It is really not that serious. Ramshorns do keep glass algae down, but will not touch hair algae. I believe I have access to giant apple snails, but they apparently will eat all plants, including Anubis, which I have found pretty resistant against most fish. My hope is to maybe move my BNPs from tank to tank, although since I have heard that cichlids will kill new plecos, it may be better to just leave them in. But back to the main question, I am looking for sand aerating snails. My issue with MTS is there is no going back once I buy one. I have heard loaches often have problems eating MTS. That is my other issue, is it possible for a larger fish like a large syno (7-10 in) or medium cichlid (4-6 in) on MTS?Barely. They will climb on to the plants and glass at night and eat a little algae, but if you want an algae eater get moonsnails, ramshorns, (I have never kept these, but they are supposed to be good) mystery trapdoors,(horrendously big and rather ugly) or apples(I have only kept the kind that grows to 2", not the giant kind). You can also get ancistrus, farowella, ottos, mollies, neocardina, bamboo shrimp, or any of many others, but if you have a serious algae problem, you need to address your ammonia/nitrate, and starve it, not harness an army to destroy the algae. Much easier for you, and healthier for your fish.