12 hours a day with a timer.Fashooga said:You can always get a bristlenose pleco, they grow about 5 inches max.
Also how long do you keep your lights on?
It’s not huge problem, I just want to make a balance from the very beginning. When you keep fish you don’t solve problems one by one, you predict the issues and try to reduce the risk from first step, right?JenC said:If the algae is really problematic it would be better to address the root cause rather than add fish in hopes they clean it.
Do you have an idea of what's causing it and what kind of is? Common catalysts for algae growth are lights too strong (especially if no CO2), lights too long, natural sunlight hitting the tank, and excess organic waste.
Gold algae eaterMomgoose56 said:What is a GAE? Nerite snails are great algae eaters. Others, not so much. Best way to control algae is by cutting down on light and regular weekly water changes.
A golden algae eater IS a chinese algae eater. You'd be trading trouble for trouble. Best way to get rid of algae is typ get rid of what's causing it.MicG said:Gold algae eater
Thanks for the suggestions guys, appreciated!
Will buy some snails first
One BN pleco is plenty for a small tank.MicG said:12 hours a day with a timer.
Thanks for the reminding, I think I searched that little guy. How many do you think I’ll need for a 36g?
I'm not quite sure what you mean but fixing the cause of the algae is the solution. A tank is balanced when lights, fertilizers, organic waste, plants, etc., are in harmony. A clean-up fish isn't a critical part of that equation; it's just a band-aid on a problem.MicG said:It’s not huge problem, I just want to make a balance from the very beginning. When you keep fish you don’t solve problems one by one, you predict the issues and try to reduce the risk from first step, right?
Right. Create a balance so you don't have to anticipate a problem in the first place as JenC said. I have never had an algae problem in my tank's that wasn't caused by too much light or water problems. Algae eaters can't fix that and as you have experienced with your CAE, algae eaters can bring a whole new set of problems with them.MicG said:It’s not huge problem, I just want to make a balance from the very beginning. When you keep fish you don’t solve problems one by one, you predict the issues and try to reduce the risk from first step, right?
Really like what you have addressed.bizaliz3 said:I agree with JenC . If your purpose for getting a BN pleco is for algae removal....you will be disappointed. They are not these algae eating machines people claI'm them to be. They eat algae a lot as youngsters, but adult BNs don't do a lot of algae eating. Especially if you give them an appropriate diet rather than starving them to force them to eat the algae like some people do. :-(
However, If you actually want to keep one as a pet, because you think they are cool then great! Go for it!
But just keep in mind...that they will leave more poop behind than anything else. So they will make the tank messier and require more vacuuming. Which is why I feel calling them tank cleaners is a total oxymoron!!! hahaha
I also agree with the nerite snail suggestion, They eat algae WAY better than plecos in my experience. And they don't add a huge bioload to your tank like a pleco would.
You might want to cut down on the hours. 12 hours is a lot of hours and that's a large build of algae. I would cut it down to maybe 5 hours. I have mine come on at 6 pm, off by 11 pm.MicG said:12 hours a day with a timer.
Thanks for the reminding, I think I searched that little guy. How many do you think I’ll need for a 36g?