need a small algae eating fish

[nitewulf]

i have a 5 gallon hex tank w/ 3 neon tetras, 3 white clouds and 1 female sword...
the algae is overtaking the plastic sides of the tank. i dont wanna use chemicals or snails. i'm wondering if there is any 1.5 to 2 incher fish that will eat algae.
some of you might say the tank is overcrowded but the fish are doing pretty well. i change water every 1.5 weeks, and feed them once a day. had them since november. there was a male sword though, which died. problem with snails is there was bit of a overcrowding incident i had, after i bought some plants. and i had to manually hunt them down, along with their eggs. dont wanna go through that again.

 

[chrysler_12]

yah it seems overcrowded but i think it's alright also... i guess ur just on the limit... well i guess u can get an otocinclus or amano shrimps...
however keep it mind that otocinclus are quite sensitive, ur tank must be stable and in good condition before adding them... and try to ask the lfs how long they've had the fishes coz im telling u they're really sensitive...
my experience with them was, i bought 3 of them, then the next day 2 of them died... but the remaining one is healthy....

 

[twoluvcats]

i had a raging alge problem in my 5 gallon hex...i toned it down with an airstone...the desgin of the hex makes the water pretty stagnant...the airstone stirred things up and made it so the buggers couldn't stick to the sides of the tank.

 

[Luvi]

i toned it down with an airstone...the desgin of the hex makes the water pretty stagnant...the airstone stirred things up and made it so the buggers couldn't stick to the sides of the tank.

How big is your air stone? Or do you use an air curtain to wrap around the edges?

 

[twoluvcats]

i use a 4" bubble wand along the back

 

[punkrockfish]

an otto is the only fish that would fit what you are asking for, not to mention fit in your tank, and even then i'd only go with 1

 

[Lotus]

I think your main problem is that the number of fish you have and the infrequency of your water changes is causing your algae. I would say that water changes at least once a week (twice would be better) would help get rid of your algae. The best algae cleaner in the world is you

 

[slurpor]

I have a bristlenose (ancistrus) plecostamus in my 5g hex, and I would recommend them as excellent algae eaters. They stay about 2" and are much hardier than ottos. The bristlenose are better at cleaning glass and rocks than ottos, but ottos will clean your plants better and will not damage them. Lotus is right- you are a bit overstocked as it is, so your tank will get grungy fast. I only have 3 fish in my 5g, and I still have to do 2 gallon water changes twice a week!

 

[Balloon Fish]

i always thought bristle nose plecos grow to 5 inches.... =\

 

[J'sRamAir]

i always thought bristle nose plecos grow to 5 inches.... =\

That's because they do. Some even larger...so a bristlenose pleco in a 5g tank is not a good idea.

Ottos are great for algae but it all depends on what type of algae you have. Ottos only eat brown algae.

 

[Balloon Fish]

i would just stick with the amano shrimp cause to me it seems like every algae eater in the world gets to like 5 inches mininum (unless u spend 60 dollars on a small pleco for a 5 gallon tank...not worth it) but with a tank that small i would just clean it myself....

 

[slurpor]

Yikes! I didn't realize bristlenose grew to 5". I guess I'll be returning mine when they get too big! That bites. Well, ottos are good too, as long as they don't die within the first couple days. If they live past the first week, they usually do pretty well.

 

[Balloon Fish]

they grow that big but it takes a while and sometimes they wont always grow to its max size depending where u keep it and how much they eat