Which Algae Feeder to Choose for String Algae?

Hi there everyone. I have a question for anyone here that can offer any advice. I've got a 10 Gallon, (formerly the home of my wild Betta specimens Betta mahachai) that continues to have a continual build up of "string" or "hair" algae. Once the Mahachai moved out, I completely broke down the tank (while careful not to remove all of the beneficial bacteria in the filter) and after reconstruction, actually treated with drops for algae. The tank is buffered with crushed coral for a slightly higher pH, due to the alkalinity needs of the former residents, and also for the benefit of its current residents, (2) Sacramento Perch young of year from a near-by Great Basin drainage. I have subsequently since added a 2nd filter and seeded it with the old bio pads from the older one, and although the water quality is good, the continual return of the "string" algae seems eminant.

My first inclination is to simply cut the lights back, so as not to fuel these blooms. These fish only eat about 1-2 eye droppers of baby Brine Shrimp a day. They are approx 1 1/2 inches long, and have a 1 inch long common carp as a tank mate. The Carp cleans the uneaten detritus off of the bottom of the aquarium, but he is destined for a 1/4 acre koi pond on my mother in laws property, and will be gone soon. Even so, he doesn't touch the algae at all. I know as Carp get older, they prefer vegetive matter, but he's a young of year fish and is only about an inch long. I know that the Centrarchids are often times very sensitive to chemicals in the water, and I'm hesitant to reapply the anti-algae drops now that the Sac. Perch are good and established for fear of actually killing them accidentally.

So, with all of this said, Is there a decent Algae consumer that would be a good addition to this tank??? I had considered a couple Ghost shrimp, but they are a lot like the carp, in that they don't really do much with the algae, but will get rid of uneaten food on the tank bottom. I am hesitant to put a crayfish in there, because the Perch are only about an inch and a half, and would be likely to be food for the clawed escape artists. Not to mention, my wife nearly had a heart attack the last time one got out and was found in the wee hours cruising the kitchen floor!!! Corys are also good waste/food consumers, but the algae isn't really their thing either. I'm kinda stumped here. I want to naturally keep these algae blooms in check, but I don't want to place the Sacramento Perch in any kind of jeopardy. I have had limited success with the Siamese Algae eaters in other freswater thanks that I've had over the years, and they can get a bit nippy, at least when it came to wild Bettas.

Any Advice??? The most prolific sucker fish we have in Northern Nevada is the Cui-ui, and is on the protected list. I'm not sure how effective even one of them would even be. I need something that cleans up the vegetation LIKE a crayfish, without all of the pitfalls of it actually BEING a crayfish. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED...Thanks.


Take care,
Ben.

Suckers in general are not algivores. Many cyprinids will eat algae but are not especially effective at eliminating it. A better solution than adding more animals is to cut back the algae's needs: light and nutrients. Your initial inclination to cut back the lighting is your best bet. Alternatively, you could add some live plants to help compete with the algae for nutrients. If you are feeding sparingly, it is likely that there are high levels of nitrogenous compounds and/or phosphates in your tap water; have you tested it?

A third option (but probably more than you want to fool with for such a small tank) is a refugium or an algal scrubber. These basically provide the algae a more suitable place to grow, with high light and good availability of atmospheric gases, so that they grow and use up the available nutrients there instead of in your display.

I am strongly considering Red Cherry Shrimp. They won't be seen as food for quite some time, and could probably provide effective algae control. I have 1 Crypto sp. plant in there, and could easily plant another, for them to hide in. My only concern with these kind of shrimp, is that my pH might be a little too high for them. It's running just slightly above 8 right now, and I've always read that the Red Cherry Shrimp prefer a more neutral alkalinity. Would these be an effective choice for lightweight algae control in an alkaline tank like this? Again, many thanks.


Ben.

Your initial inclination to cut back the lighting is your best bet. Alternatively, you could add some live plants to help compete with the algae for nutrients.

I must have been also replying at the same time as you. Anyway, FANTASTIC advice, and it makes perfect sense too. I think I'll get either another Crypto or some Pygmy Chain Swords to plant in there after work today. Then if I ever do get some of the Red Cherry Shrimp, the'll have an additional place to hide as well. Thanks a bunch.


Ben.

Glad I could help! I haven't kept red cherries, but from what I've heard they are quite hardy and adaptable, and should do fine in your water.

Thanks again for the advice. I greatly appreciate it. I'll have to get some pics of the tank posted soon. I still havn't figured out how to post pics, but I will definately have some for the forum soon. Take care.


Ben.

Thanks again for the advice. I greatly appreciate it. I'll have to get some pics of the tank posted soon. I still havn't figured out how to post pics, but I will definately have some for the forum soon. Take care.


