My purple apple snails weren't doing the job, but then I got two albino bn plecos from mgamer. There is not a spot of algae left anywhere now. I supplement them with algae wafers and zuccini slices, too.
I can see a Mag float for the fron and sides but I have too much equipment hanging down the back glass. I also have a dark blue constructiona paper on the outside back. Mag floats can'dt work the back.
I don't solely rely on fish/inverts to take care of my algae issues, and I really only keep them b/c I like them so much! It just so happens they eat some kinds of algae . I would never keep a fish I didn't like just to have it work for me, that's silly :.
Having said that, ottos and bn's are good at eating some algae, and so are nerite snails. I feed my cats with veggies most of the time, and I usually end up solving my algae issues lol! Algae is more of a snack for my fish...