Help with choosing an algae eater.?

Bristlenose Plecos ARE Plecos and get around 5", not 2", and need a minimum of 20-25 gallons. So ignore that one.

In your tank I would go with a group of Amano Shrimp, get some fairly chunky ones and they shouldn't become dinner. I've had my two Amanos 5 years now, they're about the same size as a Betta! They're excellent algae eaters too, but won't solve the problem really, just graze what they can. Whether they'll take the hair algae though, not much will touch that. Amanos also do not breed in freshwater, their shrimplets require brackish water to survive, so you'll have no problems with them in that respect.

As for the film on the glass, you'd be best getting a magnet scraper for that! Removed in seconds without even getting wet.

EDIT: Zander, Corys are NOT algae eaters. They'll only eat algae if they're starving to death! They primarily like meaty food.

You already have 4 Cory's. If they're not getting the job done then you're going to need to buy an algae sponge and scrub it yourself.

The two kinds of algae eater that fit your needs for a 10 gallon tank are Cory's and Otocinclus catfish. But I wouldn't recommend getting either one because your tank is pretty full already. You have room for maybe a 2 inch fish and you already have plenty of Cory's, Oto's need to be in a school so they're not really an option either.

EDIT: I guess I'm wrong about the Cory's being good algae eaters. I've seen them do it before but I guess I was overestimating how much they do that. They're definitely omnivorous.

There is no good fish option for a 10gal. Oto catfish are technically small enough, but can be tricky to care for in small tanks.

Snails might be a better option. A single apple snail wont breed, and nerite snails will only breed in salt water, they can live in fresh water, but wont breed.

Really soft acidic water may cause snails shells to erode, but if you do have water like that you can add some limestone chips or seashells to the water. Those will slowly dissolve instead, raise the pH a little, and keep your snails safe.

Ian

Nerites are meant to be super for planted tanks, it says they dont consume flora, in basic terms algae, on a gaggle of websights, I even have some small olive nerites and that they consume any algae that comes up incredibly speedy, I could feed them different meals becuase there is in no way adequate algae for them. they forget approximately approximately my marimo mossballs, yet those are they only flora I even have. they'd scatter a gaggle of tiny sesame seed looking eggs interior the tank, yet they wont hatch in freshwater tanks., nonetheless i desire they could, because of the fact no person sells nerites around right here and that they are so enormously.

my favorite is the bristle nose. its like a pleco. but it only grows to a maximum of about 2 and a half inches.

if their bristles kinda gross you out, you can always find a female one, who has little bristles. very nice. they are peaceful and wont generally breed unless you give them the opportunity too.

those yellow snails are good aswell, but once they breed your gnnr have these tiny annoying snails EVERYWHERE, and trust me, itll become a hassle.

little cherry shrimp are awesome, but they also breed, but most likely the little babies will get eaten up by your fish.

all in all. bristle nose gets my vote.

peace'