Hair algae with longer, soft filaments are frequently found in aquaria. With turtles things can get a little more complicated: Most any fish that is not large enough to become dinner will eventually get eaten, no matter how fast or smart it is. This means a PH of 6.2-6.8, and hardness of 4-6 GH. In this list, we have 9 shrimp, fish, or snails that will rid you of your hair algae problem. For this reason, this fish is generally considered to be among the best algae eaters for a saltwater aquarium that’s housing green or other types of reef hair algae. Picking algae eaters for your aquarium will work if you provide them with a healthy habitat while choosing the right type for your problem. Some hobbyists avoid them and some love them. – there’s probably an algae-eating critter that will work best for your problem. Algal spores can outbreak in a saltwater environment as well, so nature has taken care of that too. Otocinclus Catfish. Avoid the Mexican Turbo snail as it won’t tolerate tropical water temperatures. It has also been documented that microalgal blooms are not safe for your skin and us aquarists often put our hands in the aquarium water. If they are in a school of 3 to 5 there will be no aggression. If you want to make sure you get rid of the hair algae in your tank, check out the guide I wrote here. May I know why ramshorn snails can’t be kept with pond snails? Anyway, this shrimp has been known to absolutely love and even depend on algae. I’m not extremely familiar with this type of fish, so you can check out this guide on another blog if you’re interested in getting a set of them. Ramshorn snails can be kept with pond snails. To fully eradicate the issue you need to dig deeper and find the cause. They also shouldn’t be placed with slow fish that have showy fins, because they are very prone to harassing other fish and nipping at their fins. That caused an imbalance in my tank that allowed hair algae (as well as multiple other types of algae) to bloom. Cherry barbs are peace lovers. When I say “true” I mean an Actual Siamese Algae eater and not a Chinese one, or a flying foxfish. 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. Doing this seems to train your rosy barbs to eat plant matter. Algae come in many varieties and forms and more often than not it’s an uninvited intruder rather than a beautiful aquascape addition. Here’s what animal eats algae and survive in a turtle aquarium: My best suggestion here would be… ghost shrimp. If you have a large tank that needs a cleaning employing a juvenile algae eater may be appropriate, but be prepared for what’s coming after that. Here’s a 25 seconds long video where it feasts on the notorious black beard algae. Fish stores may sometimes falsely advertise one as the other so do your research on the appearance and care requirements of a true Siamese Algae Eater before purchasing one (hint: The black line on the side of a true SAE ends at the back of its tail fin and not the beginning). They are herbivores and algae are a main part of their diet. If you introduce them in a new tank, be sure that you supplement their diet with dried seaweed. In fact, the whole family the Bristlenose Pleco comes from is so effective at consuming huge amounts of algae that releasing them in the wild is known to wreak havoc on local ecosystems. If you get a fish, big enough to fend for itself you won’t have much progress with your algae problem. No matter your fish tank setup of choice – freshwater planted, saltwater FOWLR, etc. Your tank is being overrun with hair algae.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'tinyunderwater_com-box-3','ezslot_15',106,'0','0'])); It started with just a little fuzz growing off of a few things. This small pleco will eat all the freshwater kinds, including the nasty black algae and even brown diatom algae. This fish is quite fragile and requires pristine water quality and parameters. They can absolutely destroy an infestation of hair algae in your tank. Chinese Algae Eater. I’m assuming you already have hillstream loaches? These are not only fish but also shrimp and even snails. The 15 Best Algae Eaters: Fish, Shrimp, and Snails Cherry shrimp are primarily algae eaters grazing off soft green algae and sometimes even green hair algae. (With the possible exception of the Siamese Algae Eater.). Staghorn algae eaters Red Cherry Shrimp nibbling on staghorn algae. As long as you’re not overfeeding them on other things, they will happily eat hair algae. The rosy barbs can grow up to 6 inches where the cherry barbs will not outgrow 2. Next up on my list is one of the few fish that will actually eat hair algae. When it comes to demolishing unwanted algal growth, these guys are my go-to algae-eating fish recommendation. 