Will cory cat's help with brown algae and will they eat my platy fry??

M

mirasmom

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Dec 28, 2010
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So I'm having an issue with brown algae (rusty looking stuff). Rubs off and vacuums up easily, but I'm only doing a 20% change weekly- the day after the change/vacuum, it starts growing again. I've read I need a better light- I only have a 19W on a 26 gal tank....so that should help when I get around to it.

But will Cory's take care of brown algae as well?? I had read somewhere that they would. I was planning to get some cory's eventually anyway, so if they'll eat the brown algae that would be fantastic. I only have 4 full grown platy's in my tank and it's fully cycled, so ready for more fish. I've been holding off because I also have had a baby platy. He's getting quite big now so I was getting ready to go get them....but now I have ANOTHER platy fry that is TINY- I know he's at least 2-3 weeks old, but still VERY small. I want to get 4 cory's to add but I'm afraid they might hurt my latest fry. Will they?? He's not big enough that he swims very high in the tank yet, he still hangs down at gravel level. My first fry is pretty much swimming with the other fish now.

So my 2 questions-
1). Will cory's eat my algae and help me contain it? (I'm not interested in plecos).
2). Will cory's hurt my baby platies??
 
Ditto what's said above. Cories don't eat algae, but they won't touch your baby fish. They're great to have around though, to clean up excess food off the bottom. I don't know of any algae eaters that will go for brown algae - just keep doing what you're doing - vacuum it up - dose some Excel - do a larger wc - 40-50% weekly, semi weekly if you can, at least for a while - as your tank matures, the brown algae should disappear. Your light's ok, but you could do with a little stronger, if your tank is reasonably well planted.
 
Is your tank fairly new? Diatoms usually appear early, grow like crazy for a while and then disappear forever. Just keep up/increase the WC and vacuuming.
 
I know you said your not interested in plecos and I wouldn't recommend one for your size tank.However,the bristlenose pleco(ancistrus sp.)would be a good solution for your tank.Bristlenose relish mostly all types of algae,including brown algae(diatoms).Most commonly sold species only get 4-5" so outgrowing and polluting your tank won't be a problem as with the common pleco(hypostomus plecostomus).Just a suggestion.Good luck...
 
Thanks guys!! Yes, it's relatively new :) Started it up in late December and cycled without fish then just added the platies. I've had them about 6 weeks maybe? I can't remember for sure. They've all done great- as evidenced by my 2 babes growing well. Don't know why I thought cories would eat algae. I read about oto's- aren't they sortof aggressive?? That was my only worry. The thing about plecos is it's hard to find one that doesn't get too big and I want to get some other fishes eventually. Which pleco will remain small enough that I can still stock a couple of dwarf gouramis eventually??

Good to know about the light- I wasn't totally excited about getting a new one since I only have one little plant. How long will it take for the diatoms to go away? Weeks? Months?? I've cut back my water changes to about 20% or 30% weekly- I've had to use spring water from the store because of the high ammonia in my tap water. I just started using 1/2 tap and 1/2 spring because I think my bio filter can probably handle the ammonia in there finally. All of my parameters have been right on with API liquid kit for awhile now. Ammo 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 10-20 depending. My fishes are very active and happy :)
 
spacefish34 said:
I know you said your not interested in plecos and I wouldn't recommend one for your size tank.However,the bristlenose pleco(ancistrus sp.)would be a good solution for your tank.Bristlenose relish mostly all types of algae,including brown algae(diatoms).Most commonly sold species only get 4-5" so outgrowing and polluting your tank won't be a problem as with the common pleco(hypostomus plecostomus).Just a suggestion.Good luck...
Click to expand...

Ok, so this one would be a good replacement for 4ish cories like I was planning....but not nearly as cute! ;) I am a girl after all hahaha
 
Otos are the friendliest little catfishes ever, and not aggressive at all. :) They love to eat diatoms, but after they've eaten them all, you'll have to supplement with veggie wafers or blanched veggies. Mine love to eat blanched zucchini and cucumber, although it takes about a day for the veggies to get soft enough that they realize that it's food.
 
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