Another algae question

[Suzie-Q]

So I took my big ol' pleco out of the 2.5 gallon tank and put him in the
10 gallon tank. He's doing well, I guess. Hard to tell because he spends
all his time inside the fake tree stump! :-(

Now I'm getting algae in my 2.5 gallon tanks. Each holds one female betta.

I'm wondering about those chemicals(s) that are sold at Wal-Mart that
supposedly remove algae from the tanks. How do you experienced fish
keepers feel about this solution? And how do they work? Are they added
to the water while the fish are in the tank or must the fish be removed,
or what? (I'm sure the bottle will have instructions. I'm just curious
for now.)

Mostly I'd like your opinions: are they effective? are they safe?

Plecos and other algae eaters seem to get too big for the 2.5 gallon
tanks, and snails seem to be bad news due to their ability to reproduce
faster than rabbits.

Is there anything else I could get that would "eat" the algae?

I already have a live plant in one of the tanks and still have an algae
problem.

Thanks in advance for your responses.
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Gill Passman]

Suzie-Q wrote:
> So I took my big ol' pleco out of the 2.5 gallon tank and put him in the
> 10 gallon tank. He's doing well, I guess. Hard to tell because he spends
> all his time inside the fake tree stump! :-(
>
> Now I'm getting algae in my 2.5 gallon tanks. Each holds one female betta.
>
> I'm wondering about those chemicals(s) that are sold at Wal-Mart that
> supposedly remove algae from the tanks. How do you experienced fish
> keepers feel about this solution? And how do they work? Are they added
> to the water while the fish are in the tank or must the fish be removed,
> or what? (I'm sure the bottle will have instructions. I'm just curious
> for now.)
>
> Mostly I'd like your opinions: are they effective? are they safe?
>
> Plecos and other algae eaters seem to get too big for the 2.5 gallon
> tanks, and snails seem to be bad news due to their ability to reproduce
> faster than rabbits.
>
> Is there anything else I could get that would "eat" the algae?
>
> I already have a live plant in one of the tanks and still have an algae
> problem.
>
> Thanks in advance for your responses.

Have you thought about otos? They are pretty diddy but don't like to be
kept alone....if you do go the oto route I found that they will not eat
anything other than algae so need to be moved once they have done the
clean up...

Gill

[spiral_72]

How about a couple SAE's? I've never owned one, but they seem harmless
enough and supposedly do an excellent job of clean-up...... You'll have
to research the little guys though.

http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

[spiral_72]

Oh, yea.... most locally owned (not Petsmart) fish stores have a
pleco-trade-in program :) Your biggun' for a not so biggun'.

http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

[Gill Passman]

spiral_72 wrote:
> How about a couple SAE's? I've never owned one, but they seem harmless
> enough and supposedly do an excellent job of clean-up...... You'll have
> to research the little guys though.
>
> http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html
>

SAE's grow quite big and would quickly outgrow a 2.5gall tank...it's
also quite difficult to get/identify true SAEs - I have 3, that were
sold to me as SAEs, which are actually Flying Foxes - dinky when I got
them but rapidly grew to between 2-3 inches and very fat :-)...they
sometimes eat algae still but not much of the time. A friend of mine was
sold 3 Flying Foxes that appear to be true SAEs (black marking going
through the tail) - these are around 4 inches and very fat...Both of us
have only had these fish for around 6 months - in both cases they grew
incredibly rapidly...

Gill

[js1]

On 2005-11-15, Gill Passman > wrote:
>
> SAE's grow quite big and would quickly outgrow a 2.5gall tank...it's
> also quite difficult to get/identify true SAEs - I have 3, that were
> sold to me as SAEs, which are actually Flying Foxes - dinky when I got
> them but rapidly grew to between 2-3 inches and very fat :-)...they
> sometimes eat algae still but not much of the time. A friend of mine was
> sold 3 Flying Foxes that appear to be true SAEs (black marking going
> through the tail) - these are around 4 inches and very fat...Both of us
> have only had these fish for around 6 months - in both cases they grew
> incredibly rapidly...
>

http://plantgeek.net/articles/gg_algae_faq/SAE_ID.jpg

http://plantgeek.net/article_viewer.php?id=9

--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

[js1]

On 2005-11-15, Suzie-Q > wrote:
>
> Now I'm getting algae in my 2.5 gallon tanks. Each holds one female betta.
>
> Is there anything else I could get that would "eat" the algae?
>

Pomacea bridgesii is pretty good at eating algae.

http://www.applesnail.net/


--
"I have to decide between two equally frightening options.
If I wanted to do that, I'd vote." --Duckman

[Daniel Morrow]

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Hash: SHA1

Bottom posted.

