The first step to keeping your aquarium clean is understanding which fish will eat which types of algae and plant life in the tank.
The best way to do this is by researching which type of freshwater or saltwater tank you have, then looking at which fish are good for that environment.
For instance, goldfish are significant in freshwater tanks because they like eating algae which helps keep the tank cleaner.
Catfish are great in saltwater tanks because they love getting rid of excess food, which can rot in the water.
So what kind of fish should you put in your aquarium? Well, it depends on which type it is!
Algae Eaters For A Balanced Freshwater Aquarium
Testing which clean fish aquariums will help you find which fish are best for your aquarium.
Some fish are better at eating algae which is the problem in most tanks.
1) Bristlenose Plecostomus.
The Bristlenose Plecostomus is a small fish that weighs only about two-thirds of an ounce, making it the smallest algae eater.
It is native to South America but has been released in Florida for over 20 years now.
The fish will grow up to four inches, which means that they can easily be kept as a single fish, making it a lot easier to take care of.
Their diet consists of algae, making them the perfect addition to any new aquarium since they won’t cause harm to the plants that are still growing in your tank.
2) Siamese Algae Eater.
The Siamese Algae Eater, also known as the Rabbit Algae Eater, lives up to its name since it has a small body that looks like a tiny rabbit.
It weighs about a third of an ounce which makes it even smaller than the Bristlenose Plecostomus, which it closely resembles in appearance, however unlike that fish which has a brown or black colour which ranges between shades of the same, which makes it easier for people to find Bristlenose Plecostomus which are also commonly known as Sumba Corydoras which makes them stand out among other fish.
The Siamese Algae Eater does have an advantage since they eat algae which covers the aquarium, which makes it easy for them to find food which helps to make them a lot more active, which makes them even better at cleaning your aquarium, which also means that they won’t swim around as much which will make the fish have less chance of being bullied which is one of the biggest problems with small fish.
Another good thing about this type of algae eater is that they won’t eat your plants which is the opposite of some types of fish that eat both algae, which covers your aquarium, which covers new plants.
3) Chinese Algae Eater.
The Chinese Algae Eater, also commonly known as the Black-Faced Piranha, sounds scary, but it is nothing to be afraid of since they eat algae that cover the aquarium, which means they will only hurt your plants.
They are very good at doing their job, which makes them one of the most popular fish which clean aquariums which is a good thing which gives you a lot of possibilities which when starting your aquarium which makes it easier for you to choose which fish will do the best job which cleaning your tank without causing any problems.
Their average size has been reported from being only an inch long.
However, they can grow up to four inches which is still very small compared to other fish, which are also considered algae eaters, which makes them the perfect choice of fish that won’t take over your aquarium, which is good since they can be kept in a small tank which will make it easier for you to take care of.
Another thing which adds to the popularity of this type of fish is that they don’t have any special requirements, which means that they don’t need a temperature which they find comfortable or specific parameters like pH, which may damage some types of fish which make it easier to keep a healthy tank without having to worry about hurting your fish when cleaning it.
4) Otocinclus Catfish.
The Otocinclus Catfish will grow up to be about an inch, making them perfect for larger tanks with a wider range of fish that you can use.
They are rather small, which means that they don’t eat that much, which is good since they won’t clean your tank that fast, which may cause problems with the other fish which live in your aquarium.
Another thing that makes them perfect for homes with children is their peaceful nature towards humans, making them ideal pets even for families who have toddlers who get easily upset when it comes to animals or when people try to touch them.
5) Twig Catfish.
The Twig Catfish, which is also known as the Asian Twig which can be easily told apart by the fact that they have two long barbels which are connected to their head which makes them perfect for cleaning plants which means that you won’t need to trim your aquarium which will make it look nicer, and at the same time which will help to keep your fish happy since there isn’t anything which harms them while doing their job.
They are tiny and only weigh a couple of ounces, making them a good choice if you decide to get more than one that keeps them active but still not enough to leave an impact on your aquarium.
One thing which could become a problem in case you decide to add more than one is that they are not the best swimmers, which makes them a little more sensitive to larger fish which may end up bullying, which is why it’s always better to get one which you can keep in a small tank which has other types of fish which will do the cleaning for you.
This type of catfish doesn’t require any special parameters like pH, which may damage their skin or temperature, making them ill since they come from waters with both cold and warm water temperatures.
6) Live-bearers.
Live-bearers, which are also commonly known as the Mexican Guppy which is a popular variety that makes them great for every type of tank, which gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to choosing which ones which will fit your home, and yet at the same time which makes them an excellent choice which you can add to almost any fish tank.
It would help if you remembered that even though they like warm water where they come from, these small fish will grow up in size since they spend most of their time swimming around and having fun in the aquarium, so you should make sure that you keep their tanks at room temperature which is somewhere between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
This way, you can be sure that all of them will stay healthy, which can turn into a serious problem if they get too cold, which brings us to the next point, which will be their breeding, which you have to keep in mind.
7) Goldfish.
The goldfish, which are also known as Carp which are one of the oldest types of fish which exist today, and yet at the same time which they are the staple pet fish for many people all around the world, which makes them a great choice if you want some more quiet pets, even though it doesn’t mean that they aren’t active since they do need plenty of exercises each day, and because of this fact which you should make sure that you have enough room for them so as not to stretch your tank which would lead to not only harming your fish but which may also lead to an accident which could cause a lot of damage which can become quite costly.
Goldfish are one of those which you have to feed with high-quality pellets which will help them get rid of the waste faster, which means that they won’t pollute your tank as much, and yet at the same time which is good for their health since it keeps their stomachs nice and full.
This means that they will end up eating less from your aquarium since they won’t be hungry as often to avoid problems with the other fish in your tank.
It’s essential how well you take care of them when they are young since which is when they are the most sensitive, which means that you should try and make sure that whatever you do will not harm them.
You should also know that these guys won’t only eat their food right away, which can be an issue if you have young children in your house, but also a pet which who will swallow some of the gravel from your tank since this stuff usually doesn’t digest well as it could end up blocking their intestines which would require surgery to remove, or even worse, death.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an algae eater, here are a few that will help keep your tank balanced and clean.
Bristlenose Plecostomus, Siamese Algae Eater, Chinese Algae Eater, Otocinclus Catfish, Twig Catfish – these fish have been known to eat all sorts of algae in freshwater tanks.
Live-bearers such as guppies or mollies can also be excellent choices if they remain small enough not to scare away other inhabitants of the aquarium.
And finally, goldfish, which many know from their childhoods, but please note that they do grow up! Do any of these sounds like a good fit for your home?
Let us know how we can help with choosing the right fish for your aquarium.