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 American Flagfish is a Killifish who’s so good at consuming freshwater algae that encouraging algal growth is actually recommended with these guys. Here’s a video of an ADF trying to eat a pygmy suckermouth. This fish will rarely reach 2 inches (5 centimeters) of length, which suits most smaller tanks best. The Ramshorn snail is the go-to solution for combating algae growth in a heavily planted tank. Some people find that they graze on (but don’t make a huge difference in the amount of) hair algae in their aquarium. (Not exactly great for getting rid of your problem. Having some green or another type of hair-like freshwater algae is actually recommended for this shrimp species. They can survive in temperatures of 60-80F, PH of 6-8, and hardness of 5-15 GH. It’s recommended to get a goldfish for algae control only if you have a decent filtration, the right tank mates for it and no other plant matter in your fish tank. Listed below you’ll only find species that have been actually documented to consume this invader at very impressive rates. A cool thing, not many people new to the hobby know, is that mollies can survive in both freshwater and saltwater tanks. Onto your second question: that’s actually a mistake on my end and it’s now fixed. If the frog hasn’t been fed it can even try to eat a larger fish. However, there is a trick to their success; they are only really good algae eaters when they’re hungry. You won’t see it very often, true, but you won’t see algae as well. Chinese Algae Eaters have an elongated body with small fins. Rudolph shrimp are pretty hardy little things that don’t require a whole lot to survive. This fish prefers colder water, but can gradually acclimate to warmer water temperatures. Can be quite showy if properly cared for. Other than that, they are pretty hardy fish that don’t need much care. The Nerite snail will actively eat brown algae (also known as diatoms). These guys are generally friendly so they will do well with other community fish. )eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'tinyunderwater_com-leader-2','ezslot_11',114,'0','0'])); This may be a case where the fish completely got rid of the algae problem and then got used to eating pellets, however, so your mileage may vary with this. Beware when housing it with other tangs as aggression may arise. They won’t be compatible with some smaller docile fish. Learn how your comment data is processed. Do your research on your choice, before introducing an algae-focused eater to the aquarium. This fish is both rare and reported to be somewhat demanding. This is by far not the first thing you might think of for getting rid of algae.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'tinyunderwater_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',110,'0','0'])); But if you give it a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised. Seriously consider getting a couple of these if that’s your situation. And while these fish, shrimp, and snails will help? Like many green algae, hair algae appear mainly during the cycling phase of a tank, when the biological system is still finding its balance. Nerite snails could also work, as their shell makes them immune to the frog. The American Flagfish demand a plant-based menu. Your live rock should be well positioned and secured because it’s not unseen that a fat turbo knocks a piece of rockwork here and there. These guys are particularly ravenous. There are plenty of factors that you have control over and that you should get familiar with to make sure you’re on the right side of the battlefield. If you’re skeptical then do take a look at this video. You can put sucker fish in with goldfish, you just have to keep your tank clean. Mind that the Cardinal shrimp are quite sensitive to fish tank conditions. Often times the nutrient imbalance occurs in new aquariums, which is when algal spores explode and take over. Eats brown and … Still, they’re cheap and easy to take care of, so they should be high on the list of things you consider to help you out with your hair algae problem. They should feel comfortable in their tank so that they can fully indulge in what they do best. Along with the rubber-lipped pleco and the rosy barb, these are the only 3 species of fish that make sense as algae-eating tank mates for goldfish aquariums. Don’t hesitate to keep me posted or ask more questions. If there is a tank that has a lot of algae, it is the perfect place for these fish. Hi Again, Boey. While I don’t have any direct proof, I suspect there may be a link between the two. If not – you can try getting some because they grazer on surface algae (but not hair algae). Sailfin Blenny (Salarias fasciatus), also known as the lawnmower blenny because it devours green hair algae Segmented Sailfin Blenny (Salarias segmentatus) Starry Blenny (Salarias ramosus) Hair algae doesn’t just come out of nowhere. If I were to pick from the two species I’d definitely go for the Cherry barb as they remain smaller, more peaceful and I like their unusual pink coloration. Anything that exists in between and that doesn’t bear seeds is, as such, considered to be algae. The appetite of Carassius auratus is related to the fact that they have no stomach. Ian Sterling says. Discover the 7 QUIETEST Aquarium Filters: Loudness Reviews, tetras, danios, barbs (if in school of 4 or more), gouramis, angelfish, corydoras, guppies, 4.2 to 4.5 Inches (10.6 to 11.4 centimeters), tetras, danios, gouramis, mollies, Swordtails, platies, barbs, endlers, goldfish with caution, 55 gallons for juveniles and 100+ gallons for adults, guppies, danios, platies, corydoras, otociculus, school of tetras or barbs, danios, platies, school