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Florida flag fish for algae control?


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#1 lupacexi

lupacexi
  • NANFA Guest

Posted 25 July 2017 - 02:45 PM

One day I upped my white LED lights to 100% from a fairly low level (45-50%). I forgot about it and left it at 100% for a while. Now I'm experiencing some algae problems. In addition to turning down the lights, I am doing frequent water changes and am watching my feeding so I don't overfeed.

But I was wondering: How effective are Florida flag fish at removing algae? Are they aggressive? I've read some unflattering things about their behavior, but an wondering what you all think.

I have six rainbow darters, eight southern redbelly dace and a small school of mixed shiners. I wouldn't want to add anything that would harm them.



#2 Casper

Casper
  • NANFA Fellow
  • Chattanooga, TN alongside South Chickamauga Creek, just upstream of the mighty Tennessee River.

Posted 25 July 2017 - 07:16 PM

Stonerollers are good algae eaters and would compliment what you have as they are often cohabitat species.


Casper Cox
Chattanooga, near the TN Divide on BlueFishRidge overlooking South Chickamauga Creek.

#3 gerald

gerald
  • Global Moderator
  • Wake Forest, North Carolina

Posted 26 July 2017 - 08:53 AM

Depends in part on the kinds of algae you have.  Even algae-eating specialists don't eat all kinds of algae.  I haven't found any animal that reliably eats mat-forming blue-greens (Oscillatoria, Phormidium, etc).  Amano shrimp (Asian) seem to be the best overall algae-eaters.


Gerald Pottern
-----------------------
Hangin' on the Neuse
"Taxonomy is the diaper used to organize the mess of evolution into discrete packages" - M.Sandel


#4 Josh Blaylock

Josh Blaylock
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  • Central Kentucky

Posted 26 July 2017 - 11:00 AM

I would go with Stonerollers, like Casper said.  They are the only native I've seen to actively eat on algae.


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#5 JasonL

JasonL
  • NANFA Member
  • Kentucky

Posted 26 July 2017 - 04:40 PM

My stonerollers would rather eat flake or bloodworms though I see them pick at algae a bit. i would not expect them alone to keep a tank looking pristine if you have a major algae problem. The best option for that is a non native pleco such as a bristlenose imo.

#6 Matt DeLaVega

Matt DeLaVega
  • Forum Staff
  • Ohio

Posted 26 July 2017 - 05:56 PM

Search using hydrogen peroxide for algae. I would prefer a fish do the work, but to initially get in check, a H2O2 dose might get
ahead of the game. Nativeplanter, Laura was her name, was a big proponent of peroxide for algae control. Or just learn to love it if it
isn't too out of hand.

The member formerly known as Skipjack





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