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#1
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
What's a good combination for algae removal? I have a 15 gal tank with three
otocinclus. Every week I barely have to clean the glass. Plecos are good glass cleaners and sometimes when they are small the do some good algae eating...but I heard when they grow larger their diet changes and they start eating plants. Of course, in my experience with them a few years back I know after they grow larger they start getting lazy and they bumble about messing everything up. I've heard of and seen the neat looking bristlenose pleco. Does it stay really nice and small and clean things up without eating plants etc.?? As far as I can remember those things are really expensive at the LFS ($45CAN). What about siamese algae eaters? A few years ago I had been burned by a few that I now believe were Chinese algae eaters and all they did was chase fish around and pretend to clean algae. Are SAEs totally non-agressive like otos are? For a 15 gal tank, do they stay nice and small like otos? I don't like to overpopulate my tank with algae eaters and force the more decorative fish out. Right now I have 3 otocinclus, 2 bronze cats, and a betta. I have ordered 5 dwarf neon rainbows from a breeder and they will be added in the next month or so. Any room for more fish ?? Any opinions? THANX!! |
#2
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
What about siamese algae eaters? A few years ago I had been burned by a few that I now believe were Chinese algae eaters and all they did was chase fish around and pretend to clean algae. Are SAEs totally non-agressive like otos are? For a 15 gal tank, do they stay nice and small like otos? I don't like to overpopulate my tank with algae eaters and force the more decorative fish out. SAE are absolutely great fish to have. Besides the fact that they do unbelieavable job on cleaning the plants, they are very beautiful schooling fish that is very peacefull and playfull. When I saw them first in LFS, they didn't impress me at all. But when I've put them in the tank, they just turn out to be so decorative fish. Great fish to have. I'm even thinking to set up a tank just for them. Great fish. Make sure you buy a true SAE, as they are hard to find in the US. |
#3
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
I would forget about the pleco for the reasons you have already stated, and
since you already have otos - they both eat the same types of algae - and 3 is plenty for a 15g. SAEs are almost a must for planted tanks. True SAEs are good for filamentous (hair-type) algaes, but not necessarily the other types of algae. They grow fairly slowly, but eventually will out-grow a 15g; you could keep one in there for awhile. They are also fairly peaceful, but I have noticed my single one chase other fish at feeding time. A pair might possibly be less aggressive. The combination of otos and SAEs should be perfect. Maybe an Amano shrimp, too! Jody "Dave M. Picklyk" wrote in message . .. What's a good combination for algae removal? I have a 15 gal tank with three otocinclus. Every week I barely have to clean the glass. Plecos are good glass cleaners and sometimes when they are small the do some good algae eating...but I heard when they grow larger their diet changes and they start eating plants. Of course, in my experience with them a few years back I know after they grow larger they start getting lazy and they bumble about messing everything up. I've heard of and seen the neat looking bristlenose pleco. Does it stay really nice and small and clean things up without eating plants etc.?? As far as I can remember those things are really expensive at the LFS ($45CAN). What about siamese algae eaters? A few years ago I had been burned by a few that I now believe were Chinese algae eaters and all they did was chase fish around and pretend to clean algae. Are SAEs totally non-agressive like otos are? For a 15 gal tank, do they stay nice and small like otos? I don't like to overpopulate my tank with algae eaters and force the more decorative fish out. Right now I have 3 otocinclus, 2 bronze cats, and a betta. I have ordered 5 dwarf neon rainbows from a breeder and they will be added in the next month or so. Any room for more fish ?? Any opinions? THANX!! |
#4
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
Dave M. Picklyk wrote:
What's a good combination for algae removal? I have a 15 gal tank with three otocinclus. Every week I barely have to clean the glass. snip around and pretend to clean algae. Are SAEs totally non-agressive like otos are? For a 15 gal tank, do they stay nice and small like otos? I don't like SAEs are non aggresive, but they get too large for your tank size. Right now I have 3 otocinclus, 2 bronze cats, and a betta. I have ordered 5 dwarf neon rainbows from a breeder and they will be added in the next month or so. Any room for more fish ?? I'm afraid you've reached the limit for your tank. You could try getting some amano shrimp, they eat the same type of algae SAEs do. -- Victor M. Martinez http://www.che.utexas.edu/~martiv |
#5
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
On Sat, 18 Jan 2003 04:45:24 GMT, "Dave M. Picklyk"
