#FRESHWATER FISH TANK FISH FULL#

Gyrinocheilus aymonieri ) Picture: Siamese Algae Eater, Photo Courtesy: Fish are versatile, come in all different sizes, and some are just gorgeous-adding both form and function to your tank. These are what you’re likely to find in your local pet store. Here’s what you need to watch out for:įish are the most obvious choice for algae eaters. You’ll need to either buy something that will thrive in your tank as is or change conditions in your tank to allow for the algae eater you want. Aquatic creatures suitable for aquariums can come from different places all over the world.

You’ll need to make sure that any algae eaters you buy are compatible with the environment of your tank. Green algae make your tank look awful and can potentially be harmful to your fish. This allows it to reproduce and spread very quickly. Green algae are photosynthesizing single-celled organisms.

Green algae – If the water in your fish tank suddenly turns a pea soup green color, you’ve got green algae.

#FRESHWATER FISH TANK FISH FULL#

They’ll expand beyond dots into a full coating. Green spot algae – Appearing as small, hard green dots, if allowed to thrive, these will spread along with the glass, décor, and plants in your tank.This alga thrives on hard surfaces, like the side of your tank, but can also grow on slow-moving plants and another tank décor. Black beard algae – Brown beard algae has a brown or dark purple appearance and grows in dense patches (which look like patches of beard).Green algae fix nitrogen, eventually depleting the nitrogen in the water, which will negatively affect your fish and any aquatic plants. Blue-green algae have a blue-green color and will grow on the surface of the water or build in layers against the glass. Blue-green algae – Not actually an alga, but photosynthesizing aquatic cyanobacteria.This means that brown algae can thrive even in low light environments. Brown algae can get nutrients from photosynthesis and chemicals such as silicate, phosphorus, and nitrates. Brown algae – What starts as a brown dusting over the surfaces of your tank can turn into a thick coating of brown slime within days.Hair algae will mainly anchor to plants but may spread to other surfaces. These strands feel like wet hair to the touch and can be difficult to remove completely. Hair algae – Hair algae forms thin wispy strands of green threads.

Here’s a breakdown of the different types of algae: Making sure the different areas of your tank are covered from multiple types of algae will help prevent algae infestations. Some algae eaters will be better at covering flat surfaces, while others will be better at getting into smaller nooks and crannies. In fact, rather than getting a single algae eater, you’re likely going to want a team of algae eaters to cover the various common types of algae and the different surfaces it can grow on. You may be surprised to learn that there are many types of algae, and most algae eaters will not eat all the types. Presumably, you’re buying an algae eater because you’ve got an algae problem that you need to be taken care of. You’ll also want to check that your tank conditions are compatible. You want to make sure that the algae eater you buy is going to eat the type of algae you’re having a problem with. There are quite a few things to take into account here. What to Consider in an Algae Eating Fishīefore you head out to your local pet store and pick up the first algae eater you find, you want to make sure that you’re selecting something that will fit the needs of your tank. Follow this guide, and we’ll help you select the right algae eater or eaters for your setup. You don’t want to create more problems than you solve or spend money on a fish that can’t survive in your aquarium. Selecting the right one for your tank is critical to your success. There are tons of great algae eaters out there that can help eliminate or manage an algae problem. Tank size, water temperature, and water pH are all among the things you’ll want to take into account. What are the best algae eating fish for you? While certain breeds like the Siamese algae eater and the Otocinclus catfish are trendy and quite hardy, you’ll want to consider the conditions of your tank setup before selecting an algae eater. There are ways to clean the tank or filter the water, but what if you could get a fish that would just eat away that algae without you having to do anything? Well, that would make life a lot easier, wouldn’t it? It isn’t necessarily going to hurt anything, but it can overwhelm the balanced ecosystem in your tank and can make the whole thing look gross and unclean. Over time, your aquarium is going to build algae.

Freshwater fish tank fish