Which is the BEST Algae Eater

[albirdy]

I have a Chinese algae eater, a few ottos, and a couple of glass shrimp

What's the best algae eater you guys know of?
Be as specific or general as you'd like

 

[groovitudedude]

I personally prefer CAEs, but it depends on the tank size. I wouldn't put a CAE in a 10G.

 

[davo]

I'm the best algae remover. Rubberlips are probably the best if you have the best conditions for them, but there are shrimp, fei feng, a couple of gobies species, bristlenose otos and CAE's. Some people have luck with common plecos and gibbiceps but all these fish need other food as well in their diet.

 

[Peanut_Power]

SAE are probably the best algae eater out there hands down. Getting true ones can be a pain, especially if you don't know what you're looking for. Easy to mix them up with flying fox's. The SAE's will eat just about ANY type of algae, including hair algae. So I have to say they are the best algae eaters without a doubt. Only problem is they don't get large enough to keep with most of the fish we MFKers keep.

Next would be the plecos, royal, BN's, rubberlips. They are all great at it and do it well.

Fei Feng are top notch, mine is always cleaning my tank. Get large, aren't aggressive, just great fish.

Those are my nominations.

 

[BushFishRox]

Fei Feng are top notch, mine is always cleaning my tank. Get large, aren't aggressive, just great fish.

you forgot the best part besides they eat algae... They look cool too!!! but ya I say Flag Tail/Fei Feng hands down.

IMO Plecos arent that great at algae removal, when they get bigger they lose interest in algae...

 

[dmed]

Mag float won't eat eyes or slime coat like SAE or plecos, and won't grow either.

For decor, soak in salt water solution, algae rubs right off, then rinse and replace.

Best prevention - water changes!

 

[BigToys]

"I am" the BEST Algae Eater in my tank.
I relied on 4 SAE's and a a series of pleco's, and still had to get my hands wet. The SAE's drove my Discus crazy with their manic carrying on and demanded to bed fed every time I walked in the room.
Now I have 2 Otto's for the small plants, piece-and-quiet in the tank, and the same cleaning and water changes as I did before.

 

[davo]

Mag float won't eat eyes or slime coat like SAE or plecos, and won't grow either.

For decor, soak in salt water solution, algae rubs right off, then rinse and replace.

Best prevention - water changes!

Yup, better cutting off the cause of the problem where possible ie. too much light, or too nitrate heavy.

 

[farjan20]

well try a janitor fish, good for cleaning out waste and algea

 

[BushFishRox]

well try a janitor fish, good for cleaning out waste and algea

there really isnt such a thing, and no fish really eats waste except scats but they are brackish and that isnt their main diet...