wrote: Right now I have 3 otocinclus, 2 bronze cats, and a betta. I have ordered 5 dwarf neon rainbows from a breeder and they will be added in the next month or so. Any room for more fish ?? Rainbows, even the dwarf neons, need more room than that. Rainbows are very active and fast moving, and a school of 5 will be cramped in a 15g tank. The neon rainbows get about 2-3 inches long, and rainbows are large bodied fish. If your breeder is like most, the rainbows will be pretty small when you get them, and rainbows mature very slowly, which means you will have a little while before they are too crowded. Chuck Gadd http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua |
#6
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
On Sat, 18 Jan 2003 09:37:55 -0500, "Bruce Geist"
wrote: Don't get plecos or Farlowellas (stick fish). I have one Pleco in my tank now that is knawing holes in all my broad-leaf plants. No problem here with my farlowellas. Chuck Gadd http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua |
#7
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
Xref: 127.0.0.1 rec.aquaria.freshwater.plants:68384
Ive read that you need at least 5 SAE's for them to be happy, otherwise they chase the other fish.... Is this true? Dustin "Bruce Geist" wrote in message ... Don't get plecos or Farlowellas (stick fish). I have one Pleco in my tank now that is knawing holes in all my broad-leaf plants. SAEs are wonderful fish. As you found out, it is important to know how to identify them. This fish is easily confused with other fish.. Fins should be clear, stripe on the body should extend all the way through the tail. See http://www.thekrib.com/Fish/Algae-Eaters/ for more information. They are the only fish known to eat red algae. IME, SAEs will get to 4 or 5 inches in a matter of 6 to 8 months. They may well get too big for a 15 gallon tank. You could get two or three SAEs, then upgrade to a bigger tank in a few months! Otherwise, maybe you should stick with Ottos. -Bruce Geist "Dave M. Picklyk" wrote in message . .. What's a good combination for algae removal? I have a 15 gal tank with three otocinclus. Every week I barely have to clean the glass. Plecos are good glass cleaners and sometimes when they are small the do some good algae eating...but I heard when they grow larger their diet changes and they start eating plants. Of course, in my experience with them a few years back I know after they grow larger they start getting lazy and they bumble about messing everything up. I've heard of and seen the neat looking bristlenose pleco. Does it stay really nice and small and clean things up without eating plants etc.?? As far as I can remember those things are really expensive at the LFS ($45CAN). What about siamese algae eaters? A few years ago I had been burned by a few that I now believe were Chinese algae eaters and all they did was chase fish around and pretend to clean algae. Are SAEs totally non-agressive like otos are? For a 15 gal tank, do they stay nice and small like otos? I don't like to overpopulate my tank with algae eaters and force the more decorative fish out. Right now I have 3 otocinclus, 2 bronze cats, and a betta. I have ordered 5 dwarf neon rainbows from a breeder and they will be added in the next month or so. Any room for more fish ?? Any opinions? THANX!! |
#8
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
"Dustin" wrote in message ... Ive read that you need at least 5 SAE's for them to be happy, otherwise they chase the other fish.... Is this true? I can hardly imagine my SAEs to chase other fish. They hardly chase each other. So peacefull fish. May be that was about false SAE or CAE? But for me it looks stupid even to keep the latter two in schools, they are too agressive. |
#9
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
On Sat, 18 Jan 2003 15:08:23 -0800, "Dustin"
wrote: Ive read that you need at least 5 SAE's for them to be happy, otherwise they chase the other fish.... Is this true? I had a pair of SAEs in my 29g, no problems. They occasionally tried to swim with other fish, but didn't chase or hurt the other fish. Even in my 75g with 5 saes, they occasionally swim around with other fish. Chuck Gadd http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua |
#10
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
I have been keeping a single SAE in my 20H for a few years now - I've had to
trade-in adults for juvies a couple of times - and once they get over about 2 inches they become a *little* aggressive at meal time. They are just busy and active the rest of the day, but again, a little aggressive when they are fed. They basically chase off the other fish in order to get some food. Maybe I should grow more algae for them to eat ; ) And trust me, these are true SAE. Still, these are great fish for planted tanks. Just be prepared to do some damage when you try to catch them; catching an SAE in a heavily planted tank is an adventure - they are very fast! Jody "Anton Valouev" wrote in message ... "Dustin" wrote in message ... Ive read that you need at least 5 SAE's for them to be happy, otherwise they chase the other fish.... Is this true? I can hardly imagine my SAEs to chase other fish. They hardly chase each other. So peacefull fish. May be that was about false SAE or CAE? But for me it looks stupid even to keep the latter two in schools, they are too agressive. |
