need algae eater that will survive

[Pufferpunk]

I think the arrowhead is much more aggressive, fin for fin, than a fahaka. I have known a few fahakas to be fish-friendly--never any ambush predators.

[Troender]

Arrowheads are piscivores, so anything with fins are considered food. But snails can go well (or cannot, depending on the arrowhead specimen). I tried to feed my arrowhead snails several times, with no luck - for other than the snails. The snails lived happily ever after, and started to breed in the arrowhead's tank.

[arrowhead]

My large apple snail just bit my arrowhead !!!! Its the most hes moved in the 2 days ive had him, lol. I don't know how it has manged to catch 6 or 7 guppys and some shrimp in the first night.

[fahucker]

CAEs only eat algae when young. Adult want higher-protein foods.

I have noticed that. Any scraps left over by the Fahaka he will eat...but I thought it was because there wasn't any algae anymore.

Cory Catfish seem to do a good job for any algae and anything else left over.

Maybe a pleco? I know every hates them, but could be a good shot.

[Troender]

Cory Catfish seem to do a good job for any algae and anything else left over.

Maybe a pleco? I know every hates them, but could be a good shot.

Cories don't eat algae. But, yes, they can eat left overs. But still, you shouldn't keep any fish together with a piscivore, like an arrowhead. Not a pleco either. And certainly not cories. Besides being small enough to be eaten whole (at least many of the species), they don't know how to stay away. Cories don't learn from their mistakes.

[RTR]

So-called "clean-up" crews do not work in tanks with piscivores (fish eaters) period. They are a food instead and a potentially hazardous one.

Adult CAEs have been known to slime-suck any round or flat-bodied fish large enough. Fish slime does have some protein, and when protein-starved they will use that to supplement their diet. Adult SAEs also go to higher-protein diets when mature and must be fed regular fish foods, serving no more as algae-grazers. Not a good thing for a puffer tank extra bioload to no useful end.

Any suckermouth catfish may behave similarly to CAEs when protein-deficient. Same issues as with CAEs, plus they may well have potentially dangerous pectoral spines if the puffer tries to eat them. Not a good thing for a puffer tank.

Cory cats are not algae-eaters, as already posted, and tend to be harassed by puffers, even the smallest ones, who nip their dorsal and caudal fins. Also not a good thing for a puffer tank.

Crustaceans are pretty good clean-up crews for left-overs, but are unlikely to survive long enough with puffers to serve that function.

It comes down to the keeper being the puffer's clean-up crew. Puffers in general do not play well with others.

[bertie 83]

Anyone want a large aggressive CAE? lol

[RTR]

Adult CAEs are common pet fish, but they are not algae eaters anymore. They are pretty hefty fish and can be pets, but are best in a species tank. They are, like puffers, big bioload fish and need plenty of space.

[Reaperpilot2014]

My Congo always did well with apple snails, never bothering them.The comments about CAEs are quite true from my experience. They also get rather aggressive when they are adults. No matter what you do, any live algae cleaner is a potential food item.

[DrKennethNoisewater]

anyone have any luck using some of the higher quality algae eating chemicals? i have no plants or anything either than my puffers in my tank, if yours is the same it might work....?? i read the bottle at the store and it sounds like a dream come true as long as you have no snails, plants, or live rocks. but i doubt its good for your fish or bacteria. (just a guess)

[Reaperpilot2014]

Generally if it's not good for invertebrates, plants or live rock, it's not good for puffers IMHO. I've never used chemicals to clean algae. I use a sponge to clean the tank every other week, and have only moderate lighting in my puffer room, so haven't had much of a problem with algae yet.

[sevenyearnight]

+1
Those chemicals are bad voodoo!

[Flutter]

Manual removal is your best option.

[arrowhead]

I am not 100% sure why i have tiny algee build up in my tank, every week when i do the water changes there is really small amounts. All i have in the tank is a live plant and about 15 marimo moss balls from ebay, mabie you should get some of them because i never had a algee problem before. Ithink they might eat what algee eats or something lol. My glass looks like when i got the tank so it could be them moss balls helping.

[Reaperpilot2014]

Algae need light and nutrition to thrive, so overfeeding or too much light can lead to a problem fairly quickly. With 2x weekly water changes, cleaning, and only moderate lighting, I really haven't ever had any alga that ever became a nuisance. Live plants actually seem to help keep algae levels down.