When do we need to have an algea eater? And what type are the best?

[Christy84065]

When do we need to have an algea eater? And what type are the best?

[Toni]

"Christy84065" > wrote in message
om...
> When do we need to have an algea eater? And what type are the best?




What type of algae are you seeing, what size tank will he be going into, and
what tankmates will he be living among??


--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/discus.htm

[Dick]

On 10 Jun 2004 23:37:25 -0700,
(Christy84065) wrote:

>When do we need to have an algea eater? And what type are the best?

Too little information about tank size, other fish, lighting, etc. It
may seem a simple question to you, but the possibilities are great and
don't always work out as planned. Fish do not always live up to their
billing. Scavengers are interesting just as fish. I got mine to take
care of algae, but now enjoy them just to look at.

dick

[nuchumYussel]

I personally would not et an algae eater until large amounts of algae
appear. If this happens, most fish stores bill alot of fish as "algae
eaters" but they aren't. Plecos for example are billed as algae
eaters, but, IMO, they are more scavengers than algae eaters. I
personally would recommend an otocinclus (don't know if spelling is
correc). Keep in mind, while plecos are cute and small when young,
they get to huge lengthes and sizes.


Good luck,
Evan Davis

[Christy84065]

What type of algae are you seeing?

You know I have not seen any algae. I was wondering if this is a
standard thing to have an algea eater in the tank.


What size tank will he be going into?

I am not a huge hobbyist yet, I am kinda experimenting for now, not
wanting to spend too much money (which I think that plan is not
working) so my tank is a measly 10g

what tankmates will he be living among??
So far I have guppies and one pleco.

Too little information about tank size, other fish, lighting, etc.
lighting is the standard light that come with most tanks...?

[Dick]

On 11 Jun 2004 07:18:28 -0700, (nuchumYussel) wrote:

>I personally would not et an algae eater until large amounts of algae
>appear. If this happens, most fish stores bill alot of fish as "algae
>eaters" but they aren't. Plecos for example are billed as algae
>eaters, but, IMO, they are more scavengers than algae eaters. I
>personally would recommend an otocinclus (don't know if spelling is
>correc). Keep in mind, while plecos are cute and small when young,
>they get to huge lengthes and sizes.
>
>
>Good luck,
> Evan Davis

I keep reading about the growth problem. I have 4 marble plecos.
They are 3 to 4 inches and are about 2 years of age. I have had
plecos in earlier tank ownership and never was cautioned by LFS of the
size problem. I also have 20 Clown Loaches in 4 tanks ranging from 10
gallons to 75. I just don't see the growth that would seem to be
expected for the huge sizes to happen. Once I received a plecos that
was already about 6 inches via the internet. That one did concern me.
I really didn't know what to do. To make matters worse he was fun to
watch. My ineptness solved the problem. Those were the days I was
trying to lower the tank's pH and I over did it, the tank went acid
and I lost a number of fish including this wonderful, but large pleco.
My tanks now live better without chemistry, but that is another story.

Is it possible that young plecos don't grow to some defined species
size if raised in small tanks or if the diet is less nutritional? I
feed only flake food. My plecos are very colorful and active, so I
am satisfied that they are healthy, but could they be stunted by their
environment? The same question for the Clowns.

dick

[Dick]

On 11 Jun 2004 21:56:24 -0700,
(Christy84065) wrote:

>What type of algae are you seeing?
>
>You know I have not seen any algae. I was wondering if this is a
>standard thing to have an algea eater in the tank.
>
>
>What size tank will he be going into?
>
>I am not a huge hobbyist yet, I am kinda experimenting for now, not
>wanting to spend too much money (which I think that plan is not
>working) so my tank is a measly 10g
>
>what tankmates will he be living among??
>So far I have guppies and one pleco.
>
>Too little information about tank size, other fish, lighting, etc.
>lighting is the standard light that come with most tanks...?

I like your philosophy sometimes refered to as "KISS", keep it simple
stupid. I have 3 10 gallon tanks and know them to be a challenge
compared to my larger tanks. One is my quarantine tank and has no
gravel, but I keep some plants in it weighted with lead strips. It
gives the walking wounded a place to hide out, but are moveable to
make catching easier. It has a low population, but it still gets
brown alge.

