Top 5 Algae Eaters

[mr.waffles1842]

I figured SOMEONE has to do this. can i see a list of the top 5 algae eating fish/inverts that you can think of? thanks. oh, rank them please.

 

[enid_b]

My 4 amano shrimp have pretty much stripped two pieces of wood in a week. Pretty impressive. Not touched the glass though (obviously)

 

[Aspencer]

I like my Nerite snails...

 

[Bubble_B0y]

1) any type of Pleco or Bristlenose are the best algae eaters.
2) Chinese Algae Eater
3) ototinculus
4) invertebrates (snails, shrimp)
5) hillstream loach

 

[Oscarr19]

1) any type of Pleco or Bristlenose are the best algae eaters.
2) Chinese Algae Eater
3) ototinculus
4) invertebrates (snails, shrimp)
5) hillstream loach

actually plecos aren't near being great algae eaters and chinese algae eaters are horrible.

The best algae eater IMO is a siamese algae eater.

 

[IvanMike]

hypostomus spp (plecos)
bristlenose plecos
blue eyed and royal plecos are ok but very very hard on wood (btw all plecos need wood in their diet - as well as blanched zucchini tied to a rock with a rubber band)
almost any snails - nerites seem to do best.
and #1 - live plants. my favorite is java moss - grows rapidly and uses a lot of nutrients.
#1A frequent partial water changes.

honorable mention goes to tadpoles/polliwogs

 

[Alfredoman]

My pleco only eats algae in a little part of the tank

 

[bruinsbro1997]

My List:
1. Otos
2. SAE's
3. Tie: Nerite Snails and Amano shrimp
4. BN plecos
5. My Mag-Float

It's by no means the best but these guys are what I'd use

 

[mr.waffles1842]

just for the record, i \d sooner suck the algae with my own mouth before id get a CAE

 

[Oscarr19]

just for the record, i \d sooner suck the algae with my own mouth before id get a CAE

+1 haha those evil things

 

[Alfredoman]

Wats so bad about them

 

[Morgie]

5. CAE (though like everyone says, they can be nasty)
4. BN/RL plecos
3. otos
2. amano shrimp
1. nerite snail
Just IME :b

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Wats so bad about them

1. They don't eat algae, only when super young
2. They grow 11 inches long
3. They are aggressive
4. They eat your fish's slime coats!

They are basically the aquarist's version of a devil...

 

[absolutangel04]

This is all just from my experience...
1. pitbull pleco
2. nerite snail
3. oto
4. BNP
5. mystery snails.
.
.
.
8,465,275. CAE (only ate my algae as a baby, now he eats flakes and gives hickies)

 

[Alfredoman]

1. They don't eat algae, only when super young
2. They grow 11 inches long
3. They are aggressive
4. They eat your fish's slime coats!

They are basically the aquarist's version of a devil...

Ok they sound bad

 

[TankMan]

I LOVE my mystery snail. Cleans everything. Got to places I didn't think was even possible

 

[adadkins1]

This is just my experince and research:

1. Bristlenose Pleco
2. Nerite Snail
3. Otos
4. SAE
5. Amano

 

[bruinsbro1997]

What ever happend to the good ol' MagFloat guys?

 

[Tigroscr]

IME 1. Mag float 2. Bristle nose pleco 3. Yo yo loaches algae and leftover food 4. Mystery snails 5. Common pleco but mostly eats left over food (he's a real gluten for food) lol!

 

[jetajockey]

I have a CAE that is a few years old now and he's been really good. Apart from jumping out of his tank into the tank below his, and then jumping into the tank next to his, he's always had good behavior. I've heard a lot of horror stories though. I think this guy is stunted a bit, he's only about 5" or so and the guy I got him from had him in a 20H for over a year before I got him.

He currently resides in a 33g bowfront corner tank with a very large superveil angelfish male.

Otos are definitely on the top of my algae eater list. Red cherry shrimp come a close second, if the tank is suitable for them (i.e. nothing eating them), they can wipe out some algae. My main RCS tank never has a speck of algae in it.