elliot60
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Algae Eaters
Algae in any kind of stored water with carbon dioxide content is a very common sight. Aquariums and fish tanks generally have exactly this kind of survival environment and thus, there are algae growths in fish tanks very often. When you have such an ecosystem in the aquarium itself, you will need something to stop this unwanted growth of algae and this is where you can have algae eaters in the aquarium along with the other fish. These algae eaters are nothing but some particular species of fish and snails, which thrive on these algae for their food. These fish also look very presentable, thus, they can be kept as aquarium fish in your home. These fishes are often fresh water fishes that survive on unwanted algae in the oceans, but there are many salt water fishes that also have this property. Hence, take a look at the following algae eaters which you can use for your aquariums if you are suffering from algae issues.
Algae Eaters for Aquariums
Most of the algae eaters used in aquariums are fresh water algae eaters, but there are many salt water fish too that are used in aquariums for the same reason. Some of these are small algae eaters thus, they are not even noticeable and some are fairly visible but they too are very presentable and colored to be displayed. These fish do not need to be fed the food that the other fish eat and even if they eat it, they will still make sure, your aquarium is algae free. Mentioned below are a few names of fresh water and salt water fish used as algae eaters in fish tanks, so take your pick!
Fresh Water Algae Eaters
The following fish are found in fresh water and can keep your tank clean by consuming the various types of algae found in it.
* Chinese Algae Eaters: Fishes of the Gyrinocheilus genus are very commonly used algae eating fish used in aquariums. The Chinese algae eater, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, is the most preferred one.
* Siamese Algae Eaters: They are the Crossocheilus siamensis, and are a more gregarious and tolerant cyprinid which are almost 15 cm in length. The Siamese algae eaters are the only fish which graze on the "black brush algae" (freshwater Rhodophyta, or red algae), but can also eat anything else in preference.
* The American-flag fish as well as many loricariid or catfish such as genera Ancistrus, Otocinclus and Plecostomus, often eat many varieties of algae.
* Many shrimps found in freshwater like the Amano Shrimp are very well known for their ability to clean an aquarium.
* Some species of freshwater snails often belonging to the family Ampullariidae are also excellent algae eaters.
Salt Water Algae Eaters
There are many salt water creatures which are also very good algae eaters. But they survive only on sea algae like red slime and others. Some of the water animals mentioned below are red slime algae eaters as well, so take a look.
* The most common salt water algae eaters are the Rabbit fish which eats most algae, like cyanobacteria, diatoms, and hair algae. These algae are not very often found in aquariums but can be observed occasionally in a few.
* Sea urchins are also one of the best algae eaters found in the ocean. As they strictly feed only on algae, major aquariums which are life sized and have many exotic sea fishes, can have these as their algae eaters.
* A few snail species such as the Astraea, Turbo, Nerite and Turban, do a great job in cleaning the tanks as well, but they reproduce very fast and sometimes can graze on your plants too.
* Surgeon fish or tangs are possibly known for their appetite for algae. They too are voracious feeders and can do an excellent cleaning job for you. More on aquarium algae control.
With such a variety of algae eaters, you can choose any of them, depending on the sizes and content of your aquarium. But make sure, you take care of these algae eaters too, as a little maintenance is always required.
Algae in any kind of stored water with carbon dioxide content is a very common sight. Aquariums and fish tanks generally have exactly this kind of survival environment and thus, there are algae growths in fish tanks very often. When you have such an ecosystem in the aquarium itself, you will need something to stop this unwanted growth of algae and this is where you can have algae eaters in the aquarium along with the other fish. These algae eaters are nothing but some particular species of fish and snails, which thrive on these algae for their food. These fish also look very presentable, thus, they can be kept as aquarium fish in your home. These fishes are often fresh water fishes that survive on unwanted algae in the oceans, but there are many salt water fishes that also have this property. Hence, take a look at the following algae eaters which you can use for your aquariums if you are suffering from algae issues.
Algae Eaters for Aquariums
Most of the algae eaters used in aquariums are fresh water algae eaters, but there are many salt water fish too that are used in aquariums for the same reason. Some of these are small algae eaters thus, they are not even noticeable and some are fairly visible but they too are very presentable and colored to be displayed. These fish do not need to be fed the food that the other fish eat and even if they eat it, they will still make sure, your aquarium is algae free. Mentioned below are a few names of fresh water and salt water fish used as algae eaters in fish tanks, so take your pick!
Fresh Water Algae Eaters
The following fish are found in fresh water and can keep your tank clean by consuming the various types of algae found in it.
* Chinese Algae Eaters: Fishes of the Gyrinocheilus genus are very commonly used algae eating fish used in aquariums. The Chinese algae eater, Gyrinocheilus aymonieri, is the most preferred one.
* Siamese Algae Eaters: They are the Crossocheilus siamensis, and are a more gregarious and tolerant cyprinid which are almost 15 cm in length. The Siamese algae eaters are the only fish which graze on the "black brush algae" (freshwater Rhodophyta, or red algae), but can also eat anything else in preference.
* The American-flag fish as well as many loricariid or catfish such as genera Ancistrus, Otocinclus and Plecostomus, often eat many varieties of algae.
* Many shrimps found in freshwater like the Amano Shrimp are very well known for their ability to clean an aquarium.
* Some species of freshwater snails often belonging to the family Ampullariidae are also excellent algae eaters.
Salt Water Algae Eaters
There are many salt water creatures which are also very good algae eaters. But they survive only on sea algae like red slime and others. Some of the water animals mentioned below are red slime algae eaters as well, so take a look.
* The most common salt water algae eaters are the Rabbit fish which eats most algae, like cyanobacteria, diatoms, and hair algae. These algae are not very often found in aquariums but can be observed occasionally in a few.
* Sea urchins are also one of the best algae eaters found in the ocean. As they strictly feed only on algae, major aquariums which are life sized and have many exotic sea fishes, can have these as their algae eaters.
* A few snail species such as the Astraea, Turbo, Nerite and Turban, do a great job in cleaning the tanks as well, but they reproduce very fast and sometimes can graze on your plants too.
* Surgeon fish or tangs are possibly known for their appetite for algae. They too are voracious feeders and can do an excellent cleaning job for you. More on aquarium algae control.
With such a variety of algae eaters, you can choose any of them, depending on the sizes and content of your aquarium. But make sure, you take care of these algae eaters too, as a little maintenance is always required.