Ben.

Have you considered hydrogen peroxide? Use the drugstore grade (3%) at 1 oz per 10 gallons. repeat every other day or so.

it sounds like this is pretty much wrapped up, but i have a similar problem with hair algae and someone at my local pet shop keeps recommending florida flag fish. has anyone here ever used them for algae control?

oh, and on the subject of shrimp, did you look at amano shrimp at all? like newt said, the cherries should be just fine, but the amano shrimp need brackish water to breed so i would assume more alkaline water wouldn't bother them in the slightest. they are often sold as algae eating shrimp. they are nowhere near as pretty as the cherry shrimp, though.

I had a flagfish in my siren tank. He may have picked at the algae, but I never saw it and never noticed any reduction in algae. Granted, that tank was so overgrown it would probably have taken a whole school of algivores to make a dent. I ended up removing him because he was nippy with the killifish in the tank.

I have a couple Otto's in my tank., they seem more avid about eating algea than my chinese al;gea eater is. I removed the hair algea by scrubbing and after adding ottos it never came back as long strangs. (I have a couple tiny patches of short fuzz, but no long hair anymore). they clean the walls, driftwood, dewcorations, and plants, especially the walls.

Otocinclus are nice algae eaters. However, they are very small, only an inch or so long. It can also be hard to get healthy ones. I'm lucky to live near a LFS that quarantines all its fish before offering them for sale. I've only been able to keep them long term in a tank with other very small fish. They can easily be out competed for food and starve.

i have a couple of otos in my tank that has hair algae. they thrive on the stuff on the walls, but they don't like the hair algae at all. they tend to get tangled in it.

what does the hydrogen peroxide do that helps with algae? would it kill live plants?

Peroxide is lethal to most algae and bacteria, but doesn't do much to organisms with thick integuments, like most plants and animals. Once exposed to light, the peroxide breaks down and some of its transient products work much the same way chlorine bleach does (massive oxidation of everything in sight) but only do so briefly before turning to harmless O2 and H2O.

Peroxide is lethal to most algae and bacteria, but doesn't do much to organisms with thick integuments, like most plants and animals.

I realize you said MOST plants, but just wanted to clarify that H2O2 will do quite a number on some plants. I tried using it a few years back and it really made a mess of my hornwort. The next morning it had lost virtually all its leaves, and the filter kept getting clogged with them. To add insult to injury it didn't even take care of the hair algae. I have heard many people have good success using it though. If you have plants you may want to remove a chunk and test its effects in a bucket or something first.

Two words: grass carp

Should solve all your (and the world's) problems.

I've only heard of peroxide causing problems with Ceratophyllum and Anacharis species. I've personally had luck squirting the stuff full strength from a dropper to target a problem area in a tank that did contain a lot of Anacharis. It decomposes so fast that it didn't cause a problem.

It only decomposes in light, too, so it won't hurt your filter.

I realize you said MOST plants, but just wanted to clarify that H2O2 will do quite a number on some plants. I tried using it a few years back and it really made a mess of my hornwort. The next morning it had lost virtually all its leaves, and the filter kept getting clogged with them. To add insult to injury it didn't even take care of the hair algae. I have heard many people have good success using it though. If you have plants you may want to remove a chunk and test its effects in a bucket or something first.

Hornwort is wierd. I've used peroxide in a tank with hornwort and had no problems, but I'm not at all surprised that it harmed your hornwort. The stuff can't decide whether it's tough or delicate.

I once had some sailfin mollies clear a tank of hair algae pretty quickly.

I once had some sailfin mollies clear a tank of hair algae pretty quickly.

do you think gambusia affinis might do the same, or are they too carnivorous?

The Red Cherry Shrimp that I ordered, (although I realize that they are far from a North American native) should arrive today. I'll have to get some pics posted soon of the tank with these new inverts in there. Also, I finally got the Sacramento Perch trained on frozen Bloodworms. Up until this weekend, they would only go after LIVE baby Brine Shrimp, but now they have made the transition to frozen just fine. I think that ideally, I'd like to have about 4 Sacramento Perch along with a dozen or so of these Red Cherry Shrimp in a heavily planted 30 gallon. The Perch are so small right now, that it will be quite a while until the shrimp start to disappear, but in the meantime, I'll be thinking about creating a breeding colony tank for them and use their babies as feeders. I'd considered Marmokrebs, but it is illegal to import them into Nevada. Not to mention, I don't know if I'd have enough room for a breeding Marmokreb colony, but freshwater shrimp might be a little more do-able. I just need to figure out how to post pics now, and I'll be there. Thanks again, and take care.


Ben.