- --
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"Suzie-Q" > wrote in message
...
> So I took my big ol' pleco out of the 2.5 gallon tank and put him
in the
> 10 gallon tank. He's doing well, I guess. Hard to tell because he
spends
> all his time inside the fake tree stump! :-(
>
> Now I'm getting algae in my 2.5 gallon tanks. Each holds one female
betta.
>
> I'm wondering about those chemicals(s) that are sold at Wal-Mart
that
> supposedly remove algae from the tanks. How do you experienced
fish
> keepers feel about this solution? And how do they work? Are they
added
> to the water while the fish are in the tank or must the fish be
removed,
> or what? (I'm sure the bottle will have instructions. I'm just
curious
> for now.)
>
> Mostly I'd like your opinions: are they effective? are they safe?
>
> Plecos and other algae eaters seem to get too big for the 2.5
gallon
> tanks, and snails seem to be bad news due to their ability to
reproduce
> faster than rabbits.
>
> Is there anything else I could get that would "eat" the algae?
>
> I already have a live plant in one of the tanks and still have an
algae
> problem.
>
> Thanks in advance for your responses.
> --
> 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
> ~~~~~~
> "I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
> today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson
>
> http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
> http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
> http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

At the very least usually you don't have to remove anything from the
tank but that depends when it comes to other types of life forms
other than fish. Some algae destroying water treatments contain
copper which can kill plants and other life forms other than fish
(and I imagine even fish to certain degrees - i.e. some fish) such as
invertebrates like snails and other organisms. If you do use a water
treatment that destroys algae I recommend (haven't used it myself but
my research tends to support it) an expensive bottle of weiss
organics algae magic. Sometimes you get what you pay for. I tried
aquarium pharmaceuticals alga destroyer tabs a long time ago (i.e.
years ago) unnecessarily and it didn't seem to do anything for me
(the algae on the glass stayed there), other than that I have ignored
the small amount of algae I have had and it has gone away
significantly (I have more plants now too), even the silicate diatoms
on the glass from a long time ago when I started up are going away. I
think the right plants can make a big difference in the amount of
algae that will grow and I think tom barr's research supports that.
By the way - feel free to ask your question again at
rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants . Good luck and later!

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[Suzie-Q]

In article . com>,
"spiral_72" > wrote:

-> How about a couple SAE's? I've never owned one, but they seem harmless
-> enough and supposedly do an excellent job of clean-up...... You'll have
-> to research the little guys though.
->
-> http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html


I got something that Wal-Mart called simply an "algae eater." People
on this group identified it as a chinese algae eater, iirc. It is now
about 3.5-4 inches long and is also in the 10-gallon tank. It seemed
very stressed in the 2.5 gallon tank so I moved it.

Is the SAE and my CAE the same thing?
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Gill Passman]

Suzie-Q wrote:
> In article . com>,
> "spiral_72" > wrote:
>
> -> How about a couple SAE's? I've never owned one, but they seem harmless
> -> enough and supposedly do an excellent job of clean-up...... You'll have
> -> to research the little guys though.
> ->
> -> http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html
>
>
> I got something that Wal-Mart called simply an "algae eater." People
> on this group identified it as a chinese algae eater, iirc. It is now
> about 3.5-4 inches long and is also in the 10-gallon tank. It seemed
> very stressed in the 2.5 gallon tank so I moved it.
>
> Is the SAE and my CAE the same thing?

Nope...they are different

Gill

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
Suzie-Q > wrote:

-> In article . com>,
-> "spiral_72" > wrote:
->
-> -> How about a couple SAE's? I've never owned one, but they seem harmless
-> -> enough and supposedly do an excellent job of clean-up...... You'll have
-> -> to research the little guys though.
-> ->
-> -> http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html
->
->
-> I got something that Wal-Mart called simply an "algae eater." People
-> on this group identified it as a chinese algae eater, iirc. It is now
-> about 3.5-4 inches long and is also in the 10-gallon tank. It seemed
-> very stressed in the 2.5 gallon tank so I moved it.
->
-> Is the SAE and my CAE the same thing?

I just answered my own question by visiting one of the referenced web
pages. "Do not confuse this fish [the SAE] with the Chinese Algae Eater,
which is very aggressive and does not eat algae." Mine definitely eats
algae, so it must be a SAE.
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
Gill Passman > wrote:

-> Suzie-Q wrote:
-> > So I took my big ol' pleco out of the 2.5 gallon tank and put him in the
-> > 10 gallon tank. He's doing well, I guess. Hard to tell because he spends
-> > all his time inside the fake tree stump! :-(
-> >
-> > Now I'm getting algae in my 2.5 gallon tanks. Each holds one female betta.
-> >
-> > I'm wondering about those chemicals(s) that are sold at Wal-Mart that
-> > supposedly remove algae from the tanks. How do you experienced fish
-> > keepers feel about this solution? And how do they work? Are they added
-> > to the water while the fish are in the tank or must the fish be removed,
-> > or what? (I'm sure the bottle will have instructions. I'm just curious
-> > for now.)
-> >
-> > Mostly I'd like your opinions: are they effective? are they safe?
-> >
-> > Plecos and other algae eaters seem to get too big for the 2.5 gallon
-> > tanks, and snails seem to be bad news due to their ability to reproduce
-> > faster than rabbits.
-> >
-> > Is there anything else I could get that would "eat" the algae?
-> >
-> > I already have a live plant in one of the tanks and still have an algae
-> > problem.
-> >
-> > Thanks in advance for your responses.
->
-> Have you thought about otos? They are pretty diddy but don't like to be
-> kept alone....if you do go the oto route I found that they will not eat
-> anything other than algae so need to be moved once they have done the
-> clean up...