#11
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
I would get 1 or 2 brigesi snails, they are by far the best algae and
leftover food eaters. I keep SAEs, ottos, and different kinds of snails. The snails by far outwork all of the above fish even though they are slow movers, they work continuously without taking a break. SAEs seem to eat food instead of algae. Ottos are hard little workers, but they can only eat so much due to their size. Pleco's are somewhat finicky when it comes to what algae they eat, and sometimes they go after the plants instead. My pleco's usually only eat the brown algae and rarely any soft green algae. "Dave M. Picklyk" wrote in message ... What's a good combination for algae removal? I have a 15 gal tank with three otocinclus. Every week I barely have to clean the glass. Plecos are good glass cleaners and sometimes when they are small the do some good algae eating...but I heard when they grow larger their diet changes and they start eating plants. Of course, in my experience with them a few years back I know after they grow larger they start getting lazy and they bumble about messing everything up. I've heard of and seen the neat looking bristlenose pleco. Does it stay really nice and small and clean things up without eating plants etc.?? As far as I can remember those things are really expensive at the LFS ($45CAN). What about siamese algae eaters? A few years ago I had been burned by a few that I now believe were Chinese algae eaters and all they did was chase fish around and pretend to clean algae. Are SAEs totally non-agressive like otos are? For a 15 gal tank, do they stay nice and small like otos? I don't like to overpopulate my tank with algae eaters and force the more decorative fish out. Right now I have 3 otocinclus, 2 bronze cats, and a betta. I have ordered 5 dwarf neon rainbows from a breeder and they will be added in the next month or so. Any room for more fish ?? Any opinions? THANX!! |
#12
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
I had three SAEs in my 29 gallon tank, and as they got larger, one became a real bully. It chased the other two SAEs, as well as other fish. I moved the SAEs into the 75 gallon tank to join the school of eight in there, and there's been no trouble since. May be that's because I have seven of them.... |
#13
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
"Dave M. Picklyk" wrote:
What's a good combination for algae removal? I have a 15 gal tank with three otocinclus. Every week I barely have to clean the glass. Plecos are good glass cleaners and sometimes when they are small the do some good algae eating...but I heard when they grow larger their diet changes and they start eating plants. While I will not disparage otos or SAEs, since both earn their keep in my tank, the term "pl*co" includes a lot of very different fish. Specifically, bushynose catfish (ancistrus sp) only grow to about 5 inches long, and are aggressive algae eaters their whole lives. Get a pair and treat them right and they'll breed as well, which will finance your plant hobby quite well! |
#15
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Algae removal- SAEs, otos, or plecos?
Mysterday snails are -usually- Pomacea brigesi, but they can be
another similar species that will devour plants. You have to deal with unsure labeling when you go into a petstore, that mystery snail could very well be another species. Aside from that, if you had just purchased the wisteria and anarcharis, the bases of them were most likely rotten or close to being rotten and perhaps that is why they were going after that (the part below the rubber or metal band is usually dead or close to dead even if you don't realize it). They are hungry critters 3 of them in a 15 gallon would have probably devoured the tank as you mentioned, I would have placed only 1 in a tank that size. Another criquite is that they were in with a betta which are voracious (too strong perhaps), but well known snail eaters and harassers, so perhaps they didn't have as good of a chance to eat the food you offered and went for the easiest food (the plants, because they had cover from the betta). I'm sorry you had a bad experience with the snails. Eric Schreiber wrote in message . .. (Allen Smith) wrote: I would get 1 or 2 brigesi snails, they are by far the best algae and leftover food eaters. Is that the same as the "Pomacea Bridges" Mystery Snails? If so, I had a bad time with them in my little tank. I put three of the snails (each about 1 inch in size) into a three gallon tank with a betta, and three stalks each of wisteria and anacharis. Hmm. Lot of threes there. Anyway, within just a few days, these snails had chewed through the base of every one of the plant stalks. It's not like they didn't have anything else to eat, either. Though the tank was quite new and didn't have any algae, I had been dropping in a half wafer of Hikari Algae Wafers each day. The snails ate these, as well. I'm sure if I could hear them, they'd be making snorting noises. Anyhow, I've had to remove the plants from the tank and settle for feeding the snails on just wafers. They're still quite cool, but I'd really hesitate to use them in a planted tank. |
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