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Post by guppyguy on Feb 4, 2013 12:31:06 GMT -5
I have nearly no algae in my tanks and haven't in some time. I got sick of the annoying algae and with a little research I found what at least works for me. Clean water very important so at least weekly water changes. Live plants are great for this as they help starve algae on nutrients from the water. Algae eating fish such as the Chinese algae eater are constantly cleaning the glass object gravel and even plants leaves. Malasian trumpet snails (MTS) are amazing for keeping your gravel clean as they eat and clean everything in it as they borrow around under the gravel as well as on top of it. And finally the best of it all is the nerite snail. I keep the zebra nerite snails and all they eat is algae nothing else. They scrap clean nook and cranny I have, even the silicone in corner of tanks the filer intake, the heater itself you name it, they get all that left. Best of all you only need one for every 5 gallons. I hope this helps and I have been algae free for a while now thank to the clean up crew team I have set up.
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glennd
Junior Member
Posts: 74
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Post by glennd on Feb 6, 2013 11:34:38 GMT -5
Try looking up DYI algae scrubber works for both salt and fresh.
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Post by bobbym on Mar 16, 2013 12:51:42 GMT -5
ya i have live plaints and snails that seem to work i never have to clean my tank walls
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Post by Rainbowfish Alan on Mar 16, 2013 17:12:01 GMT -5
Two days after putting a couple of nerites in my tank I had a fat and smug looking loach and a couple of attractive, but empty, snail shells. The loaches are leaving my apple snails alone though (for now at least).
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Post by jbrimz on Mar 16, 2013 20:42:43 GMT -5
yah loaches and snails dont mix
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2013 11:50:10 GMT -5
Just have to be careful sometimes it is harder to get rid of snails than it is the algae.They reproduce faster than guppies, and are asexual,don't need mate to have babies.
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Post by guppyguy on Mar 31, 2013 11:57:12 GMT -5
Well I agree and disagree on the snails. Just depends what type of snail were talking about. The nerite snails don't breed in fresh water only brackish water and even then it is hard to do. The MTS snail stay in the substrate and haven't been a issue and keep it really clean for me. But snails like pond snails or ram horn snails can have population explosions and be a issue in them selves yes.
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Post by Rainbowfish Alan on Mar 31, 2013 12:03:28 GMT -5
Yes, some of the more common snails can be difficult to manage, although my loaches do too good a job at that.
Actually not all snails breed. Nerites only breed in saltwater, but live happily in freshwater. Apple snails, although they can change sex, are not hermaphrodite, meaning that you need both a male and female to breed.
When it comes to apple snails, one variety (Pomacea canaliculata) will wreak havoc on your plants, the other (Pomacea diffusa) strongly prefers decaying plants and fish food. It will only eat plants if nothing else is available. I have 2 in my planted tank and will be introducing more soon (they have bred in my breeding tank).
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Post by Rainbowfish Alan on Mar 31, 2013 12:07:59 GMT -5
Well I agree and disagree on the snails. Just depends what type of snail were talking about. +1
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Post by Rainbowfish Alan on Mar 31, 2013 12:09:29 GMT -5
Guppy.... youve changed your sig! I really liked your old one. New ones cool too though.
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Post by guppyguy on Mar 31, 2013 13:38:40 GMT -5
haha ya you like the last one eh. It might make a return.
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Post by jbrimz on Mar 31, 2013 19:30:59 GMT -5
i agree the last one was good
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 8:02:39 GMT -5
I think water flow is also important to reduce algae. Circulation pump creates good flow for planted tanks.
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