I figured that this is a highly referenced subject and deserves a thread of its own. Though there is no better way to control algae through precisely maintaining and monitoring your water quality, algae eaters will help. I for one will be purchasing some algae eaters for my 150 shortly and have scoured the web looking for info regarding these creatures and deciding which one's I should aquire. First off, here is a list of potential algae eaters and the type of algae they eat according to what I have read. I am still a beginner at this whole planted tank thing and an extreme novice when it comes to battling algae...but I'm learning. Please anyone who has any experience with these fish or any others, please add to this thread. This knowledge is invaluable and will answer many newbie (like me) questions.
The Florida Flag Fish, Black Mollies, Gold Barbs and Rosie Barbs will all eat hair/thread algae. They have been referenced as "eating it up like spaghetti."
Siamese Algae Eaters, otherwise known as SAE's, also eat hair algae but have been noted as also eating forms of beard algae. Apparently, if you can get your hands on these guys, they are the best bang for the buck.
Ottocinclus Cats are also talked about frequently. It is my understanding that these little critters are good algae eaters though they mainly deal with algae in its beginning stages when it is very short.
Pleco's are also widely known as "the" algae eater at the LFS. Though it is eldom that they tell you that they grow to be a foot long and will destroy your plants as they get bigger. I have also known them to get a bit more aggressive as the get older. From my experience with non-planted tanks, they do eat algae and do a decent job of cleaning the glass and such. From what I have read, bristle nose and rubber mouth plecos seem to be the one's of choice for a planted tank. I don't know much about the rubber mouth, but the bristle nose stays a bit smaller than its cousins and is a nice addition to any planted tank, eating many forms of algae.
Ameca Splendens, otherwise known as the Butterfly Goodeid. Though I have never physically seen this fish and have only read about it recently, it seems to be the "cat's meow" concerning algae eating. Apparently it simply devours hair/thread/beard algaes. Some have claimed that it will even eat blue green algae, but I have my doubts about that. Again, from what I've read, the fish grows to be about 4-5 inches as an adult. It is a platty looking/type of fish and is a live bearer that gives birth to very large offspring. The babies are about 1/2 in long and are attached to the mother with an umbilical cord for 1 or 2 days before they venture on their own in search of algae. I called the "better" LFS around here and they didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I asked them if they had any in stock. Maybe they go by another, more common name. Word to the wise...I have read that these guys can be a bit rambunctious, stressing out other fish in the tranquil community plant tank. Given their size, I don't think they'd have much of a problem bossing any other fish around.
Shrimp have also become a part of many people's "cleaning crews". The most common and desired shrimp is the Amano Shrimp, made famous by the Takashi Amano. I guess these guys do a decent job of cleaning rocks and gravel and will help over power the algae. I have seen many different types of shrimp that have been labeled as algae eating shrimp; cherry shrimp/chameleon shrimp/ghost shrimp. I have no experience with them because I have a small school of loaches that I fear would eat them.
Snails are also recommeded to have as a part of the "crew". I guess that just about all types snails can be a good thing when added to a planted tank and kept under control. Some common types of snails are Malaysian Trumpet Snails (MTS), Ramshorn, Golen Apple, Mystery Snails. A couple of loaches will keep these guys in check. Clowns or Zebras work well. They will eat the small ones preventing overpopulation. As soon as I added some small snails from the LFS, the loaches greedly came around the corner pecking at them.
The Florida Flag Fish, Black Mollies, Gold Barbs and Rosie Barbs will all eat hair/thread algae. They have been referenced as "eating it up like spaghetti."
Siamese Algae Eaters, otherwise known as SAE's, also eat hair algae but have been noted as also eating forms of beard algae. Apparently, if you can get your hands on these guys, they are the best bang for the buck.
Ottocinclus Cats are also talked about frequently. It is my understanding that these little critters are good algae eaters though they mainly deal with algae in its beginning stages when it is very short.
Pleco's are also widely known as "the" algae eater at the LFS. Though it is eldom that they tell you that they grow to be a foot long and will destroy your plants as they get bigger. I have also known them to get a bit more aggressive as the get older. From my experience with non-planted tanks, they do eat algae and do a decent job of cleaning the glass and such. From what I have read, bristle nose and rubber mouth plecos seem to be the one's of choice for a planted tank. I don't know much about the rubber mouth, but the bristle nose stays a bit smaller than its cousins and is a nice addition to any planted tank, eating many forms of algae.
Ameca Splendens, otherwise known as the Butterfly Goodeid. Though I have never physically seen this fish and have only read about it recently, it seems to be the "cat's meow" concerning algae eating. Apparently it simply devours hair/thread/beard algaes. Some have claimed that it will even eat blue green algae, but I have my doubts about that. Again, from what I've read, the fish grows to be about 4-5 inches as an adult. It is a platty looking/type of fish and is a live bearer that gives birth to very large offspring. The babies are about 1/2 in long and are attached to the mother with an umbilical cord for 1 or 2 days before they venture on their own in search of algae. I called the "better" LFS around here and they didn't seem to know what I was talking about when I asked them if they had any in stock. Maybe they go by another, more common name. Word to the wise...I have read that these guys can be a bit rambunctious, stressing out other fish in the tranquil community plant tank. Given their size, I don't think they'd have much of a problem bossing any other fish around.
Shrimp have also become a part of many people's "cleaning crews". The most common and desired shrimp is the Amano Shrimp, made famous by the Takashi Amano. I guess these guys do a decent job of cleaning rocks and gravel and will help over power the algae. I have seen many different types of shrimp that have been labeled as algae eating shrimp; cherry shrimp/chameleon shrimp/ghost shrimp. I have no experience with them because I have a small school of loaches that I fear would eat them.
Snails are also recommeded to have as a part of the "crew". I guess that just about all types snails can be a good thing when added to a planted tank and kept under control. Some common types of snails are Malaysian Trumpet Snails (MTS), Ramshorn, Golen Apple, Mystery Snails. A couple of loaches will keep these guys in check. Clowns or Zebras work well. They will eat the small ones preventing overpopulation. As soon as I added some small snails from the LFS, the loaches greedly came around the corner pecking at them.