You are doing something right if you have no algae. Especially with
guppies. I think of them eating heavilly and discharging lots of
waste which in turn would promote lots of plant growth including
algaes. Perhaps you have found a good balance. What lighting, hours
on and intensity (watts).

I have had major algae problems in the past, so am envious. Only by
major changes in plants, fish varieties, light control, and more
careful feeding have I reached a liveable level of algae. I still
clean green dots off the glass every month or so.

Do count your blessings and share what you can.

dick

[nuchumYussel]

The PLeco is going to get far far too big for the 10g. I would
reccomend some type of small otocinclus.

Evan Davis

[NetMax]

"Dick" > wrote in message
...
> On 11 Jun 2004 07:18:28 -0700, (nuchumYussel) wrote:
>
<snip>
> Is it possible that young plecos don't grow to some defined species
> size if raised in small tanks or if the diet is less nutritional? I
> feed only flake food. My plecos are very colorful and active, so I
> am satisfied that they are healthy, but could they be stunted by their
> environment? The same question for the Clowns.
>
> dick

There is a general consensus amongst fish farmers that water quality is
the most influential variable in growth. After water quality, in a
tighter pack are : number of daily feedings, size of feedings, menu,
water temperature and total water volume. I can't recall the order of
importance on the last 5 items, though water volume was low on the list.
To imagine this, if you connected hoses to a 5g tank so the water was
continuously being changed, you would eventually end up with a square
Oscar pressed against the sides. I've seen fish so large (compared to
their tank) that their length prevented them from feeding off of the
surface. They were otherwise healthy (a miserable life to be sure) as
their water was religiously changed.

There has been some research on what is the constraining factor to growth
with poor water quality (which is typically found in smaller tanks, hence
the association with the incorrect belief that they grow to their
environment). The most plausible theory I've heard is that they emit
hormones which are read back. When the concentrations are high, in
nature, this could indicate a high fish-load (or a reduction in the
volume of water) and then a probably reduced food supply, so the proper
action would be to stay small (high hormones then reduce growth rates).
If the hormones read back are low, in nature, this would indicate a low
fish-load, (or an expanding body of water) and high food supply, so they
would grow larger faster to take advantage of the situation.

This hormone detection is probably further tuned to the type of fish, so
that a species which had a different diet would not have the same effect
on growth rate inhibition. It's also a factor with competing species
(ever notice that when some fish spawn in a tank, all of a sudden, lots
of others in the same tank start spawning?). They might all share the
same food supply, you ;~) Symptomatically, it seems to make sense, but
as to the exact clockwork mechanisms at work, I think that we're still
learning.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Christy84065]

I am responding to some questions here...

POST: You are doing something right if you have no algae. Especially
with
guppies.

REPLY: I am doing almost daily water changes even with a filter.
maybe that is keeping the algae down?!?

POST: What lighting, hours on and intensity (watts).
I turn the light on in the morning at about 10am and don't turn it off
till I get home from work at 1 am. And the watts I am not sure...

[Dick]

On 12 Jun 2004 20:30:06 -0700,
(Christy84065) wrote:

>I am responding to some questions here...
>
>POST: You are doing something right if you have no algae. Especially
>with
>guppies.
>
>REPLY: I am doing almost daily water changes even with a filter.
>maybe that is keeping the algae down?!?
>
>POST: What lighting, hours on and intensity (watts).
>I turn the light on in the morning at about 10am and don't turn it off
>till I get home from work at 1 am. And the watts I am not sure...

Lucky you especially with 15 hours of light. Watts are usually listed
at one end of the bulb or the bulb name will include a number which is
the wattage.

How much of the water do you change?

I am constantly amazed at how much different we all our in our methods
and yet end up with good results.

From the hours away from home I gather you are very busy. Quite a
dedication to do the daily water change. I feel dedicated to do my
weekly changes, some have posted, in a bragging tone, doing changes
once a month.

dick

[Christy84065]

> Lucky you especially with 15 hours of light. Watts are usually listed
> at one end of the bulb or the bulb name will include a number which is
> the wattage.


