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View Full Version : Best algae eaters for breeding/rearing tank & what eats hair algae?


Mike Noren
September 7th 03, 10:51 AM
I *know* this has been asked many times before, but I can't find any
articles on google.

Anway, what's the suggested algae eaters for breeding/rearing tanks?

I was thinking amano-shrimp, various snails, and otos. I know they all
eat eggs if they find them, but my main concern is that they're safe
with newly hatched, horribly small, fry. They should be, right?


Secondly, what, in this whole wide world, eats hair algae?

My breeding/rearing tank is very densely planted, and I'm having
increasing problems with what I suspect is cladophora: very long very
fine filamentous algae which aren't attached to anything but entangles
everything. In parts its like a green mist in the aquarium!

I've come to realize that neither amanos or otos or SAE's touch it at
all (they even get stuck in the vile stuff!). My snails and platies
eat it, but not enough to make a difference.

Surely there must be SOMETHING SOMEWHERE which eats this? I don't mind
if the animal in question also eats some aquarium plants, as long as
it properly punishes these darn algae!
How about the notorious plant eaters, like buenos aires tetras? Large
pond snails & apple snails? Will they eat it, or will they just eat
the plants and leave the algae?

What about chemicals? Will any of the 'algae killers' actually kill
these algae without also killing my plants?

levittd
September 7th 03, 11:41 PM
"Mike Noren" > wrote in message
om...

> Secondly, what, in this whole wide world, eats hair algae?
>
Does the tank get any direct sunlight? If so, blind the window or move the
tank and it will probably die off. Worked for me, but ymmv.
levittd