Need Algae Eater Suggestion

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We have a 6 gallon tank with one betta in it. There are no live
plants..since we moved to a new house we have noticed a rapid growth of
algae in the tank both green and brown furry kind. We have made sure
the tank is getting no direct sunlight. I think the water here is just
a lot more healthy than at our old house. We were thinking of a snail.
What do you think?

[Daniel Morrow]

A big snail (apple?) or 2 would be good.
> wrote in message
ups.com...
> We have a 6 gallon tank with one betta in it. There are no live
> plants..since we moved to a new house we have noticed a rapid growth of
> algae in the tank both green and brown furry kind. We have made sure
> the tank is getting no direct sunlight. I think the water here is just
> a lot more healthy than at our old house. We were thinking of a snail.
> What do you think?
>

[Larry]

On 8 May 2005 16:46:02 -0700, wrote:

>We have a 6 gallon tank with one betta in it. There are no live
>plants..since we moved to a new house we have noticed a rapid growth of
>algae in the tank both green and brown furry kind. We have made sure
>the tank is getting no direct sunlight. I think the water here is just
>a lot more healthy than at our old house. We were thinking of a snail.
> What do you think?

Hi I have a 3g with a abeta and a few otos. They are doing a
reasonable job. Snail might work well also (depending what type)

Larry

[Dick]

On 8 May 2005 16:46:02 -0700, wrote:

>We have a 6 gallon tank with one betta in it. There are no live
>plants..since we moved to a new house we have noticed a rapid growth of
>algae in the tank both green and brown furry kind. We have made sure
>the tank is getting no direct sunlight. I think the water here is just
>a lot more healthy than at our old house. We were thinking of a snail.
> What do you think?

I would reconsider my feeding routine, also hours of light, both
influence algae growth. I find the fewer fish I have in a tank, the
harder it is to not over feed.

You could add some plants to help absorb the excess nutrients. I
weight low light plants with lead weights in my 10 gallon "hospital"
tank and several species do fine.

If you get the right snails, they can make your tank more interesting
and help fight algae, but get the wrong species and your tank can be
over run with snails. I have both and like to find the larger ones,
but I have one tank that seems to blossom with small snails from time
to time. Not only do they blanet the glass, they leave a brown
residue on the surface of the gravel (I don't know if it is waste or
eggs).

I have one 10 gallon tank that is not in direct sunlight, but does get
indirect sunlight. It always has brown algae on the glass. I have a
Siames Algae Eater in the tank, but I never see him skim the glass, I
guess he is satsified with the flake food. I also have another 10
gallon tank in my utility room, again no direct sunlight, but it also
has brown algae. My 3 other larger tanks have minor green spots of
algae on the glass, but no brown. Those 3 get no sunlight at all.

dick

[Ray Martini]

Ottos are a great algae eater. The common Algae Eaters they sell at the LFS
(CAE's) grow bigger and become aggressive.


> wrote in message
ups.com...
> We have a 6 gallon tank with one betta in it. There are no live
> plants..since we moved to a new house we have noticed a rapid growth of
> algae in the tank both green and brown furry kind. We have made sure
> the tank is getting no direct sunlight. I think the water here is just
> a lot more healthy than at our old house. We were thinking of a snail.
> What do you think?
>

[Dick]

On Mon, 9 May 2005 09:35:13 -0400, "Ray Martini"
> wrote:

>Ottos are a great algae eater. The common Algae Eaters they sell at the LFS
>(CAE's) grow bigger and become aggressive.
>
>
> wrote in message
ups.com...
>> We have a 6 gallon tank with one betta in it. There are no live
>> plants..since we moved to a new house we have noticed a rapid growth of
>> algae in the tank both green and brown furry kind. We have made sure
>> the tank is getting no direct sunlight. I think the water here is just
>> a lot more healthy than at our old house. We were thinking of a snail.
>> What do you think?
>>
>

I have a total of 15 real Siamese Algae Eaters, far from being
aggressive mine are the spirit of cooperation and gentleness.
Sometimes I put algae wafers into my tanks, most of the fish are
attracted, but as large as the SAEs are (about 5 inches) I have never
seen one push others away. In contrast I have seen a Pleco of similar
size actually hog an area and chase others away.

I understand the "false" SAEs (the black stripe stops short of the
tail) are aggressive.

dick