Making way for a new Aquarium at home is a unique experience every time, It can give you a lot of positive vibes, excitement, and happiness. You will also learn new things about an aquarium that you had never known before. In this article, you will learn about algae eaters and the best types of Algae Eaters for Freshwater Aquarium.
Firstly, Let’s Start by Understanding what is Algae, how it forms in the tank, and its impact on the fish and the water.
Algae are a type of aquatic plant that grows naturally in waters sources such as ponds, lakes, etc. Aquarium tanks are also favorable for algae growth. That’s the reason you could be often seeing algae growth in your fish tank.
Unlike other inhabitants in your fish tank such as fishes, rocks, and pebbles, algae require no assistance to enter the tank, they grow out of nowhere as they are naturally occurring plants. Algae can appear greenish, bluish, and sometimes in Black too. Especially Algae growing in Fish tanks survive on food residues uneaten by fishes and little light.
Even though Algae are natural plants, they are not welcomed in aquariums. These Pesty Algae can pollute the tank and change the appearance of your aquarium. It can also produce unpleasant smells and health hazards for fish in the tank.
For that reason, often you should check for Algae growths in your Fish Tank, If present they should be removed from the tank, and the tank should be thoroughly cleaned thereafter. You can do many things to control Algae growth in Tanks. Algae eaters are very commonly used in aquariums to control Algae.
What is Algae Eaters
Algae eaters are aquatic species that can eat Algae as food. Algae eaters have long been helpful in providing a sustainable ecosystem in aquariums. They are helpful in controlling algae in tanks just as they do in open waters such as ponds and lakes.
Types of Algae Eaters
There are many types of aquatic species that eat algae. The most common types of algae eaters used in Freshwater Aquarium are certain kinds of algae-eating fish like plecos, catfish, shrimps, and Snails. Let’s see some best algae eaters for maintaining your Freshwater well balanced and clean.
Chinese Algae Eaters
Chinese Algae Eaters are one of the best algae eaters that you can ever have. They’d be active all day in the tank searching for algae to eat. Their attractive appearance and cleaning activity makes them a desirable choice for algae eaters among aquarists.
Otocinclus catfish
Otocinclus Catfish is an amazing scavenger for a freshwater aquarium. These Fishes literally leave no stones unturned especially when looking for algae and debris to eat in the tank, this act of the fish simultaneously controls the algae growth in the tank.
Ghost Shrimp
Ghost Shrimps can be a great addition to the algae-eating crew provided all the tank inhabitants are peaceful and nonaggressive because they can fall prey or be attacked by aggressive fishes. It is your duty as a responsible aquarist to provide a safe peaceful environment to these tiny creatures.
Bristlenose Plecostomus
Bristlenose Plecostomus can serve as an ideal tank cleaner in any freshwater aquarium. They mostly eat algae and uneaten food and other wastes in the tank.
Endler’s Livebearers
Endler’s Livebearers are colourful fishes belonging to guppy species. These tiny fishes are omnivores, they eat algae, insects, and plant scraps thus making them a preferred option for algae eaters in the aquarium hobby.
Siamese Algae Eater
As the name suggests, Chinese algae eaters are potential algae scavengers for the freshwater aquarium. These fishes are easy to keep, they will be pleased with any type of food given to them, also they peacefully coexist with the other tank inmates.
Twig Catfish
Twig Catfish is one of the unique-looking fishes out there in the freshwaters. This Fish can stay dead-still all day long like a twig sticking onto something. The twin twig-like appearance had gotten this fish its name. They cling on to a piece of wood or similar objects and keep nibbling on them.
Nerite Snails
Nerite Snails are commonly seen in freshwater aquariums, all credits to them being powerful algae. destroyer Not to mention their beautiful zebra-like shell, all that makes them ultimately popular among aquarium hobbyists.
Final thoughts
Finally, It is very important to know are Algae eaters are just like other aquatic species. They have specific needs that need to be met for their very survival As a responsible aquarist, you need to ensure all their needs are met and they peacefully coexist along with other inhabitants of the tank.