No algae eaters??? - General Aquarium Plants Discussions

Bert H · 10-10-2005, 05:41 AM

I couldn't figure out why my C. helferi tips were looking so ratty and my japonica in my 50 were looking so small until I sat there for a while the other day and noticed the single sae apparently munching on these.

So he's going to visit another tank where he will have another sae for company and maybe he won't be so lonely and neurotic to eat the helferi in the second tank. I hope. Obviously when I move this guy (that's going to be an interesting time catching the sae in a heavily planted tank) I will keep a close eye on the plants and see if he has to come back.

That will leave the 50 gal tank with only one otto and too many to count cherry shrimp. It got me to thinking...

How many folks run their tanks without any algae eaters? How much more difficult is it to maintain algae free tanks without algae eaters present? Just wondering...

Sir_BlackhOle · 10-11-2005, 05:28 AM

I have a couple tanks without algae eaters. The tank with CO2 has no problems, the tank without co2 gets some bga and brown algae on the glass. I think a bristlenose or some ottos would be helpful but I havent bothered to get any yet.

Simpte 27 · 10-11-2005, 09:59 AM

Most of my tanks are algae eater free. None have algae issues except the L. Brichardi tank (but I neglect that one a lot. No plants)

JanS · 10-11-2005, 11:23 AM

Aww, you need to get some friends for your Oto....

SAE's also like company, so you'll be making a good move to put them together (not that you asked, but...LOL!)

I have a tank or two without algae eaters, but I really like the squeaky clean job they do on the glass and stuff, so I prefer to have them in the tanks.

It wasn't until I moved a Bristlenose into my African tank that I realized just how spotless he could make it look. I thought it looked fine before that, but wow, the after look was amazing.

Bert H · 10-12-2005, 04:38 AM

Well I managed to catch the sae after about 35 minutes of patience and put him into the 29 gal with a buddy. Last night I noticed the tips on some stems of my R. rotundafolia seem to be disappearing! I guess he's found something else to eat.

Jan, you're right, I need to get otto another couple of buddies. I'm also thinking of getting a couple of nerites see if they can keep the rear glass clean.

fish7days · 10-12-2005, 08:18 AM

Kind of neat species http://www.otocinclus.com/zebra.html

André