Brown stuff

[NickM]

I have noticed some of my fake plant leaves turning brown.  I am assuming brown algae?  How do I get rid of it?


Nick

 

[Backdraft Bagel]

Otocinclus affinis or Whiptail cats love the brown slimey stuff. Nab ONE of them from the pet store.

 

[NickM]

An otto huh?

How do they get along with H&T light tetras, and clown loaches?

 

[Backdraft Bagel]

From my experience they're nice and peaceful. I've kept them with all manner of tetras (neon, black neon, rummy nose, red phantom, pristella/x-ray, black skirt), gourami's, bettas, ciclids (discus, rams) ...

I wuv otocinclus. They're cutey little things that do a bang up jobby job.

 

[NickM]

Another question.....how hardy are they?

 

[tabby360]

there pretty hardy as long as u have enough of there food.( mainly brown algea)

 

[Backdraft Bagel]

Yes, with all "cleanup crew" it's important to feed them in times of no algae

 

[NickM]

yavool.  I just got a new clown loach, so I'll have to wait a week or so.  But aftr that, I'll do it.  Plus. that'll give the algae time to grow more for a bigger food source for the otto.


Nick

 

[blueconvict2]

i too recently had a proplem with brown algea. I wanted to get an otto but couldnt find one.  so i settled for a chinese algea eater.  I have heard bad things about them sucking on other fish, but i havent had any proplem. And the algea has gotton better.  But i also clean it by hand from inside of glass and wipe off decorations.  when i do a water change, i flip over the gravel.  If left alone ,brown algea will cover everything in brown funk and your tank will look dirty and gloomy no matter how clear the water is. So get an otto if you like but i would also do some manual cleaning also to keep it from getting out of control to the point of not being able to do anything but clean the whole tank and start from scratch. You can buy algea tablets to feed otto in addition to the algea he helps clean up in the tank.