I just read something that said one oto per 10 gallons. I need something
for a 2.5 gallon tank.
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Empty]

On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 16:28:05 +0000, Suzie-Q wrote:

> I just answered my own question by visiting one of the referenced web
> pages. "Do not confuse this fish [the SAE] with the Chinese Algae Eater,
> which is very aggressive and does not eat algae." Mine definitely eats
> algae, so it must be a SAE.

Look at pictures of both. I'd bet $50 you did not get an SAE from
wal-mart. The SAE and CAE look completely different.

CAEs do eat some algae at first, but as they get older their preferred
snack becomes slime coat from other fishes. They also get territorial.
Also, for what it's worth, a 4" CAE is way too much fish for a 2.5 g in
the first place.

~Empty

[Gail Futoran]

"Suzie-Q" > wrote
[snip]
> I just read something that said one oto per 10 gallons. I need something
> for a 2.5 gallon tank.
> --
> 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)

I don't know where you read the advice about
one oto per 10 gallons but I do not believe it
is correct.

I have 3 or 4 otos in a heavily planted 10 gallon
tank with 3 skunk botia. They are healthy and
fat. I have at least that many in my other,
somewhat larger tanks (20 & 30 gallons).

You could probably have 2 otos in a 2.5
gallon tank as long as you don't have a bunch
of other fish. A small tank can't handle many
fish.

Otos can be very fragile - until they live
long enough to be hardy! I know that
sounds weird but it's how it works with Otos.

BTW snails can work on algae. I have a
6 gallon quarantine tank with just a few plants
and some snails. The snails keep the tank
sides clean.

Gail

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
"Gail Futoran" > wrote:

-> "Suzie-Q" > wrote
-> [snip]
-> > I just read something that said one oto per 10 gallons. I need something
-> > for a 2.5 gallon tank.
-> > --
-> > 8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
->
-> I don't know where you read the advice about
-> one oto per 10 gallons but I do not believe it
-> is correct.
->
-> I have 3 or 4 otos in a heavily planted 10 gallon
-> tank with 3 skunk botia. They are healthy and
-> fat. I have at least that many in my other,
-> somewhat larger tanks (20 & 30 gallons).
->
-> You could probably have 2 otos in a 2.5
-> gallon tank as long as you don't have a bunch
-> of other fish. A small tank can't handle many
-> fish.

Each 2.5 gallon tank has one female betta.

-> Otos can be very fragile - until they live
-> long enough to be hardy! I know that
-> sounds weird but it's how it works with Otos.
->
-> BTW snails can work on algae. I have a
-> 6 gallon quarantine tank with just a few plants
-> and some snails. The snails keep the tank
-> sides clean.

--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
Empty > wrote:

-> On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 16:28:05 +0000, Suzie-Q wrote:
->
-> > I just answered my own question by visiting one of the referenced web
-> > pages. "Do not confuse this fish [the SAE] with the Chinese Algae Eater,
-> > which is very aggressive and does not eat algae." Mine definitely eats
-> > algae, so it must be a SAE.
->
-> Look at pictures of both. I'd bet $50 you did not get an SAE from
-> wal-mart. The SAE and CAE look completely different.
->
-> CAEs do eat some algae at first, but as they get older their preferred
-> snack becomes slime coat from other fishes. They also get territorial.
-> Also, for what it's worth, a 4" CAE is way too much fish for a 2.5 g in
-> the first place.

Well, of course, it wasn't 4" to begin with! And I did move
it to the 10 gallon tank.

I'll repost the photo and let you look at it. URL will be in
a different message.
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/

[Suzie-Q]

In article >,
Suzie-Q > wrote:

-> In article >,
-> Empty > wrote:
->
-> -> On Wed, 16 Nov 2005 16:28:05 +0000, Suzie-Q wrote:
-> ->
-> -> > I just answered my own question by visiting one of the referenced web
-> -> > pages. "Do not confuse this fish [the SAE] with the Chinese Algae Eater,
-> -> > which is very aggressive and does not eat algae." Mine definitely eats
-> -> > algae, so it must be a SAE.
-> ->
-> -> Look at pictures of both. I'd bet $50 you did not get an SAE from
-> -> wal-mart. The SAE and CAE look completely different.
-> ->
-> -> CAEs do eat some algae at first, but as they get older their preferred
-> -> snack becomes slime coat from other fishes. They also get territorial.
-> -> Also, for what it's worth, a 4" CAE is way too much fish for a 2.5 g in
-> -> the first place.
->
-> Well, of course, it wasn't 4" to begin with! And I did move
-> it to the 10 gallon tank.
->
-> I'll repost the photo and let you look at it. URL will be in
-> a different message.

Here are photos of my algae eater:
http://www.intergnat.com/algae_eater/
--
8^)~~~ Sue (remove the x to e-mail)
~~~~~~
"I reserve the absolute right to be smarter
today than I was yesterday." -Adlai Stevenson

http://www.suzanne-eckhardt.com/
http://www.intergnat.com/malebashing/
http://www.intergnat.com/pussygames/