goldfish and algae - flying foxes? flagfish?

[nerbaneth]

Hi everyone,

I would post this question on a different site, but any goldfish site would tell me to cut down on feeding - change the type of food - or add something to the tank that would remove organic compounds so algae could not grow.

Due to a die off I had in my tank - my ex roommate possibly killing my fish - I let my girlfriend add her fancy goldfishies into my planted tank (90gal)

The only problem is that my favorite algae eaters like ottos or gold algae eaters are a threat to the goldfish. The goldfish will eat ottos and die because of their barbs. any other type of 'sucky mouth' algae eater will suck on the goldfish's slime coat and cause infection.

Does anyone know if there is a good algae eater compatable with goldfish and planted tanks? I can't find anything on flying foxes or florida flagfish.


Info about my tank that might be useful:
4 t5 lights
water change once a week - 35% to 50% depending on the water quality
I dose with PMDD once every other day (the premixed stuff from aquariumfertalizers.com)
there is only 4 goldfish in the tank
my co2 is good('green') according to my drop checker that I change frequently

Thanks!
-Nerb

 

[tedr108]

Give the goldfish back to your girlfriend!

 

[nerbaneth]

Give the goldfish back to your girlfriend!

hahaha I like the way you think! My girlfriend would disagree In all honesty I have enjoyed the goldfish - they have much more of a 'personality' than tetras!

 

[tedr108]

Sorry, I couldn't resist that one...

Seriously, keep a close eye on your plants, goldfish will eat many plants. And, if these things are big enough to eat Otos, your planted tank could become barren in no time!

The bioload of goldfish is incredibly high, but you should be fine with only 4 of them.

What type of algae are you trying to remove? I think goldfish will eat most algae on plants. If you are talking algae on glass, a few big nerite snails will probably keep that clean for you -- and, I doubt a goldfish would bother them. Some plecos are great glass cleaners also -- someone else would have to recommend a species for you, as I don't know enough about them.

I can totally understand your enjoyment of the goldfish's personality. The first time I had fish come up to the glass when I came into a room or had them eat out of my hand, it was definitely cool.

 

[nerbaneth]

Thanks for your response!

I have some trapdoor snails in the tank that are fine for the glass. I guess i forgot to tell you what kind of algae it is To the best of my knowledge I would say that it is staghorn. It is kind of a greenish grey stringy algae that branches off from itself. The goldfish do pick at it, but they prefer their fancy 'Pro Gold' formula. I suggested starving them to my girlfriend - and she laughed at me.

You'd be surprised how big a goldfish's mouth is; a three inch goldfish can eat a full grown fat otto. We lost our favorite goldfish to an otto. I am not too concerned with the goldfish eating the plants because all the plants in my tank were ones that a large common pleco wouldn't eat - or if it did - it grew to fast to matter. (I know.. bad choice of fish for a planted tank.. goldfish and common plecos) My pleco is a rescue fish I took from someones tank - they were feeding it cat food.

Thanks again!
-Nerb