Algae blooms in a freshwater aquarium can kill your freshwater community! Algae in a freshwater aquarium can cut off the oxygen supply in an aquarium and cause stress for fish. The substance makes your freshwater aquarium look dirty and unhealthy.
In this article, we will discuss our top algae eating fish to keep your freshwater aquarium crystal clear! These fish can naturally fix the algae problem in your freshwater aquarium. The aquarium owner must learn these natural ways to cure algae!
When choosing which freshwater fish to eat algae, the aquarium owner must run an analysis on the current state of the aquarium. For example, for fish that grow very large, the freshwater aquarium must be large as well! If not, the fish will get stressed out, and instead of eating the algae, there will be more problems present in your aquarium.
Where Does Algae Come From?
Algae can become visible for a ton of various reasons! Here is an article that best describes where thing putrid substance comes from Green Algae
However, we can sum up the main focal points that create algae. The main culprit for a blooming case of algae in your aquarium in direct sunlight. If you have your aquarium right next to a window, this will cause the sunlight to hit your aquarium. Direct sunlight supplements the algae in your aquarium with excessive light, which is crucial for plant and algae growth. However, too much light will cause your aquarium to develop a thick green coating. The thick green algae not only looks ugly, but it is terrible for the health of your fish.
Another main reason for algae is poor water conditions. If your water conditions are terrible, you will have to take further action to identify the issue. Bring a sample of water to your local fish store! Your local fish store provides free water testing for all customers! The employees there can identify what the exact problem is in your water conditions. After several water changes, your home aquarium should be back to normal!
What are the Best Freshwater Algae Eating Fish?
When choosing the best algae eating fish, there are many factors regarding the temperament of the fish. For example, you can not put a community fish with an aggressive fish! If you combine these two different fish, the aggressive fish will nip and attack the community fish. After a while, the fish will become stressed, which results in eventual death. In extreme cases, death may be classified as animal cruelty! When you purchase a live animal, care for the creature as a part of your own family. With that in mind, here is our list of the best freshwater algae eating fish:
Bristlenose Pleco
The Bristlenose Pleco is the household name for freshwater algae eating fish. Almost every time you look at your aquarium, the Pleco can be spotted removing the algae from the side of the acrylic or glass! These fish can be found in the wild devouring just about anything in the streams of water. However, keep in mind the Bristlenose Pleco needs a large aquarium due to the rapid increase in size! These fish are known as the water janitors that can clean up any algae mess!
Chinese Algae Eater
The Chinese Algae Eater provides quite the entertainment for freshwater aquariums with a lot of algae. They typically don’t do the best job removing algae from an aquarium. But, they are a great addition to help control the spread of algae. One thing to keep in mind when owning this fish is the increase in aggression with the increase in size. When the Chinese Algae Eater is small, they can be housed with most community fish in a freshwater aquarium. However, once they reach above 7 inches, they tend to become more aggressive towards fish instead of the desired algae.
Black Moor Goldfish
The Black Moor Goldfish is a great option for removing specific types of algae in a freshwater aquarium. For example, when a large amount of hair algae is present, these goldfish will remove the algae like a vacuum. As a result, the freshwater aquarium looking brand new and free of algae! This comes as a surprise to a lot of people that this goldfish eats algae. I experienced the algae being removed firsthand! The goldfish also has a unique appearance with bulb eyes and a swimming technique that is unlike any other freshwater fish!
Livebearers
Have you ever witnessed a million little mollies, platys, and guppies in your freshwater aquarium? If so, they do an incredible job of removing hair algae from a freshwater aquarium. These fish are unique when it comes to breeding! Instead of laying eggs, these fish will give live birth to a bunch of small babies! Livebearers will eat an array of foods, including all the algae that are easy to reach! I highly recommend having these fish in your tank.
Twig Catfish
The Twig Catfish has one of the most unique appearances out of all the freshwater algae removing fish. This catfish is currently hard to find at your local fish store, especially with the global pandemic being present. However, it is becoming more available to the everyday freshwater aquarium hobbyist. They do a terrific job when it comes to removing all types of algae in a freshwater aquarium. This fish needs to be in an aquarium with high levels of oxygen to obtain premier health. Unfortunately, these fish are difficult to keep happy. Water parameters must be top quality at all times to reduce the chances of the fish dying. However, if you can keep the water pristine, you should add this fish to your aquarium to remove algae!
In Conclusion
When algae appear in your aquarium, you no longer need to panic! We have provided a list of freshwater fish that takes care of algae. Chemicals may harm your aquarium but, freshwater fish do not! When looking for the right fish, speak with your local fish store to determine what can go with the current fish in your aquarium. You must conduct research! If no research is conducted, your aquarium will soon turn into a disaster and cause harm to your fish. After reading this article, you are now well equipped with a bag of knowledge to kill any type and amount of algae. Enjoy your clean aquarium with a new addition of fish!
