Rubbermouth plec and Algae

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 01 Jun 2003, 04:24

In my 20 long tank (gallons), I have discovered the dreaded and terrible hair algae--apparently my water, not only being high in calcium, is also very high in iron.

I currently (and temporarily) have a rosy barb in the tank to eat this stuff. Will it?

I also plan on adding a rubbermouth pleco to this tank. Would it possibly eat any of this stuff?

Post by **Silurus** » 01 Jun 2003, 05:02

In my experience, no fish will eat hair algae (if yours is the black kind). Might be best to tear down the tank and scrub it out really well if you absolutely have to get rid of the stuff. Otherwise, you could just learn to live with it (as I did).

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 01 Jun 2003, 05:17

Hmm.....then maybe it's not hair algae, but beard algae?

The problem is I have heard that both algaes are the same. I'm sure they are not. My stuff is green mats, like terrestrial moss, in the midst of java moss.

I wonder if my MTS would snack on it at all...?

Zack · Post by **Zack** » 01 Jun 2003, 05:33

Sounds like just regular ole green algae, some otos should take care of it, i have a rosy barb and it doesnt seem to eat algae.

Post by **Silurus** » 01 Jun 2003, 05:35

Imn that case, I think algae-eating fish (like a rubbernose) will feed on it, IF they can get to it. I also had exactly this same problem (greenish, hair-lik algae which I thought was <i>Spirogyra</i> growing on my java moss) not too long ago. I solved it by doing several things: (i) cull the java moss so that the algae would have less of a substrate to grow on, (ii) reduce the number offeedings...my fish aren't as well-fed, but they're still doing pretty good.

Taratron · Post by **Taratron** » 01 Jun 2003, 07:38

Thanks guys.

Now, just to make sure......it looks like what is listed below as beard algae....

http://www.floridadriftwood.com/algae_i ... ation.html

Verdict?

Post by **Silurus** » 01 Jun 2003, 11:39

Yup. looks like what I had (which reminds me of <i>Spirogyra</i>). The above remedies should work. You have to bear in mind that though fish eat this alage, it's difficult for them to get to it when it grows on java moss and so it will continue to flourish there unchecked.

Zack · Post by **Zack** » 01 Jun 2003, 20:28

also remember, that if you buy something to eat the algae that is too big to hang on the leaves from your plants the algae will continue to grow on there too, otos,farlowellas,sae's will all eat algae off of plant leaves, but even they cant get it off of java moss and other similar plants. Good luck.

Sid Guppy · Post by **Sid Guppy** » 02 Jun 2003, 19:41

there are however several fish that can cope with all kinds of filamentous algae, and can pick them right out of a batch of moss. Those fish don't use a suckermouth, but grab the algae and pull and tear; livebearers.

Not all species tackle algae, but Mollies of several species do eat them, so do Limia's, Goodeids etc. (actually both Mollies and Limia's are in the genus Poecilia nowadays, but their requirements differ).

The drawbacks to them is their water-requirements; unlike many Loricariids, livebearers need special water, or at least not-acidic or too soft.
Limia (Poecilia) nigrofasciata eats all kinds of algae but often gets "lazy" when well-fed.

This fish just needs neutral water, pH about 7, no salt. It's hyperactive, though, and males even try to mate with Corydoras, small characins, loaches, you name it....

peaceful fish, with a hormone problem.

Another one that eats algae, and is better at it, is
Limia (Poecilia) melanogaster. This one is a little less "horny" , but it can and will eat softleafed plants when hungry.

Other "Limia's" are often wildcaughts, or F1, F2's and not so adaptable to strange waterparameters; but those two species are domesticated long ago, and very hardy.

The true "Mollies" need hard water, but they're very good algae-destroyers.
Poecilia sphenops and P mexicana are easy to keep. The wild-strains can be very temperamented in character, but usually only males to each other. The true Sailfinmollies (P velifera, P latipinna etc) do best when you add some salt, so they might be unsuitable to your tank. They ARE very good at wiping out filamentous-, brush- and beardalgae, however....

P sphenops variety

Sailfin-Molly (P velifera)

Other Poecilidae are often more demanding, simply because they're not often bred, and thus need waterparameters more closely to their home-range water.

There is another league of livebearing algae-eaters. They have a major drawback, that is: you need sturdy tankmates. These fish can be a pain in the anal region/fins, because they often nip a bit too: the Goodeidae. Most are rare and need very hard water. Two species are often captive bred and nearly indestructable. Be adviced there's my warning on these however!

Ameca splendens can and does eat the dreadful brushalgae.

Xenotoca eiseni can be either very peaceful or very nasty; it has an attitude too.