Algae Eater

[Noko]

Well since one of my little girls died the other day I am going ahead and separating the other three even though they are doing great now. They don't seem to be as stressed and no one is nipping at fins but just to be on the safe side. So here is my problem, I have a major algae bloom. It's killed off a few of my plants, it's that bad. I even had to scrap the algae off the plants and the side of the aquarium many many times now. So is there some sort of algae eater that can go in one section of the tank? I have a ten gallon tank that is going to be separated into three sections and I want an algae eater to be with my calmest and smallest girl. I was doing some research and saw a few snails that I can buy at my local petco or petsmart, but the question is, are they good at eating a BUNCH of algae and keeping it down? I also have horrible luck with snails, and to be truthful, anything other than Platy Fry seem to die pretty quickly for no reason. Darn them platies always getting pregnant.

[shinybetta]

I think ottos could work.

[1fish2fish]

You can't put ottos in a divided tank because they have to be in groups.

You can't usually find them at pet stores but I would order a nerite snail. They're small but they are algae eating machines. Also ghost shrimp, with them you could put a few in each section and they'll clean you up in no time, they LOVE algae.

[Noko]

Really? Ghost shrimp? I actually never knew that and I was googling ghost shrimp and it said they hated algae. Hmm, I might have to get a few and they are inexpensive.

I might look at some local aquarium shops for a nerite snail. There are a few really nice shops around here that have the most amazing fish so they might have some.

[1fish2fish]

That's odd.. when I was researching people kept telling me over and over to get ghost shrimp (and nerites too). Algae is the main diet of a ghost shrimp (plus they're kinda cute IMO)

[Oldfishlady]

My ghost shrimp eat some algae but not enough to make a difference.

Also, the algae eaters only eat some types of algae-not all, you need to find what is causing the out-break and fix that-but usually you are going to have some no matter what...... and then in all reality- we are the best algae clean-up crew in our closed system......but its nice to have some inside help with some of it...lol....

[Noko]

I've been washing all my plastic plants and scrapping algae off the side of my tank once a week at the least. I am in some dire need of help XD I'm going to the pet store this weekend to look for some nerites or other things my girls wont mistake for another betta. I would hate for a poor fish to be thrown in with one of my girls because of the damage they can do to an innocent fish.

[1fish2fish]

Have you thought about getting live plants. Live plants will absorb some of the nutrients the algae is using to grow. In addition to that dosing with Flourish Excel is known to help kill algae (if you have live plants). Also less light will help as well.

[Noko]

I had tons of live plants, but the darn algae choked them to death. I not only have some java moss and another plant like it.

[MoePaac]

What about hornwort? It's great at sucking up nutrients and I've heard somewhere that it actually inhibits algae growth. I can't remember if it's a chemical release thing or just the nutrient competition.