Algae problem.

[MissFishLeigh]

I have a 10 gallon tank, and lately the algae on the glass has caught my attention. I had an apple snail in there but he didn't move from the same spot for like a week so I flushed him(R.I.P. Gary) ever since he died the algae got like this, I don't want to scrub it off and I'm interested in what types of critters you recommend. I think my snail died because he was too big to get through my corner of fake plants, coral and a skull. So small snail suggestions please


10 gallon glass tank.(Hood w/ light, heater and filter)
3 pink long-finned danios, 2 leopard long-finned danios
2 albino Cory
1 Long-finned rosy barb(I bought two knowing they can be aggressive if not kept in a small group, one died the first few hours of introducing him to my tank and this one is completely peaceful, I guess I got lucky with her )

 

[MissFishLeigh]

Oh I also have 10(well I bought 10 but I can never see them all at once) Amano shrimp that keep my fake plants, coral, skull, heater and filter clean but aren't very good glass cleaners and the cories really just scavenge through the gravel for leftover food

 

[lauraf]

Try a nerite snail. They're smaller and good for algae-covered glass.

If a snail doesn't move for days on end, it's a good idea to check if they have perished, as a dead snail can foul your water . . . .

 

[aakaakaak]

Nerites and oto cats.

Personally I have a tank with common pond snails that go gangbusters on algae. However, many people don't like looking at 50+ tiny snails.

 

[OrangeCones]

I would not recommend otos for a 10 gallon tank.

Live plants can outcompete algae. If this is a non-planted tank, reduce the light level and nutrients that are feeding the algae. More frequent water changes, less feeding, and put lights on a timer to be able regulate the hours.

 

[MissFishLeigh]

Hmmm, we have a pond outside that used to have crawdads and koi in it and now it has misquito eaters, Ive seen little black snails in there before... I'll have to check. I think the little snails are cute

 

[aakaakaak]

Don't just plop the pond snails in your tank. Who knows what kind of bacteria and stuff they could bring in.

 

[MyFishyTank]

I don't recommend one snail and thats the ramshorn, pooped everywhere in my tank, so it would clean some algae and poo 10x more out -.- plus they breed rapidly so if you do get them look for the eggs, if they are on a plant or glass for like 1 hour there laying eggs. The eggs look like jelly! (Don't eat it, it isnt jelly ^^) and all the poop they caused made my little beta fish sick

 

[skjl47]

Hello; I am on the other side of the rams horn snail opinion. I like having them in a tank. They are in all the tanks I have set up right now.

They will not keep the glass completely clean of algae, but will keep it in check on the live plants. They do a decent job of keeping the hair like algae off my plants. They also eat any leftover food, dead plant leaves and any dead fish that you may overlook. This seems to me a fair trade for the waste they will produce.

When they get around nickle size, some have taken bites out of my sword plants. Not to the point of serious damage. I will move these into another tank or they will become a tasty treat for my fish.

I have been thinking about how I set up a new tank and comparing my method with the cycling methods described in this forum. I do not use chemicals in a new setup. I do take some snails and plants from an established tank and toss them into the new setup. I now feel that they carry the beneficial bacteria on the shells and plants. The snails produce waste that keeps the bacteria going without risking a fish. I then put in a couple of fish a week or so later.

I clean algae on glass with a magnetic cleaner or a razor blade scraper. I usually only clean the front glass. One other thing I have learned is to control how the light falls on the front glass. If a hood does not keep the light from directly shining on the front glass, I try to rig it in some way to shade the front glass.

 

[MissFishLeigh]

I have fake plants that my cories and shrimp take care of. And yeah I'm scared of putting dirty snails in my tank