Lots of households would love to have a tropical aquarium in their homes, starring at brightly-coloured fish and transporting themselves to somewhere hot and exotic every time they look at their tank. However, some people might be worried about the maintenance of an aquarium and having to clean it regularly to protect the marine life and keep the water healthy.

This is where critters come in handy, as they not only keep tanks clean and tidy, but they also add to the natural environment and bring aquariums to life.

For instance, amano shrimps are often known as algae-eating shrimps, as they love to chomp on algae, keeping tanks clear of the stuff.

Cheaper alternatives are ghost shrimps and cherry shrimps, which also like to eat algae, and will also consume uneaten fish food, decaying plants and any other organic debris that can be found on the floor of the aquarium. This keeps the tank clean and prevents more algae from growing.

It is important not to add too many though, as there won’t be enough algae to feed them, resulting in them starving and a loss of shrimp life.

The Royal Examiner also recommends starfish, as these “eat practically anything”. They typically consume the top layer of algae, while they also bury themselves deep within the sand and sort out the algae lower down in the tank. By unsettling algae, they enable more to go through the tank’s filter, whereas it would otherwise remain stationary and hidden away in the sand.

Snails and slugs are also wise choices, as these are good at keeping glass surfaces clean, while shrimps and starfish are better at clearing up debris in the ‘seabed’. Slugs and snails, therefore, result in perfectly polished glass that is easy to look through.

They are also useful at clearing up small dead fish and leftover food, so your aquarium stays looking fresh and clean.

You might be interested in crabs, as these devour everything as they scuttle around the bottom of your tank.

They are handy if you want a quick clear-up, as they move a lot faster than other critters, aside from shrimps. Consequently, they are able to catch things that fish drop while swimming around, and can pick up free-floating algae that might not get sucked into the filtration system as they are so small.

Sea cucumbers are also worth considering, as they help to get rid of bacteria and are effective ‘cleaners’. They are best for well-established aquariums, particularly as some will feed on anything living they find at the bottom of the tank. The Holothuria spinifera, for instance, is not picky when it comes to what he eats, feeding off all living matters on the ‘seabed’.

If you want to find out more about how to take care of your aquarium, so your water, fish and other marine life remain as healthy as possible, take a look at our reef aquarium care or get in touch with us today.