Algae Grazer on Boulders

[katytropheus]

Beyond the colony of tropheus, is there an effective algae grazer (brown) on the boulders which will not alter the actions of the tropheus as well as not have an impact on breeding/fry livelihood in the tank?  I was told that Alex put a major client of his on a type of pseudotropheus--seems pretty risky based on temperment.

Thanks.

[jetchanic]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

petros def. would graze on the algae but may affect the breeding.

[jeebus]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

What about a single Petro? Any Plecos out there that are hardy enough?

[Zulaab]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

I have two pleco's, the golden nugget and the royal pleco.
The golden for sure does not come out unless its dark... and they clean like there is no tomorrow
What I like to do is make a large cave from two pieces of slate and the golden will pick that dark spot to sleep during the day.  Dont make the cave small as then fry would want the cave themselves and will be forced out of it because of the size of the pleco.   If you make the cave large you will have a fish in it.. but it will not bother the pleco and it will sleep there.

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

NERITES!

I have had my Trophs for some time and have found that holey rock is an algae magnet! I have tried Albino bristlenose but they at times quarrel with the breeding males, Petros are a hit and miss since yes they graze further into the rock then any troph can (mouth structure allows them to) but they also sometimes terrorize the rest of the tank.

Nerites on the other hand are small snails that go un-detected by the trophs unless of course you knock them over and the flesh is shown to the trophs but they just go about their business munching away at algae.

[katytropheus]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

Do the snails multiply by a thousand?

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

Nerite eggs only hatch in brackish/salt water.

[katytropheus]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

Thanks, EK.  Where do you get the snails?

[jeebus]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

Dan at HAW has some for .75 a piece.

[geoff_tropheus]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

Just another option.

I have not had any issues, with regular brisstlenose..

The Trophs keep the brisstles "trimed" down though...but they have worked out nicely for me.

Geoff

[eklikewhoa]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

I tried keeping the bristlenose with my Trophs and there would be territory battles between my dominant males and the bristlenose so I got rid of them.

[katytropheus]

Re: Algae Grazer on Boulders

EK,

Any issues with the tropheus eating the snails (protein) and getting bloat?  FG has the snails (about dime size)--you ever run into any filtration issues with those guys getting in the system?

Thanks.