Algae eater

[cichlidfish]

Clown plecos are decent for eating algae, but be sure to have wood in the tank. They need to eat that too. I still feed mine despite having algae. Mine even likes NLS pellets. I have kept them with firemouths and convicts with no issues. Also they hide a lot, especially during the day.

 

[Chaos32]

Here in Singapore / Malaysia, one of the weapon of choice is the Albino Royal Pleco. Our observations is slow growth, docile and very hard workers. Not as cheap as the common Pleco but also a lot less likely to harass tankmates.

 

[Frank Castle]

I like algae on all glass, and decor, except the front, so a razor blade and a water change with siphoning to suck up the refuse is my algae eater.

Algae help control nitrates, and offers food for grazing fry.
Bristle nose plecos will probably work in your tank, but they often don't eat the algae where I want it eaten. And they are poop machines, so siphoning and water changes are not reduced, but increased when they are in a tank.

Many times LFSs can't tell the difference between SAEs of the Chinese type that don't eat algae, so unless you do a lot of research you end up with something aggressive and attacks fish, instead of algae.

wait, I thought the Siamese were useless and the Chinese were the ones you want for algae.........??? If that's the case, all the CAEs I bought as CAEs were SAEs?????


Anyway, my Clown and Bristlenose plecos are great, but Chocolates also stay pretty small I think too. Rainbow Cichlids love vegetation as well

 

[FreshyFresh]

Duanes, that's a heck of a shank.. I mean DIY algae scraper!! I've got a long handled store bought model that works OK, but it's tough to get the blade at the best angle for scraping most of the time. Plus you've gotta be careful not to get under the silicone. I mostly use those cheap rectangular grill / pot scrubbers that are like Scotch-Brite pad with a handle:

 

[altumangel]

top general fish for algae's that planted tank people use:

1. otto's, stays small about 2" max. great for diatom brown or green algae.
2. sae's, buy when baby, once they get big they no longer eat algae and will start
to eat fish food, gets to about 5" and are smart and fast swimmers. do not mistaken
them for flying fox. flying fox do no eat algae and looks similiar to sae's. so make sure
u buy the right one/
3. bristlenose pleco's. stays small and pretty good at eating algae. but ugly as heck
fish in my opinion lol.
4. flag fish, stays small about 3" or so. prolly the best fish for eating hair algae
5. and lastly...snails. many snails are great at eating algae. not taking about the tiny
small snails that produce like crazy. but snails like nerite,apple snails. etc..

 

[fishfanatic80]

top general fish for algae's that planted tank people use:

1. otto's, stays small about 2" max. great for diatom brown or green algae.
2. sae's, buy when baby, once they get big they no longer eat algae and will start
to eat fish food, gets to about 5" and are smart and fast swimmers. do not mistaken
them for flying fox. flying fox do no eat algae and looks similiar to sae's. so make sure
u buy the right one/
3. bristlenose pleco's. stays small and pretty good at eating algae. but ugly as heck
fish in my opinion lol.
4. flag fish, stays small about 3" or so. prolly the best fish for eating hair algae
5. and lastly...snails. many snails are great at eating algae. not taking about the tiny
small snails that produce like crazy. but snails like nerite,apple snails. etc..

Flying foxes eat hair algae and one of the best freshwater fish to do so

 

[Fat Homer]

top general fish for algae's that planted tank people use:

1. otto's, stays small about 2" max. great for diatom brown or green algae.
2. sae's, buy when baby, once they get big they no longer eat algae and will start
to eat fish food, gets to about 5" and are smart and fast swimmers. do not mistaken
them for flying fox. flying fox do no eat algae and looks similiar to sae's. so make sure
u buy the right one/
3. bristlenose pleco's. stays small and pretty good at eating algae. but ugly as heck
fish in my opinion lol.
4. flag fish, stays small about 3" or so. prolly the best fish for eating hair algae
5. and lastly...snails. many snails are great at eating algae. not taking about the tiny
small snails that produce like crazy. but snails like nerite,apple snails. etc..

I had an apple snail in a planted tank a long time ago, and learnt they not only eat algae, but your plants too lol...

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Stone rollers