What Are The Best Algae Eaters for Discus

[1Chuck9669]

All,

I was wondering what algae eater would be best for a planted Discus tank. I have five malaysian driftwood pieces. The tanks only has four plants so far.

Thanks in advance for the input!

[ncyracer]

Hey chuck,
I think the best fish imo wiuld be a chinese algea eater. Plecos are more flat surface cleaners, they cant really reach the nooks and krannys. There peaceful and nice. Make shure you QT them for like 3weeks at least. I usually add 1 per 30 gallons. Hope that helped.

[Wahter]

Chuck, forget the Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) - they are terrible tankmates for discus and will eventually end up sucking the sides on discus and oftentimes they are aggressive too. More trouble than they are worth and they aren't from China either!

Here's Troy's photo of the Chinese algae eater:

and Troy's experience with them here:
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?t=59246

The question we need to find out from you is "what type of algae do you have which you want to get rid of?".

For most people the answer is green algae or brown algae that grows on the glass and filter hoses, etc... and for most people the Ancistrus catfish (commonly known as the bushynose or bristlenose) works best. There's even a thread that's been pinned/ stickied on the top of this section about them. You can do a search of the forums and find out more of people experience with these.



Here's one of my female albinos (the females have smaller or no bristles on their noses):


Not all algae eating plecostomus are the same either.

The Goldnuggets (Baryancistrus) will eat some algae and gnaw on driftwood, but it's usually very shy and doesn't "work as hard" as the bristlenoses.


The Queen Arabesque (Hypancistrus L260) is pretty, but doesn't eat a whole lot of algae either.


The Zebra (Hypancistrus L46) (if you can afford one), also doesn't eat much algae, but seems to prefer bloodworms and tetra color bits.



If you want a non-catfish algae eater that eats the black brush algae, take a look at the Siamese algae eater. Often confused for the flying fox or the Chinese algae eater, this fish will eat the black brush algae when hungry and small, by the time it grows out, it will have figured out to wait for you to feed the tank and it will join in.

Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus siamensis):


SAE info:
http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/cyprinid.html
(make sure you have the real fish)

Black brush algae:


All of these fish can live with discus. You can also find our more info on the catfish at:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/

Hope that helps,



Walter

[1Chuck9669]

Walter,

Thanks for the wonderful information. I did find the BN thread after I posted, IMO your reply said it all! Thanks for the pic's

[trebor69]

Hope that helps,
Walter

hope that helps? haha

krikey wahter thats one helluva reply bravo

[Valik]

hope that helps? haha

krikey wahter thats one helluva reply bravo

I agree that is a first class reply. Looks like a business presentation.

[ncyracer]

I mixed up the chinese with the siamese thanks to petco
Sorry

[YSS]

I found otos to be good algae eaters in the discus tank. I have heard, and acually seen once, that otos will stick and suck discus slime, but it hasn't been a problem in my tank. They stay small, are very peaceful, and eat algae well.

[blue acara]

The Amano shrimp is a good algea eater. Ive had mine in my planted discus tank @ 29c for a year now and have seen no losses so far. They grow suprisingly large so adults will not be eaten.

[Bobears]

Can't do better than a bushynose!!! I have siamese algae eaters in other tanks and their great, but they learn to eat other foods. I also keep 5 kinds of plecos and nothing beats a bushynose for the shear work load on algae.

[Darren's Discus]

Can't do better than a bushynose!!! I have siamese algae eaters in other tanks and their great, but they learn to eat other foods. I also keep 5 kinds of plecos and nothing beats a bushynose for the shear work load on algae.

Have to agree BN are the best those little buggers work their bums off !


cheers

[1Chuck9669]

Sold!!!

I will be purchasing the BN from my lfs. Thanks everyone! Any special quarantine requirements I should be aware of ?

Chuck

[ShinShin]

Any of the panques usually do well with discus if BN's aren't your thing.

Mat

[Crstfr]

royal line pleco.... he'll clean up that log.... i had a stump, and i'll try and get pics, but it was covered.. black alge.. this guys' a wood eater.. .cleaned it up in about 2 days... i'd say the stum must way about 6lbs...

[Fishguy2727]

I have had success with the following with discus with no complications:
gold nugget
bristlenose/bushynose
ottos
amano shrimp/algae eating shrimp

In my 75 I have a gold nugget and some amano shrimp and the tank needs no further maintenance from me, but without all the live plants in there that may be different.