[aquaverde]

I've read where at least one aquarist found that SAEs were eating juvenile algae that didn't show up until they were removed. IME I've never been able to control any algae outbreak with any kind of fauna. I consider the algae crew to be there to "spit shine" an already balanced tank.

 

[aquaverde]

It goes to illustrate the fact that we don't always know what those finny vegetarians are really contributing, positive or negative. I have some holes in my sword that I am really beginning to suspect are due to my Ancistrus.

 

[aquaverde]

Nerites are decent algae eaters and some of the species are very beautiful. The only problem I have with them is they deposit little white eggs everywhere, a real eyesore.

MTS do a great job with detritus, but they are forever, and eventually will end up in every tank you have if you move things around at all from tank to tank. I'm trying to isolate a tank for shrimp only with no MTS, because they eat the eggs.