Member

Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-01-2004 11:34 AM         

---

Hi everybody! Today is the day my cichlid's home will be re-decorated. Woo hoo! I've got this fake rock that has space in the top to plant live plants in. So I figure he won't be able to dig them up this way. I was wondering if I could squeeze in a Chinese Algae eater from my community tank because the cichlids tank gets algae sooooo bad. It's a ten gallon with 1 melanochromis auratus. What do you guys think the odds are of the algae eater being able to live in there? Thanks!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-01-2004 12:31 PM         

---

M. auratus tend to be pretty nasty fish even for cichlids. My 2 are a little nicer than normal but they still nip at my plecos all the time. A chinese algae eater isn't nearly as tough as a pleco so I don't think he would be too happy living with the M. auratus.

For algae control you could just try leaving the light on for shorter periods of time, feeding a little less, and increasing the number of water changes.

-Chelle

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-01-2004 12:36 PM         

---

Hmmmm.... what I was actually wanting the algae eater for was because I don't want the live plants to become covered in algae and die because I can't get it off. I couldn't keep a pleco alive if MY life depended on it or I would get one... what about algecides? I have one that works occassionally would that harm the plants? Thanks!

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 501
From:Missouri
Registered: Feb 2004

posted 03-01-2004 03:53 PM         

---

Oops, I forgot about the live plants; less light won't work then. And I've never tried an algaecide so I can't comment on that.

You could try the algae eater, but be prepared to remove it if it starts getting picked on.

-Chelle

IP: Logged

Moderator

Posts: 199
From:El Paso, Texas
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 03-01-2004 08:04 PM         

---

Most algea eaters are really small. That could present a really inviting snack for your cichlid. The other factor working against you is the size of the tank. It might be pretty easy for that auratus to catch the algea eater in there. The cichlid looks nice, but essentially it could act really differently with an unwelcomed guest. I have a 6 inch algea eater that lives with severums, but thats in an 80 gallon tank. Be careful and good luck.

[This message has been edited by Hooben (edited 03-01-2004).]

IP: Logged

Member

Posts: 158
From:Marysville, CA
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 03-01-2004 08:10 PM         

---

I don't think I wanna risk it. I'd feel too guilty if anything happened when I'm not home to fish the little guy out. I think I'll just become very familiar with my scrubber again. Thanks anyway.

IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)