Finding Fish That Love Algae

Anyone establishing an aquarium will have a range of maintenance issues to deal with, including the problem of accumulated algae.

This may be a natural product in the marine environment, but it can grow more easily in the confined spaces of an aquarium than out in the wild, especially in the right condition such as a lack of water movement, higher water temperatures and more light.

By making sure there is more water flow, less light and cooler temperatures you can restrict the algae levels in your aquarium. But as Guppy Aquarium has noted, for some types of fish it is actually important to have lots of algae around as it’s a key source of food.

As well as conditions of water flow, temperature and light, algae growth can also be encouraged by adding more plant fertiliser to the tank,

There are several species of algae-eating marine fish you can introduce, either to a deliberately-curated algae rich environment where they can thrive, or a standard tank where its growth is an issue and they can provide a natural solution.

Mollies are at the top of the list, for they like to eat their greens in exactly the same way that young children don’t. Whilst not strictly marine fish mollies can be adapted to the saltwater environment.

Otherwise, there is a great deal of choice for algae eating fish and even crustaceans - the latter being represented by the scarlet hermit crab and emerald crab.

Great fish for the task include the Foxface Rabbitfish, Lawnmower Benny and the Tomini, Kole and Sailfing Tangs.

You can even go with some molluscs, such as the Astraea Turbo Snails or Turban Snails, but of course there is nothing more interesting for your aquarium than adding more attractive and interesting fish that can play their part in giving their mini-ecosystem the environmental balance it needs.