However, the Sailfin Tang will also be super active in its search of hair algae and it will keep a reef tank in check. This is a type of hair algae that is soft, thin, and looks like a mesh. It is essentially what happens when you leave film algae to grow for too long.
Whenever you run out of yours, feed your beautiful Sailfin Tang with algae wafers and flake food. These guys are phenomenal at eating algae. They can clean up a decently-sized aquarium in a matter of DAYS. The Ramshorn snail is the go-to solution for combating algae growth in a heavily planted tank.
If yes then you probably know that the Nerite snail is an honorable member of the Aquarium Clean-up Crew when it comes to freshwater tanks. The Nerite snail will actively eat brown algae also known as diatoms.
A single Nerite snail can take care of the brown microalgae in a gallon fish tank alone. They will roam around your tank with their super slow snail speed, looking for algae and other uninvited organic matter to snack on. Note: Though Nerite snails look cool and eat algae, some people find their eggs very unsightly and end up removing them through various means.
Removing the eggs of a Nerite snail is not an easy task. They only like to eat soft algae that are growing on hard surfaces. It will eat anything from microalgae to hair algae nonselectively. These guys grow large and heavy. The Amano shrimp generally became popular after Takashi Amano introduced it to the aquarium trade.
Anyway, this shrimp has been known to absolutely love and even depend on algae. For this reason, it should only be added to an already-established aquarium. Amano shrimp will definitely eat and even prefer grazing on hair aquarium algae. Having some green or another type of hair-like freshwater algae is actually recommended for this shrimp species.
Be careful not to end up with another species of Caridina, as they are hundreds because they will not be as good as the Amano shrimp in battling algae. However, the Red Cherry shrimp is one of the very few algae-eating critters that could comfortably live in a small aquarium of 5 or less gallons. The Cherry shrimp will multiply fast, as long as there are none of their natural predators in their tank. If you resort to these algae grazers, you should carefully pick their tank mates if you want them to sustain a stable colony.
Usually, an aquarist will add these to their heavily planted tank that has dwarf community fish in it. The Cardinal Sulawesi shrimp has earned the respect of fishkeepers for both its appearance and algae-devouring abilities.
Another thing to consider if you want these colorful creatures to clean your tank is that they are rarely found in fish stores. Have a look at the algae eating fish compatible with cichlids:. On some occasions, Bristlenose plecos will be able to keep the algae in check in a cichlid tank. However, you should introduce the pleco earlier, when your cichlids are young. This gives both species time to get used to cohabit with one another. Another condition for this setup to work is that the pleco should already be decently sized so that it can protect itself in case of aggression.
The third condition to be met is that you provide the Bristlenose with plenty of hiding spaces, enough to keep it safe during the daytime. Consider adding a small piece of driftwood with the pleco, as it will graze on it because it helps with its digestion. Driftwood will lower the pH of the water by a tiny bit, so bear that in mind if your cichlids demand a slightly more alkaline tank environment.
Note that African Cichlids are mainly herbivorous and introducing good plant-based Cichlid food such as Spirulina to their diet, may stimulate their appetite for some types of algae.
Most any fish that is not large enough to become dinner will eventually get eaten, no matter how fast or smart it is. SAEs and Otos get eaten. Older red ear sliders RES tend to lean on the herbivorous side more, which gives their fish tankmates higher chances for survival. A ghost shrimp will be eaten by the turtle at some point. But they will also do an outstanding job at cleaning the walls and hard surfaces of your tank from algae.
By the time your turtle eats a couple, the others may as well learn how to avoid and escape the predator. Red cherry shrimp are faster and more agile than ghost shrimp but they are also significantly more expensive.
African dwarf frogs are violent little creatures. For this reason, they should be housed with faster and larger fish or ones that are inhabiting the upper space in the aquarium. Algae consumers such as mollies, a Bristlenose pleco, or a rubber lipped pleco will be appropriate for a tank with an African Dwarf frog.
Nerite snails could also work, as their shell makes them immune to the frog. After your tank is free of algae and even during the cleaning process, the aforementioned aquatic species will still need to feed on something else. Listed below are options that will generally fit the healthy diet profile of an algivorous aquarium inhabitant.
Do keep in mind that every fish, crustacean or snail has its own personal preferences as with algal consumption. Following this list will guarantee that your pet will be provided with important vitamins, nutrients, and fiber from diverse food sources. Picking algae eaters for your aquarium will work if you provide them with a healthy habitat while choosing the right type for your problem. They should feel comfortable in their tank so that they can fully indulge in what they do best.
Know that these creatures are not problem solvers, but rather an aid. To fully eradicate the issue you need to dig deeper and find the cause. In a freshwater tank, the nutrients responsible for the hair algae outbreak may be entirely different than in a reef tank.
Let me know your experience in the comments so I can update this article and help more fishkeepers out. I have a 40 gallon breeder with many cherry shrimp. I also have recently added 5 Siamese algae eaters, also have 6 amano but only one of decent size, pond snails. I reduced lighting but my hair Algae is going out of control.