Christy84065: So, alot of light time for the fish is a good thing?
Still do not know the wattage, will find out when I get home from
work.


>
> How much of the water do you change?
>

Christy84065: I change about 20% ad suck up all the crap from the
bottom, my pleco is a champ pooper!


> I am constantly amazed at how much different we all our in our methods
> and yet end up with good results.

Christy84065: I hear you here...I am always worried that I may be
doing something wrong...that I might hurt my fish...and I get so much
info here that I hope to be able to help people with what I learn
someday, but now I feel so green!

>
> From the hours away from home I gather you are very busy. Quite a
> dedication to do the daily water change. I feel dedicated to do my
> weekly changes, some have posted, in a bragging tone, doing changes
> once a month.
>
> dick

Christy84065: I wake up with my boys at 10am feed the fishies, and
turn their light on so I get to see the beautiful creatures do their
thing as we do our daily thing and look for any new aditions (I am
hoping for babies). And then about 3pm I leave for work and don't get
till actually about 2 am. It is usually then that I do the water
changes it helps me relax and it gives me a chance to look for new
additions. I have been doing such aggressive water changes to keep
nitrites and nitrates down.

[Dick]

On 14 Jun 2004 17:56:16 -0700,
(Christy84065) wrote:

>> Lucky you especially with 15 hours of light. Watts are usually listed
>> at one end of the bulb or the bulb name will include a number which is
>> the wattage.
>
>
>Christy84065: So, alot of light time for the fish is a good thing?
>Still do not know the wattage, will find out when I get home from
>work.
>
Long light time encourages plant growth. Thus algae growth, not good.
I have my tank lights on a timer and keep the on time to 13 hours
daily. Fish do sleep. I don't think keeping lights on good. I have
noticed the level of activity in my tanks goes way down as the shut
off time approaches.
>
>>
>> How much of the water do you change?
>>
>
>Christy84065: I change about 20% ad suck up all the crap from the
>bottom, my pleco is a champ pooper!

I have three plecos in my 75 gallon tank part of the 60 fish in it.
I never have any waste material on the bottom. In other threads I
have wondered about the need to vacuum waste from the bottom. I
wonder if you are over feeding? I always worry about that. happening.
>
>
>> I am constantly amazed at how much different we all our in our methods
>> and yet end up with good results.
>
>Christy84065: I hear you here...I am always worried that I may be
>doing something wrong...that I might hurt my fish...and I get so much
>info here that I hope to be able to help people with what I learn
>someday, but now I feel so green!

I don't know about helping, but I do like to share my experiences and
hope some may be of interest/help. It is hard to know what is good,
let alone best. I do know I am happy with my tanks and the fish are
active and colorful and the plants keep growing with good foliage.
But, others using other methods have the same. I think keeping fish
has to become right for you, the time available, the makeup of your
tank and the tap water conditions. I monitor these newsgroups daily
both to give and learn.

>
>>
>> From the hours away from home I gather you are very busy. Quite a
>> dedication to do the daily water change. I feel dedicated to do my
>> weekly changes, some have posted, in a bragging tone, doing changes
>> once a month.
>>
>> dick
>
>Christy84065: I wake up with my boys at 10am feed the fishies, and
>turn their light on so I get to see the beautiful creatures do their
>thing as we do our daily thing and look for any new aditions (I am
>hoping for babies). And then about 3pm I leave for work and don't get
>till actually about 2 am. It is usually then that I do the water
>changes it helps me relax and it gives me a chance to look for new
>additions. I have been doing such aggressive water changes to keep
>nitrites and nitrates down.

Apparently your methods are working. I agree it is hard to relax and
accept that all is well. Just when I am feeling good about my tank,
somebody says I am not doing it right and will experience problems in
the future called "Old Tank Syndrome." Not really sure what this
amounts to, but I will just handle that as I have all the earlier
problems.

You certainly have a full life, I can't imagine how you stay so
cheerful, some would feel burdened. You remind me of short poem:
"My candle burns at both ends, it will not last the night, but oh my
friends and ah my foes it gives a lovely light."

dick

[Geezer From The Freezer]

a 10am til 2am light time is not a problem. I am surprised there isn't
more algae growth maybe the 20% daily change is helping to combat that.