Rosy Barbs or Variatus Platy's for hair algae in community tanks

[Mr Gumby]

Hi folks

I watched @Cory's video on Rosy Barbs eating hair algae and was wondering if they'd be a good mix in my tanks but I'm also thinking Variatus Platy's might do the job?

I have a Guppy/Cory tank, a CPD tank and an Ember tetra/ Chili Rasbora tank.

None of the tanks have major hair algae issues so it's really just to control rather than remove hair algae

Thoughts?

 

 

[PaleoShrimp]

I’ve never owned rosy barbs, but I’ve read and seen evidence at fish stores that they nip fins. That would be a concern for me with the guppy tank. They might also be a little big to put with chili rasboras. 

[Mr Gumby]

On 9/16/2024 at 2:25 PM, PaleoShrimp said:

I’ve never owned rosy barbs, but I’ve read and seen evidence at fish stores that they nip fins. That would be a concern for me with the guppy tank. They might also be a little big to put with chili rasboras. 

thanks @PaleoShrimp, good to know

[Cory]

I haven't seen the variatus be great hair algae eaters really. I'm convinced Rosy Barbs might be the best hair algae eater.

[Justin V1]

Is there a specific strand of Rosy Barbs that eat algae or will all “Rosy Barbs” eat algae?

I can get 6 that are called “Red Glass Rosy Barb”, they are described as being somewhat translucent.  Pic attached
 

I don’t want to buy them if they won’t help with the hair algae issue I’m having.

 

 

[mynameisnobody]

@Justin V1 I believe they are the same fish (scientific name), more than like it’s been line bred. So they should do the exact same thing to the hair algae. Mind you, I’ve never kept either. They sure are pretty though. 

[Justin V1]

Also if they are aggressive/nippers to others. It’s a peaceful tank and I wouldn’t want to make it a stressful place to live

Thank you @mynameisnobody

[mynameisnobody]

What are the other inhabitants? What’s your idea of peaceful? 

Edited September 17 by mynameisnobody

[Justin V1]

On 9/17/2024 at 2:42 PM, mynameisnobody said:

What are the other inhabitants? What’s your idea of peaceful? 

It’s a 150 gallon with the following 

- 20+ Rummy nose

- 5 Roseline sharks

- 6 Panda Gaura

- 6 Hillstream loaches

- 8 Corydorras

-1 large rainbow shark

lots of wood and live plants

[mynameisnobody]

Ok so if it were me, I’d hold off on the rosy barbs for a bit. I would manually remove the hair algae and do a water change. I would then stuff that aquarium with plants. The crinum and anubias are very slow growing so they aren’t sucking up nutrients as quickly. As for plants, I would add 5-6 dwarf sag to the front and 5-6 pogostemon stellatus octopus to the back. It’ll suck up all those excess nutrients and it’ll also fill out in no time. Your lighting schedule will also play a role. After I got those 2 first steps and I’m still being annoyed by hair algae then I’d add the rosy barbs. 

[Justin V1]

Thank you! I’ll run with that, more plants!! Yeh!

From what I’ve gathered it seems like the rosy’s are a good option if you don’t have too many others in the tank, so I was hesitant. 
 

That tank needs more plants so I like that option