What can I add that will eat the hair algae and leave my cherry shrimp alone? It seems to me from the article ramshorn snails maybe the answer.
Let me know. Ramshorn snails are a good idea. Just keep in mind Ramshorn snails prefer filamentous hair algae and not the thick, grass-like kind.
Their smaller, slender bodies allow them to fit into tighter spaces than other algae-eating fish. Like the hillstream loach, their mouths are ideal for eating diatom algae from flat surfaces, and you can find them usually hanging out on the aquarium glass or plant leaves. Otos are prone to being underfed, so make sure you give them plenty of Repashy Soilent Green and vegetables like canned green beans and blanched zucchini slices.
For more information on how to care for these adorable catfish, read our full article here. Otocinclus catfish are a schooling fish, so try to get at least three to six of the same species to help these shy creatures feel safe and comfortable. Crossocheilus oblongus also known as SAE for short is a 6-inch 15 cm cleaner fish that is commonly used in larger aquariums.
Their downturned mouths are well-suited for eating hair algae, black beard algae, and leftover scraps in the fish tank.
Therefore, you may need to reduce food portion sizes in order to get older SAEs interested in eating algae again. As with hillstream loaches, SAEs can be a little territorial with their own or similar-looking species, so choose to either get one individual or at least three in a group for more algae-eating power.
Siamese algae eaters are not the same as Chinese algae eaters, which are much more aggressive and can get twice as big. This 2. If you have an unheated tank with other fast-swimming tank mates, this killifish may be the right algae eater for you.
As a native of North America, flagfish can thrive in cooler water environments without any aquarium heaters. Thankfully, bristlenose plecos from the Ancistrus genus are peaceful catfish that stay between 4 to 5 inches less than 13 cm , making them perfect for a gallon tank or larger. Their suckermouths are made for devouring algae, vacuuming up food crumbs, and keeping driftwood clean. However, remember to feed them a well-rounded diet of sinking wafers , frozen bloodworms, and Repashy gel food to make sure they get all the necessary nutrients.
Mollies are popular livebearers from the Poecilia genus that live in fully fresh to fully salt water in the Americas. Because of their flat, grasping jaws and bottomless stomachs, they are constantly picking at algae found on plants, hardscape, and even flat surfaces. The aquarium hobby has selectively bred them into a wide range of colors, patterns, fin types, and body shapes, and they readily reproduce if given plenty of food and hiding spots for the fry.
As a heads up, fancy mollies are often raised in brackish water fish farms, so if you sense health problems with your new fish, consider adding aquarium salt and extra minerals to help them thrive. Different types of mollies can range in size from the 2-inch 5 cm balloon molly to the almost 6-inch 15 cm sailfin molly.
Certain barbs such as the rosy barb Pethia conchonius have a taste for fuzzy algae like hair, staghorn, and thread algae. This relatively peaceful species grows to 3 inches 7. Similar to the flagfish, rosy barbs can be kept in unheated aquariums with other speedy tank mates.
I had the black hair algae in my 10g on java moss and anubias nana - I trimmed the moss as much as possible, cut out the worst infected anubias leaves, then upped the water changes. It could also be that alot of the fish food goes uneaten - the water current pushes the food down to the substrate. Anyone on the shrimp issue? Oct 26, 0 0 38 Toronto Canada Visit site. Hair algae can be eaten by a lot of fish- Amano Shrimp Cardina japonica are the best.
Dwarf Gouramis, Mollies, etc will also eat it. Plecos may not. Alternatively you can scrape it off with your fingers. If its the black stuff, nobody will eat it, you will have to remove it by hand, and do more frequent water changes to prevent a return attack of it. GAE's are better but they still aren't as good as amano shrimp. Oct 30, 53 0 0 Nevada Visit site. I've tried to clean up the stuff as best as I could with my hands, however, sometimes, the algae is stuck on the leaf so bad that I end up pulling the plant out as well.
Since I don't mind a little of the hair algae, I just need something that will keep it in check. Right now, it's just growing and spreading out of control. Which do you think contributes less to the bioload?
Reason I'm asking is because my platies have overpopulated the tank I'll try the shrimp and see what they do. Hopefully, they still have them at my LFS. Originally posted by bobHE just picked up 10 of the little buggers, went to town on the algae right away.
Aug 4, 58 0 0 Visit site. Use AlgaeFix!!!!! I had The same problem. Originally posted by agroRisco Use AlgaeFix!!!!! Okay, I picked up 3 Japonica shrimp and dropped them into the tank Well, I guess they are not used to the surroundings yet, but they don't seem to be doing anything. After about an hour, they disappeared under the driftwood. One of them was actively wandering around the tank stopping every so often to do something. I'm not sure what it was doing but it looked like it was picking stuff up with it's Funny thing is that I couldn't see it pick up anything.
I'll have to see after a week if they actually eat the algae. HanshaSuro Large Fish Nov 9,
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