in freshwater but those eggs on everything just make more work for me. I personally think they look a little creepy lol! But alas, I believe there are not a lot of options for me out there. I am going to try the 3 days darkness to start, then I will probably look into the seachem. Ideally the fish store was supposed to be able to order my shrimp and have them in by wednesday but the wholesaler HAPPENED to run out the week I want to order...

 

Well an update:
Went to my fish store today and she tells me that Mollie are great hair algae eaters. Says I need to let the algae bloom because it will eventually die down in growth. And that when you first plant an aquarium you get the initial bloom. She did not suggest any products but sent me home with a molly to eat all my algae up and then bring back. Hope my betta doesn't try and attack it.