Any fishkeepers here? Saltwater or freshwater

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

Thanks to you assholes sparking my curiosity and a friend who was moving and giving me a 10 gallon tank, supplies and 5 fish, I've got a fish tank bubbling next to my desk right now, making me have to piss.

The kids love it so far. I hope it's not too big of a pain in the ass.

Also, it came with a big ass plattydaddypus or some goofy looking black algae sucker that hangs on the side like a hobo with a sign. It's too big and needs a new home so I can put some shiny little bastards in it.

I am going to drop a couple of deer antlers in it. You'll Swim around that and you'll like it, Nemo.


another aquaintence is trying to sell me a 30 gallon setup already for a hundo, but I'm not sure I'm that dedicated yet.

plecostomous(sp). what a fantastic algae eater. good luck with your now overactive bladder.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by cabletech94

plecostomous(sp). what a fantastic algae eater. good luck with your now overactive bladder.

Cleaner, yes.

Algae eater? No. Actually not at all.

Plecos and other foragers (I like Corydoras catfish because they stay small) will eat food that falls to the bottom and will clean up some of the detritus in tanks, but they don't eat algae.

If you want true algae eaters, the Otocinclus catfish is very good at eating green hair algae, as long as you get them before the algae gets established. They eat the new growth, so if you get them early, the algae never gets a foothold. Siamese algae eaters and their cousins the flying fox are good at removing black and beard algae too.

In defense of the pleco, they can reduce the amount of algae you have because the stuff they eat would eventually decay, leading to nitrate buildup and the eventual growth of algae. But their effect is indirect.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Cleaner, yes.

Algae eater? No. Actually not at all.

Plecos and other foragers (I like Corydoras catfish because they stay small) will eat food that falls to the bottom and will clean up some of the detritus in tanks, but they don't eat algae.

If you want true algae eaters, the Otocinclus catfish is very good at eating green hair algae, as long as you get them before the algae gets established. They eat the new growth, so if you get them early, the algae never gets a foothold. Siamese algae eaters and their cousins the flying fox are good at removing black and beard algae too.

In defense of the pleco, they can reduce the amount of algae you have because the stuff they eat would eventually decay, leading to nitrate buildup and the eventual growth of algae. But their effect is indirect.

yup, you're right, dude! this is true and right. my bad. and yes, the cory cats do a great job of eating algae. it's been a few years since i had any of those fish.
now i'm getting the itch to restart my tank(s).