algae eater advice

I recently setup a 20g long tank( near a window ) for my two black mollies and their 11 one-inch fry. A coworker will be taking half if not all of the fry, but I am in need of an algae eater that will keep the algae at bay and that won't outgrow the tank(at least for a year or so). I really like the plecos but not sure if they are compatible. Not really interested in Chinese algae eaters unless I am forced too. I know there are a lot of enthusiastic pleco keepers on here..... Looking for any and all opinions here, as I don't normally do the community setups.

I have algae wafers for my marble horn in my c. american cichlid tank.... so feeding it prior to algae build up is not a problem.

thanks in advance,
lloyd378

Oto cats

Agreed, Otocincleus catfish or snails would be good to clean up any algae.

Hi lloyd378,

I like Otos for the soft flat algae types and a Siamese Algae Eater (Crossocheilus oblongus) for the thread type algae.

i think its better to alter the conditions that are causeing algae than trying to find something to remove it.

if i had a place near an outlet in my classroom that was away from the windows, i would definitely move them.... but thanks for the recommendations on the otos. i will probably go get some at a LFS soon!

a rubber lip or bristle nose pleco will not get hugh like a sail fin/marble, but I would stay away from a Chinese Algae eater.. they get really aggressive when the get up to size.

I picked up a Bristle nose yesterday from Conway fish, the little guy was working hard this morning when I saw him. I have always had some kind of algae in the tank from green to brown then back to green depending on the light I use. Since going to LEDs it's stayed mostly brown now. Will see how the little guy does??