Re: How many SAEs for a 150 tank?

[Dan J.S.]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
> I purchased 3 SAEs (that's all that my LFS had). Do I need more? I also
have
> 5 Chinese Algea Eaters.

Since no one is biting, let me rephrase. I would like to know if 3 SAEs
(siamese algea eaters) are enough to keep a 150 gallon tank, algae free. I
also have 5 chinese algae eaters, but they don't do much except harass other
fish. Anyone know?

Dan

[Pierre-Normand Houle]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message ...
>
> "Dan J.S." > wrote in message
> ...
> > I purchased 3 SAEs (that's all that my LFS had). Do I need more? I also
> have
> > 5 Chinese Algea Eaters.
>
> Since no one is biting, let me rephrase. I would like to know if 3 SAEs
> (siamese algea eaters) are enough to keep a 150 gallon tank, algae free. I
> also have 5 chinese algae eaters, but they don't do much except harass other
> fish. Anyone know?
>
> Dan

I have three SAEs in a 33 gallon tank. They barely keep up. However they are barely
1.75 inch long right now. When they get to three inch long, and more, three SAEs
ought to be enough to keep algae in check in a 150 gallon. However, something like
five wouldn't be to many, and would allow them to school better, as they are
schooling fish. Regarding your CAEs, they will be more efficient when you provide
them with little chopsticks.

[NetMax]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dan J.S." > wrote in message
> ...
> > I purchased 3 SAEs (that's all that my LFS had). Do I need more? I
also
> have
> > 5 Chinese Algea Eaters.
>
> Since no one is biting, let me rephrase. I would like to know if 3 SAEs
> (siamese algea eaters) are enough to keep a 150 gallon tank, algae
free. I
> also have 5 chinese algae eaters, but they don't do much except harass
other
> fish. Anyone know?
>
> Dan

Your question is too open-ended. I've seen large mature tanks which are
almost completely algae free (not uncommon for well planted tanks), and
I've seen algae farm tanks sitting in direct southern exposure. Your 3
SAEs would not starve in the first, and would not be of any significance
in the 2nd.

In a 150g, perhaps you should consider some diversity (no algae eater
eats every type of algae, and they all have their preferences). Other
algae eaters of consideration are (to just name a few) mollies, shrimps,
snails, otos, flying fox and the various pleco (bristlenose being a
favourite of mine). Which to employ will depend on the type of algae to
have (and you almost always have the type of algae that no fish in there
wants, or you would not have it ;~). With a large tank, it's good to
have more than one species on your clean up crew (diversity = greater
stability, the beauty of big tanks).

NetMax

[Mike Noren]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message >...

> > I purchased 3 SAEs (that's all that my LFS had). Do I need more? I also
> have
> > 5 Chinese Algea Eaters.
>
> Since no one is biting, let me rephrase. I would like to know if 3 SAEs
> (siamese algea eaters) are enough to keep a 150 gallon tank, algae free. I
> also have 5 chinese algae eaters, but they don't do much except harass other
> fish. Anyone know?

I do not believe any algae eater can keep any tank algae free if
there's excess nutrients. You have to start by limiting nutrients (by
having fast growing plants, regular water changes, and not
overfeeding), THEN algae-eaters may be able to suppress algal growth.

That said, 3 SAE's in an 150 gallon sounds very low to me. I think I'd
have at least 5, if not 10 - that'd also help diffuse aggression
within the group ('cause even though they are social they *are* also
aggressive towards eachother - they chase eachother A LOT, often
resulting in the chased fish jumping out). With just 3 SAE's you're
pretty much guaranteed to end up with just the biggest one, and the
two smaller ones dead on the carpet. And yes, I'm talking about true
SAE's here, not flying foxes or false siamensis.

If I were you I'd also remove the CAE's. As you've noticed, the main
occupation of adult CAE's is harassing, and not rarely killing, other
fish. I strongly suspect they'll not go well together with SAE's,
being quite similar in shape, and the CAE's will win any such
confrontation.

You needn't worry about the SAE's running out of algae and starving -
they will enthusiastically eat any ordinary fish food, and much prefer
it to algae, so if you overfeed your SAE's wont do much algae-eating.
Conversely, a week without feeding will make your SAE's renew their
algae-eating efforts.

From personal experience I can also say that SAE's tend to bully
Otocinclus, presumably due to the similarity in shape and markings.
Also, SAE's are pathologically hyperactive, to the point that they may
drive both more timid fish and the aquarist nuts.

All in all SAE's are probably the best and safest algae-eaters you can
buy, but they *do* have their downsides.

Another poster suggested using several different types of algae
eaters, and I second the motion. Shrimp, snails, Garra, SAE's,
Otocinclus, Ancistrus... They all have their relative strengths and
weaknesses.

[Donald Kerns]

Mike Noren wrote:

> From personal experience I can also say that SAE's tend to bully
> Otocinclus, presumably due to the similarity in shape and markings.

Hm...

My otos are 1 - 1.25 inches. My SAE's are like 3 inches by now. Huge
thick guys. Not the little 1.5 inch slips of fish that I first bought.

I haven't seen bullying, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen.

-Donald
--
"When you've lost your ability to laugh, you've lost your ability to
think straight." -To Inherit the Wind

[Jak Crow]

On 26 Jul 2003 03:42:04 -0700, (Mike Noren)
wrote:

>"Dan J.S." > wrote in message >...
>
>Another poster suggested using several different types of algae
>eaters, and I second the motion. Shrimp, snails, Garra, SAE's,
>Otocinclus, Ancistrus... They all have their relative strengths and
>weaknesses.


Interesting. Why do you suggest a garra?