of tetras or barbs, mollies, guppies, swordtails, goldfish, guppy, danios, female betta, platies, tetras, guppies, swordtails, gouramis, endlers, angelfish, gouramis, danios, rasboras, corydoras, neon tetras, school of kuhli loaches, rasboras, dwarf gouramis, corydoras, neon tetras, danios, female betta, 2 inches (5 centimeters) for Cherry barbs and 6 inches (15.2 cm) for Rosy bars, 10 gallons (Cherry barbs) and 30 gallons (Rosy barbs), rasboras, corydoras, small plecos, neon tetras, danios, otocinculus, clown loaches, platies, mollies, goldfish, depends on the size of your tank, but usually around 4 to 5 inches ( 10 to 12.7 cm), topminnows, loaches, rosy barbs, zebra danios, smaller plecos, Other peaceful community fish, but don’t house with other tangs, Otociculus, Corydoras and other peaceful fish, Ghost shirm, Cherry shrimp, Bamboo shrimp, nerite snail, mystery snail, trumpet snail, pond snails, DON’T house with loaches from the, smaller peaceful community fish, shrimp and other snails, NO cichlids, goldfish, loaches or crayfish, most any reef-safe fish, but don’t house with other algae-grazers as the Turbo snail won’t be able to compete for food, neon tetras, otocinculus, corydoras, smaller plecos, bamboo shrimp, amano shrimp, peaceful snails, Sulawesi biotope snails such as the Sulawesi Rabbit snail, other Sulawesi shrimp. A single Nerite snail can take care of the brown microalgae in a 10-gallon fish tank alone. While they do eat black beard algae, they cannot eat it fast enough to make a noticeable difference. Rubber-lipped pleco ( chaetostoma formosae). Let me know your experience in the comments so I can update this article and help more fishkeepers out. #9 on this list is a cheaper shrimp that is still really good at eating hair algae. What they will do is help you keep it in check and get rid of smaller amounts of it. Hair Algae. Somewhat aggressive, and shouldn’t be placed in an aquarium with certain species of fish. On top of having a stunning appearance this fish (Bristletooth is another name for it), will clean up all unnecessary algal growth in your reef tank. A ghost shrimp will be eaten by the turtle at some point. Older red ear sliders (RES) tend to lean on the herbivorous side more, which gives their fish tankmates higher chances for survival. Know that these creatures are not problem solvers, but rather an aid. You also have to be careful when purchasing these, as some shops will sell the Flying Fox as a Siamese algae eater. I hope this helps. The blue tang will be super active in its search of algae and it will keep a reef in check. Since they’re poorly treated at the store, they can often come in sick. Luckly, though, there is a hungry army out there waiting to devour the hair algae in your tank. Another thing to consider if you want these colorful creatures to clean your tank is that they are rarely found in fish stores. The amano shrimp is perhaps the most famous freshwater creature when it comes to getting rid of hair algae. Lesson learned – I had to step up my game and educate myself more on how to keep stable aquarium water, before getting another one. This species is the epitome of the good guy in the aquarium. The males are very beautiful, showing off nice colors, but they may get a little territorial. Here’s a list of supplemental food that an algae eater will need: Following this list will guarantee that your pet will be provided with important vitamins, nutrients, and fiber from diverse food sources. If you resort to these algae grazers, you should carefully pick their tank mates if you want them to sustain a stable colony. They can be pretty decent as a cleaning crew, even if they don’t eat algae. Crossocheilus Siamensis eating hair algae. They need alkaline water, in the range of 7.5-8.5. In some cases, you end up with hair algae or Black beard algae. They are also relatively active compared to other algae eaters. I haven’t been able to find any amano shrimp locally, but I’ve heard from other fish keepers that amano shrimp completely eradicated their hair algae problem. If you’re looking after the particularly aggressive African cichlids then there are not many options for a healthy coexistence with an algae-grazer. Another cause of hair algae can be light, especially when the light in your tank is too bright then hair algae will spread even faster. Chinese algae eaters are very active fish, and will need a tank size to reflect this. They are notorious escape artists and will constantly try to leave your tank for better waters. For best results against the most stubborn of algae turn to a rubber-lipped pleco. Unlike other marine snails in the trade, the Turbo snail doesn’t prefer a specific type of algae. Also, they produce a lot of waste, so filtration should be top-notch. Otocinclus Catfish. They reportedly get lazier with age. Just make sure you drip acclimate them so that they can get used to your tank water. Listed below are options that will generally fit the healthy diet profile of an algivorous aquarium inhabitant. Amano shrimp aren't picky when it comes to algae and will eat almost any type, with black beard algae and cyanobacteria being the only common exceptions. 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