Interested in algae eater in African Cichlid tank. Help?

[Mudduck]

I have 125 gallon tank that is 8 weeks old I have 14 mostly peaceful Hap's from african lakes. I have about 180lbs of large limestone that is getting some green algae on it now. I put a 3-4inch bristlenose pleco in the tank 5 weeks ago and it did just fine with very little picking on just couriousness now and then but nothing bad. Well a week after buying it I noticed fish was getting some white spots "ich" and before I could go to store and get meds he had died on me. I do not feel this was agression i think it was lack of hidding places (I had very little rock then, now lots of hidding places) and lack of algae. I did supplement waffers at night but who knows if the cichlids got it or not? Could I have starved him? My question for you all is should I try to install another or few more bristlenose's? If you all have a better algae eater that would work better for my combo please give me some ideas. Would a large pleco work better? Do the african catfish's eat algae? Thanks in advance everyone. Chris Derrick

[Birger]

If you all have a better algae eater that would work better for my combo please give me some ideas.

In your tank I would say

Ancistrus cf_cirrhosus

would be the best choice to make, this is the most commonly seen bristlenose,hardworking,not too big,you could go with more than one if you like.
Like always a fish should be quarantined to ensure good health of that fish and of the other fish in the tank.

I did supplement waffers at night but who knows if the c*****ds got it or not? Could I have starved him?

In a tank this new or even once established you should supplement with slices of zuchinni or other veggies(weighted down)which they will quickly learn to find and your Haps should leave it alone.

When I have had them in tanks with lots of stones one thing that has happened to me is I have lost adult males(2) when they jam themselves in wedge shaped spaces between stones with their pectoral fin spines...I am not sure if they were defending themselves or just got caught doing what they do..eating algae.. I think it was the latter.

Do the african catfish's eat algae?

Some of the Lake syno's such as

Synodontis lucipinnis

or

Synodontis grandiops

or better yet

Synodontis njassae

would go well in your tank but are not algae eaters

African suckermouth catfish for example

Chiloglanis pretoriae

or

Euchilichthys cf_astatodon

are not algae eaters and need diets and conditions suited to them.

Birger

[MTS]

I have bristlenose cats in with my cichlids, even seen them share logs etc. It is better to start with small ones 1-2 inch as they tend to eat more algae. When they get big they tend to get lazy.

[Richard B]

Birger's reply is spot on

The only other thing i could suggestif you wanted an african fish would be a suitable species of Garra.

The bristlenose or a few are stillthe best bet though!

[fishbguy]

I have an Albino bristle nose (7 inches) and a gold nugget (L-81, 3.5 inches) in my 40 gallon with my africans. The gold nugget and my dominent male share a cave, and my bristle nose just does whatever

I've heard of people having good luck with chinease algae eaters, and common plecos as well...

[Mudduck]

WOW thank you guys very much for the great information! I think I will get a few bristlenose's tomorrow and try it out! Some say small ones some say grown ones what do you all recomend? I am afraid the small ones will be picked on more then the 5'' or so bristlenose's? Once again thanks everyone. Chris

[Birger]

Some say small ones some say grown ones what do you all recomend? I am afraid the small ones will be picked on more then the 5'' or so bristlenose's?

I would stay in the 2-3 inch range or bigger with these Cichlids, it will really depends on what is available to you

Birger

[Mudduck]

Well I purchased a male and a female bristlenose on sat evening. Brought them home, and aclimated them in a 5 gallong bucket over a 2hour period with a towel over the top for less stress. There PH at the LFS was 7.5 and mine is 8.2 . I installed both and they took off and started working the glass. From the start the male was more out going and moved around more during the day etc.... I feed waffers at night after the lights go off and hope they find them. Well monday morning I noticed my female was hanging out on the gravel by the front glass for a few hours so I went to move him and he was rock hard stiff as a board with all his fins looking fine, his eyes were both ok and his body was not harmed. I have not seen any aggression towards my bristlenoses at all so I am asking if any of you have any reason other then just plain stress from one tank to another etc... As for my male he is doing great as of now and my algae is being removed more and more each night. He has found a couple of hiding spots that he hangs out in almost all day long but as soon as lights go out he is on the hunt! I have noticed it I feed blood worms to my other fish as they hit the gravel he is not affraid to dart over and suck some up as he pleases! I am not sure of the exact name of these two bristle noses the LFS had them over 2 months and they both seemed to be in great health and are upwards of 5-6'' size. Thanks for the help. CD

[Birger]

I have not seen any aggression towards my bristlenoses at all so I am asking if any of you have any reason other then just plain stress from one tank to another etc...

Sorry to see you lost another but I do not think you are doing anything wrong, except that you did not quarantine but I realize not everyone has extra tanks hanging around just for this purpose.

It is hard to say why you would have lost one but yet the other is doing fine, I would wait with this one and see how he does and then in the future consider additions if everything seems fine, keeping in mind there are species of ancistrus(bristlenoses)that need lower ph and softer water...these would have a much harder time surviving in these conditions, but I am assuming you purchased the hardier Sp.3 version as this is the most commonly seen in LFS.
If you wish to see if yours is actually eating use the previously mentioned veggies and you will be able to tell if it has been gnawing on it.

Birger

[Mudduck]

Algae is missing in the am when I turn lights on and I put some veggies in strapped to a rock and caught this one working on it so he is eating. Also like I mentioned he comes out of hidding when I put blood worms in the tank. Thanks CD