What suggestions do you have for an attractive catfish that will take care of the algae in the aquarium. My tank is mainly cichlid. I have tried to introduce chinese algae eaters but somehow they dissapear( I assume eaten by the cichlid)
Thanks
algae cleaner
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Shane
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Marice,
Introducing new fish to a tank with algae problems is never a solution. Each fish in the tank should be selected because the aquarist is interested in it and wants to provide for it as necessary.
Algae are basically plants and need two things to live: 1) Light and 2) Food. Food in this case means fish waste products. If you want to get rid of algae you should strive to deprive the algae of the two things it needs. Light can be decreased in both amount and time available. Try using lower watt bulbs or leaving the lights on for less hours per day. Algae food (i.e. fish waste) can only be removed through frequent large volume water changes. Thus, a combination of less watts of light, a decreased photoperiod, and more frequent larger water changes are the fastest way to get rid of algae.
I assume by cichlids you mean Rift Lake spp. No Rift Lake tank with a high pH and high hardness (gh) is a suitable habitat for loricariids. You will be much happier over the long term sorting out the cause of the algae (too much light and food) it then adding additional fishes to control the symptoms.
-Shane
Introducing new fish to a tank with algae problems is never a solution. Each fish in the tank should be selected because the aquarist is interested in it and wants to provide for it as necessary.
Algae are basically plants and need two things to live: 1) Light and 2) Food. Food in this case means fish waste products. If you want to get rid of algae you should strive to deprive the algae of the two things it needs. Light can be decreased in both amount and time available. Try using lower watt bulbs or leaving the lights on for less hours per day. Algae food (i.e. fish waste) can only be removed through frequent large volume water changes. Thus, a combination of less watts of light, a decreased photoperiod, and more frequent larger water changes are the fastest way to get rid of algae.
I assume by cichlids you mean Rift Lake spp. No Rift Lake tank with a high pH and high hardness (gh) is a suitable habitat for loricariids. You will be much happier over the long term sorting out the cause of the algae (too much light and food) it then adding additional fishes to control the symptoms.
-Shane
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sidguppy
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captive bred Ancistrus sp 'domesticus' do fine in Rifttanks (Malawi, Tanganyika), but make sure that the fish has a cave wich isn't already claimed by any cichlid.
releasing a newcomer at night also helps: the catfish can go and check out the entire tank without being harassed by the other inhabitants. by the time those wake up it alreadfy knows most caves and can get away when needed.
just make sure you get a captive bred specimen of the common Bristlenose or the L144. Common Pleco's also are OK, but they grow far too big for the usual hometank. adding wildcaught L numbers is a big no, although many people still do it.
Like Shane says, those are not used to the water needed for Rift fishes.
releasing a newcomer at night also helps: the catfish can go and check out the entire tank without being harassed by the other inhabitants. by the time those wake up it alreadfy knows most caves and can get away when needed.
just make sure you get a captive bred specimen of the common Bristlenose or the L144. Common Pleco's also are OK, but they grow far too big for the usual hometank. adding wildcaught L numbers is a big no, although many people still do it.
Like Shane says, those are not used to the water needed for Rift fishes.
Valar Morghulis