Jan 11
8

How many Siamese Algae Eaters fit ninety gallon tank?

3 Comments

Stocking

I need a recommendation on how many siamese algae eaters, aka Siamese Flying foxes, is the right quantity for a planted tank.  The tank size is ninety gallons.  There is still algae in the tank even though I have a whiptail catfish and four loaches already.

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Posted in Algae by Pond Manager 3 Comments

3 Responses to "How many Siamese Algae Eaters fit ninety gallon tank?"

  • Jessica says:
    August 15, 2010 at 8:16 pm
    Reply

    Positive they’re SAE?
    This is an SAE – mostly black and silver/white
    http://www.plantgeek.net/articles/gg_algae_faq/SAE_ID.jpg

    This is a Flying Fox — very similar, but darker and more gold
    http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/Fishpics/fox1.jpg

    True SAEs, if you actually found them, are good for algae control while they’re young, and they have more algae to graze on than fish food. The reason they’re so popular is because they’re one of the only fish known to eat dreaded black beard algae.

    I have a 125 planted setup, and added 6 juvenile SAE when I first set up the tank. Boy, that was a silly decision. Did they help nip some algae here and there? Yes, but, they are gluttons for fish food for the other fish and quickly became robust eating machines, ignoring the algae.

    This is a common plight for planted tank owners who go down the SAE route. I have since caught 4 of my 6 and gave them away. My remaining two are cruising at about 5" now.

    The SAE trend has now been defeated by more efficient algae eaters…. whiptails (like you have), armies of Amano shrimp, otocinclus catfish, Nerite snails etc.

    Unless you’re dealing with black bearded/brush algae, I would save yourself the future headache and skip the SAEs. Figure out what kind of algae you have, and see if you can yourself beat it back.

    Spot-treatments of Flourish Excel and gentle, subtle increases in CO2 can help.

    Best of luck!

  • sweethoney785 says:
    August 15, 2010 at 8:16 pm
    Reply

    1for every 5 gallons..so about 18

  • Rick says:
    August 15, 2010 at 8:16 pm
    Reply

    Siamese Algae Eaters and Siamese Flying Foxes are NOT the same animal. Siamese Algae Eaters do tend to work better in groups, but opinions differ on how many. WetWebMedia claims large tanks do well with dozens, but also do equally well with only five or six animals.

    But be sure you are really getting Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus siamensis).

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