[Kinection]

Which would you guys say is better for eating algae off
of plants? I'm really interested in otos since they don't harm
shrimp, but heard that they need to be kept in schools and
are very sensitive to water? SAEs on the other hand,
can't be kept with shrimp, but don't need to be kept in
schools...
Which is better for my situation?

 

[jkan0228]

Depends on your algae.

Otos don't NEED to be kept in schools but their behavior in schools is quite fun to watch.

SAE's nibble on my moss and can get quite large.

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi AquaticStory,

I use both in my tanks. I typically have one SAE in my tanks and they eat the hair/thread type algae and BBA if I weaken it with Excel/glutaraldehyde treatment. I use Otos, usually one per 10 gallons, to control the softer flat algae. Neither species will eat BGA.

 

[Kinection]

I don't think mines is BGA, I'll try
to get a pic tomorrow after school.
It's almost my bedtime. XD
It's a brown thing that makes moss
bubbly like and is a dark brown, almost
black. Would ottos or SAEs eat that?

 

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi AquaticStory,

It is hard to tell from your description, a picture would certainly help.

 

[Kinection]

Man I'm being so rude. Hi there!
I'll try to get the best pics I can of the moss,
all I have is an iPod. My dad's lost the USB
for my camera. Well, good night!

 

[Yuri]

I keep both. My cleaning crew consist of SAE, ottos, Amano shrimps and red cherry shrimps and some Olive and Horned Nerite snails.

Ive have had not problems at all.

I added SAE for BBA, not that I have a problem with it, but just incase....

Just take care on how many to add, as SAE get pretty big. I personally get rid of them once they get over 10 cms and add new smaller ones.

 

[Wicket_lfe]

Agreed that both is the way to go, to cover all your algae "bases".

I would also suggest algae wafers from time to time in case you dont have enough algae.

 

[acitydweller]

SAEs would be the perfect algae worker if not for their adult size and aggressive nature

 

[Kinection]

I decided to get Otos since I don't think
I want to risk any babies from getting killed.
When I moved my moss today, 10 babies
came running out. I shaked the moss even
more, and I probably had 10-25 babies!
I took the moss and used my hose (jet mode)
and it shot out a TON of waste, not algae.
I think it was waste because this tank was previously
a tank for my hatchling turtle. He produced a ton of
waste, and when I did water changes, the waste probably
went on the moss. My theory of how some algae
got on it was because there was probably too many nutrients
on the moss, so algae grew on it. I think I solved the problem
by doing a 90% water change today... lets hope my shrimp
don't die... (fingers crossed)

 

[fishykid1]

IME, after SAE's hit about 1-1.5 years old they get fat and lazy unless you don't feed the tank. I've had 4-5 do that. However, I've only had one not do that.

 

[Zefrik]

I have had both and I would go with Ottos. Sae get so big and they don't clean as much once they mature.

 

[musician71604]

I'd go with oto's as well. They are sensitive to high nitrates, but I've had great success with them and even had oto fry purely by coincidence. I toss in zucchini on occasion to be certain they're getting enough to eat.