jkt001 Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Looking to get an algae eater for my cold water tank. It stays between 65-72 and has white clouds in it currently. I will clean myself but would like also a cleaning organism. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudofish Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 That guy totally looks like Howie Long. As for the algae eaters how do you feel about snails? Nerites would be good I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 My ramshorn snails are the best algae eaters I've had, and they could take the cooler water. They do tend to reproduce rather freely however. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I have removed the heaters from all of my tanks. I keep White Clouds, Neocaridina shrimp, Amano shrimp, Otocinclus, Pygmy Corydoras, Siamese Algae Eaters, Ember Tetras, Bloodfin Tetras, a Yo-yo loach, and a Betta. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkt001 Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 On 7/8/2021 at 8:33 PM, sudofish said: That guy totally looks like Howie Long. As for the algae eaters how do you feel about snails? Nerites would be good I think. Actually, without my glasses I get Bobby Flay at least once every other month. Yes I know Nerites are an option, will they clean it pretty well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkt001 Posted July 9, 2021 Author Share Posted July 9, 2021 On 7/8/2021 at 8:37 PM, Streetwise said: I have removed the heaters from all of my tanks. I keep White Clouds, Neocaridina shrimp, Amano shrimp, Otocinclus, Pygmy Corydoras, Siamese Algae Eaters, Ember Tetras, Bloodfin Tetras, a Yo-yo loach, and a Betta. Really? At what water temps do you keep the otos? I live in Michigan so… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I can attest to the fact that Nerites are amazing algae eaters, better than my Otos or Mystery snails 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I love my bristlenose plecos. They are very personable and interactive once they get used to you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 @jkt001, it seems like if my apartment is okay for me, it works for these fish, plus bladder snails, and Ramshorn snails. The air temperature probably varies between 66F and 80F, although I have gotten more aggressive with my AC to try to max out at 78F for my tanks. I’m not trying to keep any hot fish. The tanks with lights obviously get more heat. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sudofish Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Nerites and ramshorns are both respectable algae cleaners. Of course the ramshorns can have a tendency to overpopulate, though avoiding overfeeding can keep them in check somewhat. Bristlenose plecos should be able to do cooler temps as well. Not sure how they compare to snails as to algae cleaning ability. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I agree Ramshorn are a great cold water algae eater I have black Ramshorn snails in my gold fish tank 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben_RF Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 The olive nerite snail should be a good option and thrive in those temperatures. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 On 7/8/2021 at 7:37 PM, Streetwise said: I have removed the heaters from all of my tanks. I keep ... a Betta. I've always heard bettas *must* have a temp near 78-80. I want a betta, but don't want the task of close temp regulation. How's your betta doing? @jkt001I'll be the zillionth vote for ramshorn snails. They're amazing on flat algae (like on glass). Not sure about 3D algae. As for reproducing, I've found that as soon as mine don't have loads of algae to eat, I suddenly have a lot of empty ramshorn snails. (I've even been supplementing with chlorella to try to save the colony.) Because of that, I really doubt you'd end up with too many ramshorns. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) @CalmedByFishI've routinely kept Bettas in tanks without heaters. Granted I've never had one live 3 years but I don't know anybody yet really that has. My temps I think are not regular though because I like my house a bit warmer but my tanks never go below 73. Edited July 9, 2021 by xXInkedPhoenixX 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenman Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 On 7/8/2021 at 9:18 PM, CalmedByFish said: I've always heard bettas *must* have a temp near 78-80. I want a betta, but don't want the task of close temp regulation. How's your betta doing? @jkt001I'll be the zillionth vote for ramshorn snails. They're amazing on flat algae (like on glass). Not sure about 3D algae. As for reproducing, I've found that as soon as mine don't have loads of algae to eat, I suddenly have a lot of empty ramshorn snails. (I've even been supplementing with chlorella to try to save the colony.) Because of that, I really doubt you'd end up with too many ramshorns. Just a note on bettas, most retailers just have them in jars on shelves with no heater, so they can survive in cooler conditions. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I will admit that I am testing Betta temperature. This is my biggest question for the future club event. I was glad to move mine to a community tank, which gets heat from two Nano sponge filters, and a 15” Fluval 3.0. I really won’t have any good feedback until Autumn or Winter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 @Streetwise my tanks actually run warmer in winter than summer, which is why I suspect my Otos spawned because they haven't so far since. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streetwise Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 Interesting, @xXInkedPhoenixX ! I don’t have the space to work on breeding more than shrimp. However, I did notice that my White Clouds dropped a bunch of eggs when I moved them indoors with new well water last year at my folks’ house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GameCzar Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 In my limited experience, Nerites are like really slow scrubbing bubbles in your tank. They get after the algae. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 @gardenmanand some of those retail stores are stupid cold. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griznatch Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) Nerites are excellent algae eaters, they are however like bulldozers. They don't keep air in their shells like bladder and mystery snails, and are heavy. If you have spindly plants, they tend to fold them over. I swear they like to weave them in to impossible shapes. They are also very sensitive to some meds.. My wife's last betta lived almost 5 years, no heater. Edited July 9, 2021 by Griznatch spelling 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 i keep my tanks unheated, and the bristlenose plecos, and pandagarra's dont seem to mind. temps run form mid 60's to upper 70's. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 I would think Hillstream loaches would do pretty good in cold water tanks too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) On 7/8/2021 at 8:17 PM, xXInkedPhoenixX said: I would think Hillstream loaches would do pretty good in cold water tanks too I was going to suggest that, but don't know for sure. My unheated tank with Hillstream Loaches in it is in the living room and I haven't seen temps under 70 degrees. Edited July 9, 2021 by Ken . 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xXInkedPhoenixX Posted July 9, 2021 Share Posted July 9, 2021 (edited) @KenI think I remember Cory mentioning keeping them in a goldfish tank in a video, and they prefered that over the super hot tanks he also kept them in. But since I've never had experience I was hesitant too. It was however suggested to me by a LFS one time when they found out I didn't use a heater- again though- my tanks never get into the 60s. Edited July 9, 2021 by xXInkedPhoenixX 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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