Nicole wants to know:
I have African Cichlids. The ph in my tank is a bit higher, since that is what they do best in. Unfortunately, the plecosamus algae eaters were not doing well so I got Chinese algae eaters, I believe. I only have 2 in a 30 gallon tank but they already ate all the algae! They guy at the pet store said they might start sucking on my fish if they don’t get enough algae. I tried wafers thinking it made more algae but all it does is dissolve in the water before they even notice it! How do I make more algae in my tank?
I have African Cichlids. The ph in my tank is a bit higher, since that is what they do best in. Unfortunately, the plecosamus algae eaters were not doing well so I got Chinese algae eaters, I believe. I only have 2 in a 30 gallon tank but they already ate all the algae! They guy at the pet store said they might start sucking on my fish if they don’t get enough algae. I tried wafers thinking it made more algae but all it does is dissolve in the water before they even notice it! How do I make more algae in my tank?
July 24th, 2009 at 6:30 am
Don’t clean it for a while.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Well, i have fish and a way that makes algae grow real fast is to plant real plants in your tamk, they naturally create algae. Another alternative would be to stop your filter for a couple days to allow the scum to grow to algae. Good luck!
July 29th, 2009 at 10:52 am
trust me you dont want more algae……. if you do you can put your tank so that it gets some sun light. not direct sunlight all day
July 29th, 2009 at 11:40 am
That’s what the tablets are supposed to do!
I recomend ggeting a cave or sunken ship to put in it. Plastic objects attract more algae then the res of the tank. I had a sucker fish and it never left the sunken ship!!! I didn’t see any algae in the tank but it was doing just fine. Don’t worry!
p.s. I have never heard of algae eaters sucking on other fish, there herbavors, they don’t do that!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:53 pm
If that’s really the way you want to go, then increase you lighting an extra hour per day. If that doesn’t do it you can always use some aquarium plant fertilizer. With no plants it will go right to growing algae.
MM
August 1st, 2009 at 4:21 am
A lack of algae is not what causes them to suck on your other fish. They feed less and less on algae as they grow older, and become more and more agressive. They do begin to suck on the sides of other fish as they age, weakening these fish and eventually causing death. Unfortunately, this makes them unsuitable for most tanks. I would suggest you take them back to the store. You don’t NEED an algae eater in your tank–regular water changes and an algae magnet will keep your tank clean.
BTW, what kind of african cichlids do you have, and how many? Most are not good choices for a 30 gallon tank! Did you research the species before you set it up?
August 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
If you want excess algae, try leaving the light on longer than usual. Light is a main factor in algae growth and if you give more light, more algae will grow.
August 7th, 2009 at 12:14 am
algae does do good for the aquarium. u should try it xD
August 8th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Algae- TO grow more in your tank, leave the light on longer.
Chinese algae eaters will in fact start going after your fish, especially when they get older. Two in one tank is going to be a problem, they’re not going to get enough algae to eat and will start to look for others sources of food.
This is complicated by your cichlids, especially of you have mbuna. Mbuna graze algae off rocks in their natural habitat. In your tank they’ll graze as well, basically all your fish are eating the algae.
I would recommend getting rid of the algae eaters and not adding more light to your tank. You should be fine.
August 10th, 2009 at 3:28 am
Chinese algae eaters get more agressive as they get older, more algae in the tank won’t change that.
but if you’ve just got your heart set on more algae, get a full spectrum florescent bulb and set it to 12 hrs on and 12hrs off and decrease your water changes a bit (the increase in nitrates will encourage growth)…
side note: adding plants won’t increase algae… plants compete with algae for nutrients and CO2.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Some good advice some weird. Algae eaters, even though they are algae eaters also need other food to do well. Supplement your algae eaters with a veggie food like Emerald Entre. Algae is a plant, adding veggies to your tank will supplement the lack of algae you have and keep them from becoming too aggressive due to fighting for what little food is in the tank. This is a better alternative than building up too much algae in your tank.
You can add to the algae by increasing the light and the temps in your tank.
August 13th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
give the tank more light