i have a fish tank and ive noticed just recently that im getting some algae forming on the the plants and filter and also the tanks its self, the tanks its self isnt a problem as i can clean this every day with the magnet cleaner.

what im wondering is, is there an algae eating fish that doesnt grow much more than say 5cm, and can live on its own in the tank with my existing fish?

Oh, ask Rob Shelley, he just brought one from Allenton :)

the best algae eaters are from the family Otocincus the most commonley available is otocinclus affinis max size 5 cm.
Is your tank getting direct light from a window as this speeds up the growth of algae
the common algae eater sold in shops can be come aggresive as it grows and the plec grows to big for an tank unless its a 4' one

cheers paula x

one side of it is near the window kenny, but theres bugger all i can do about it tbh, i cant move the tank to anywhere else, so i will just have to manage it the best i can.... i thought about a plec, but they can grow was too huge for the size of my tank, i might have to have a look for an otocinclus affinis though! i saw some small algae eaters in my local PAH.. and they grew no bigger than 5cm, but it said you had to buy them in no less than 4 at a time.

I have the same prob Shell, I can't have my tank anywhere else other than where it is now coz of the setup of the house.

ok other things you can do cut down time lights are on for tank.
yea the fish i mentioned are better kept in a group 3 or 4, they are not expensive usually.
ther are othe catfish and plecs that do no grow large some dwarf ones like the zebra plec but these are usually very expensive unless you know what ur looking for pets at home are a good place to get them cheap as they sometimes have them in there tanks pirced as normal plecs as the staff dont know the difference, our training club starts up again tonight so will post names off the other suitable fish latter

cheers kenny..... i normally have my tank light on from the minute i get up until i go to bed, so i should maybe not switch the light on until lunchtime maybe ...

i dont know what type of light you have but if its but if its possible you can fit a moonlight tube for the evening this still lets you see the fish but gives of a blueish light which can prevent algae growth,if this is not possible just put the light on as you suggested above. Other fish family Ancistrus ( or bristle nose plecs) various types but mx size 7-15cm. Peckoltia pulcher ( dwarf plec zebra)max size 6cm

cheers kenny, i think the Peckoltia pulcher ( dwarf plec zebra)max size 6cm sounds ideal for my tank, i may go and look for one of these this weekend x

the light i have for my fish is a bright white one....so i may see about fitting a moonlight tube.