Best Algea Eater for a 10g?

[Meghan]

Hello everyone! I found this forum yesterday and I have loved reading through everyones posts. I've recently set up a 10 gallon- which I owned from years ago, otherwise I would have gotten a bigger tank to begin with- I'll put it on my Christmas list.

I need advice as to what would be the best algea eater or bottom dweller for my 10g. Right now, I only have 2 dalmation mollies. I'm hoping to slowly add more fish- maybe a couple male guppies and a school of neons.

From what I have read, a lot are either bigger than a 10g can accommodate or are schooling. Is it even necessary to have an algea eater? I thought it would save me from having to clean the tank as often. Plus, they do seem entertaining.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Kissyboots]

Hi, welcome!

So, whatever you do, DO NOT get a chinese algae eater. I had one but he started attacking my fish and they get pretty big. If you don't have algae, I wouldn't bother. I have some algae so I recently got some oto's. They are cute little guys who don't get very big. If you want some bottom feeders, you should totally get some cories! I've got some peppered cories and I currently have four babies that I'm raising now, along with 32 more eggs!

Anyway, wait around for some more ideas. There's plenty of people who can help! Welcome and have fun!

Edit: also, I don't believe it will let you clean the tank less often if you get an algae eater. He eats the algae, not the poo in the water. Do you have a testing kit yet?

 

[tom91970]

Welcome to the Tank! I have an oto in my 14g and he seems to do a pretty good job of eating algae.

 

[Meghan]

Okay, maybe I was thinking that I need a bottom dweller? I was thinking it would help to get someone to eat the waste.

Also, I'm not sure I understand where algae comes from. I guess need some clarification on that as well. I thought I would get algae whether I wanted it or not?

I only have plastic plants for now.

 

[TabMorte]

Ottos are really the only 'algae' eatters you can put in a 10G. Just be careful to be sure it's a fully cycled tank because they can not tolerate any nitrites or ammonia. Corys are bottom feeders but they won't help with your algae (though they will eat up any over fed food that gets down to them).

Also be careful with your mollies. They grow to be about 4" when full size and will quickly out grow (or over populate) your tank. With them in there you won't be able to have a 'school' of neons unfortunitely.

 

[Meghan]

Ottos are really the only 'algae' eatters you can put in a 10G. Just be careful to be sure it's a fully cycled tank because they can not tolerate any nitrites or ammonia. Corys are bottom feeders but they won't help with your algae (though they will eat up any over fed food that gets down to them).

Also be careful with your mollies. They grow to be about 4" when full size and will quickly out grow (or over populate) your tank. With them in there you won't be able to have a 'school' of neons unfortunitely.

Yeah, unfortunately I didn't realize the mollies would get that big when I got them.

Will a cory sat small enough? And be okay by itself?

 

[TabMorte]

Cories are actually social fish. I recommend pairs at least. IF you get the pygmy ones that would be best you could get 4.

 

[Meghan]

Cories are actually social fish. I recommend pairs at least. IF you get the pygmy ones that would be best you could get 4.

That sounds good! Thanks so much.

I think what I may do is return the mollies- I really had not idea they would get that large- and of course the store employees didn't tell me either. That way I have more room and options.

 

[Dynamiteluver_15]

are there any fish that would eat poop lol just thought i would throw that in there?

 

[SeaMonkeyMiner]

are there any fish that would eat poop lol just thought i would throw that in there?

The siphon fish is the only one that I know of. It is usually clear and lives in buckets. easy to take care of and makes cleaning your tank easier. Frys are about 3' long with adults at 100'+ depending on the species

 

[Kissyboots]

The siphon fish is the only one that I know of. It is usually clear and lives in buckets. easy to take care of and makes cleaning your tank easier. Frys are about 3' long with adults at 100'+ depending on the species

Oooooo! I have one. Mine's about 4 1/2 feet long. Wow. 100 feet sounds like a lot! Hehe.

 

[TabMorte]

The siphon fish is the only one that I know of. It is usually clear and lives in buckets. easy to take care of and makes cleaning your tank easier. Frys are about 3' long with adults at 100'+ depending on the species

Oh mine's about 5' long already and must be fed at least once a week or he gets tempermental.

 

[Dynamiteluver_15]

is this it? if not can you give me a weblink that leads to it?

 

[brooklynfish]

Mines still pretty small...he has a patch of blue on him.

 

[SeaMonkeyMiner]

is this it? if not can you give me a weblink that leads to it?

Siphon Fish

Do I get bonus points for linking to the sponsor?

 

[Dynamiteluver_15]

um that link gives me siphons as in a supply so no

 

[Dynamiteluver_15]

can anyone give me a link for the fish?

 

[SeaMonkeyMiner]

can anyone give me a link for the fish?

I did. The only way to remove poop from the water is through water changes and vacuuming the gravel with a siphon (siphon fish). It was a joke Im sorry, fish dont eat poop that I know of. I think some crabs eat bird poop on island but not sure on that.

 

[Kissyboots]

Hehe. Just kidding around Dynamite! I thought my cories would eat poo when I first got them. But bottomfeeder means it eats stuff on the bottom. I have ghost shrimp that eat anything though. They get the betta bites that fall between the rocks so if you have that kind of situation, you might want to get some of those. But you can't get out of cleaning that tank by hand!!!

 

[emmanuelchavez]

otocinclus (sp?) are also supposed to be good algae eaters. I have one. The biggest they grow is about 1.5"