Re: [GSAS-Member] Fish for Hair Algae

["Shango Los" <Shango@shangolos.com>]

Ah..this may be an elegant solution.  The hair algae problem is in my new
shrimp breeding tank.  I have cherries, amano and tiger in there.  Maybe I
should just wait and let them get to it.



________________________________________________________

Shango Los

Phone: 206-595-9006
Fax: 206-729-5271
www.ShangoLos.com
www.SunbreakShines.com


-----Original Message-----
From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com
[mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Clifford Miller
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 1:36 PM
To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat
Subject: Re: [GSAS-Member] Fish for Hair Algae


Although this is totally anecdotal, I think my cherry shrimp have actually
done a much better job at keeping my algea levels down than my amano
shrimp used to.

The key seems to be the numbers...amanos may get more than twice as long
(and probably up to 5+ times the mass at least in some cases), but without
changing your salinity for the young you're unlikely to see much
reproduction.  I purchased three amanos from a fish store in NY that had
turned into a group of 6 or 8 by the time I moved and gave away the tank
(a little less than a year).  I never adding salt, but I've heard the
reproduction results can very depending on the geographic locale of the
shrimp.  Some babies like full salt, some half, some little to none.

I bought 20 or so Cherry shrimp from Hiro and another dozen or so from
someone on Craigslist around four months ago, and have now sold that many
and established new breeding colonies in three different tanks.

I've recently added shrimp to a 10 gallon that's been nearly destroyed by
cynobacteria. I don't think they eat it, but they sure knock it off my
plants while eating the other kinds. They're the best freshwater cleanup
crew I've found yet...

As far as actual fish go, I've had good luck with Ameca Spelendens and
plain black mollies...and had a friend that once recommended American Flag
Fish, although I've never kept them myself.

Cliff


>  I've been surprised by how good a job Amano shrimp or a batch of red
> cherries on that thready algae I've got in a couple of my tanks. Does the
> solution have to be a fish??
>
> Betty Goetz
>
>> What is the smallest fish that will tank care of hair algae?  I have an
>> issue in my 7 gallon and don't want to put an SAE in there because they
>> get so big.
>
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