Green Spot Algae, Hair Algae

[Cam]

Hey all, hope you are having a good holiday season!

I am asking a few quick questions here, and could use some good and experienced help. I currently keep 5 Harlequin Rasboras and 1 Albino Bushynose Plecostomus in my ten gallon. The fish in here are currently 2 and up years old, and my plecostomus was spawned last January.

I know it is slightly overstocked, so there is a slight unbalance somewhere. I do not currently have test strips, and will be buying some this week. The tank layout is set currently as a nice chunk of mopani driftwood for my plecostomus to chew on and hide around and inside, rocks and hiding crevaces, and also set with 2 large fake Amazon Swords. There is a bunch of swimming room for my Harlequins. Pictures will be posted when I give it a good clean up.

This tank has been running well for about 7 years now, and I clean it completely and monthly. But I will give you my biggest two problems.

Green spot algae on glass, and brown and green hair algae on gravel. It takes a long time to clean, and I am very sick of it. My pleco doesn't seem to have a taste for either type, sadly.

Any reasons behind Green spot algae? Anything I can fix?

Any reasons behind short Green hair algae? Anything I can do there?

I am really getting into fixing this as best as possible, and your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance

[funlad3]

I have an answetion! (Answer+Question) Do any of those fancy FW Shrimp work? I think they would, but have no experience. Anyone? Help us out?

[emc7]

green spot is a real pain. The only pleco that can eat it is a rubbber-lip. It has a hard skeleton that remains on the glass even after you bleach it. Most recommend that you scrub it off with a credit card.

[Cam]

I was looking into Rubberlips, but my current size is way to tiny for a plecostomus that size. I have bred rubberlips 3 times successfully in my old 30 gallon, but havent touched base with them since. Other than that I have bred Bushynose, Common, and Arabesque a few times as well, not a fun job getting rid of many many little plecos.

A credit card may work better than my dish scrubber sponge that I use on my glass. I will have to give that a try when I clean my tank tomorrow, thanks!

As far as hair algae goes, I only get it when I leave my tank un-cleaned for over a month.

[emc7]

razor blade scrapers also work but you risk scratching the glass.