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windsor
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Algae eaters - 2007/09/28 14:44 I shut down my marine aquaium after 15 years and started a cichlid tank a few months ago. I am really enjoying my aquarium again. Can someone offer some advice as to what I should be loooking for when pruchasing algae eating fish. I have a 40 gal tank with approximately 10 fish that range from 1-2 inches in length.
I have been told that only certain fish will survive with cichlids. Am I stuck buying fish that will grow to 24"?
Thanks
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justin
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Re:Algae eaters - 2007/09/29 02:27 No. You can look into the Gold Nugget Pleco, aka Bristlenose pleco. They only grow up to 6 inches, they're actually very attractive, and they're the only pleco I know of that you can breed and sell the babies.
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Trice
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Re:Algae eaters - 2007/09/29 20:37 I too think you may want to try the Bristlenose Pleco. I have never had one but from what I've read they devour algae better than the other pleco's. They are very hardy fish from what I understand and once they clean your tank up you need to feed them algae wafers. I too have been thinking about getting one but was concerned my fish may kill them since they are so aggressive. They are not expensive fish so I think it is worth a try.
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Downeast
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/01/30 16:24 I just tried a leopard(spotted) pleco I think it was and it lasted about four hours maybe ,and was floating bottoms up... So I just got this brown one with yellow stripes, and he has made it past the five hour mark and seems to be doing fine. The wife brought it home today.I will try and find out what kind it is and let you know if it lasts, least till I find out what kind it is.
Ok I'll add some more if he goes on for a week or more.

The cichlids seem to not bother with him at all, and he seems rather happy stuck to the side of the tank. Takes an occasional stroll...
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latingeminigrl
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/02/20 18:28 Ok so here it is my algae eaters keep dying!!! What's happening? I thought those were the easiest fish to take care of... any suggestions. I need one bad because I keep having to scrub the algae off constantly. Another question what else besides conditioner, stress coat, and salt can I use to keep my water clean and healthy for my fish? I'm also having problems with my gravel turning brown I think I'm just going to have to change the color cuz white is not cutting it
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cixlid69
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/02/20 19:25 Hi latingeminigrl, Just a few questions..
Is the tank near a window?
What is your ph,amonnia,nitrite and nitrate?
How often do you water change?
How big is your tank and what filter are you running...
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Downeast
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/02/21 00:15 I have a clown pleco, and after doing some research , it is not going to be the tank cleaner I thought it would.. The spotted pleco is actually a much better algae eater than many , so I have read ..Snails are supposed to do a good job , but have tokeep them incheck as they can get out of control from breeding ...

The Mbuna cichlids are supposed to like a certain amount of algae, and will eat some off rocks and the glass .. I have seen them eating off he glass....

I had the brown algae problem which led to the hunt for a tank cleaner... I think to some extent it will be left to you , to keep the tank clean ......
I only had the algae on the glass and it hasn't collected on anything else ... I have coral for the base and it still looks good going on 9 months.....

After studying up a bit the bristle nose has had good reviews as mentioned above.......

The wife got my clown pleco and really likes it .... be hard to make it go away , lol ...

Post edited by: Downeast, at: 2008/02/21 00:21
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latingeminigrl
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/02/21 06:42 Thank you both for the advice. I have to keep up with my tank but work and having a baby are not helping Plus a hubby that doesn't care about the tank because they are not his kind of fish doesn't help hahahahaha. Well I don't know my ph or any of that stuff. I'm going to take my water to get tested and I'll keep you posted. The filter I have came with my 55gallon tank and I believe its an aquaclear ?... I know not to put my tank near a window so I have it on the wall across from the window which is the only place I can put it at. I live in an apt I've had my tank for 3 years. I got it as a Valentines Day present. How often to you guys upgrade your filter. Mine recently started making a humming soon so I'm thinking of changing it. It's funny because now that I know I'm going to have babies in my tank my motherly instincts are coming out lol.....I'm going to try to get an algae eater after I do a water change because last time it only lasted like 3 days
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Downeast
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/02/21 08:30 Get some of those test strips .... gives you five readings , and you match the color on the stick to the colors on the bottle....

What only lasted three days ?

Do you vacuum out the tank , the gravel ?

I have had my aqua clear filter for almost a year now ....

How much and what kind of fish do you have .. ?
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ej4life99
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Re:Algae eaters - 2008/02/21 12:30 I have 2 medium sized (about 5 inches right now) Balck/Brown Pleco's in my 55 Gallon Cichlid Tank. They do just fine, sometimes the cichlids will harass them, but the Pleco's know how to get them back. Also, I feed them the algae wafers every other day. The cichlids will nibble some on them too.
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