Invertebrates & Crustaceans for Algae Control

[CACAdmin]

Aside from the fact that crustaceans and invertebrates are an interesting attractive addition to any tank, they are also the ‘aquarium custodians’ if you will, constantly cleaning up your tank (eating excess food, algae and sometimes even deceased occupants you have not removed).

Uncontrolled algae growth in your aquarium is often one of most frustrating problems we have to deal with. There are several ways to combat it and one is to add some of these little critters to your tank and put them to work.

However, how do you choose the right ones to combat the type of algae in your tank?

Green Algae – my P. Bridgesii & Marisa and Red Ramshorn snails do an excellent job of this (however the Marisa snails are relegated to unplanted tanks as they eat plants too). My zebra snails (when I had those) also did an excellent job on green algae.

Black Beard Algae (BBA) – I can only assume my P. Bridgesii snails eat this but may be incorrect in that assumption. I just know that when I placed plants covered in this in the tank (I believe in tempting fate :wideeyed: ), some of the BBA disappeared and it did not grow more or spread to other plants. I would appreciate your opinions/experience on this one.

I don’t have any crustaceans but from what I gather various shrimp eat algae as well.

Which critters are your Tank Custodians? and which types of algae do they eat?

[blainep]

The vast majority of cleaners in my tanks are the snails, lots and lots of them. I also have some assorted shrimps, crayfish and few Bronze Corys in different tanks.
I also use plants as part of the cleanup crew, to help keep water quality up.

[CACAdmin]

Yes, but have you figured out which ones eat which type of algae? I guess with an assortment of critters like that, what one doesn't eat, the other will. That way you have all bases covered.:cool:

[blainep]

Yes, but have you figured out which ones eat which type of algae? I guess with an assortment of critters like that, what one doesn't eat, the other will. That way you have all bases covered.:cool:

No, I don't know who does what.
When I first decided to jump into the critters other than fish. I started with a planted tank, some common snails hitched a ride on the plants, and I bought some Amano shrimp to go in.
That was the very first tank I ever had that I never needed to clean the glass on and once it was fully established, never needed to have the gravel vacuumed.
Other than a weekly water change, it was completely maintenance free.

That, for me, was what turned me on to non fish critters. Now every tank I have has at least a few snails and a few plants in it.

The big tank projects I have in the DIY section have never needed to have the glass wiped off and I rarely do any vacuuming of the gravel. Any time there was an kind of algae, the snail population would explode, when the food was gone, the snails would die off.
After a few weeks the snail populations balanced out to the amount of food available.

[Melody]

lol I don't think the average person would know who does what unless they spend way too much time in front of their tank ;) .

I notice this stuff because I get feeder plants from people that are algae infested. The only algae that the Bridgesii has turned their nose up at is the red BBA, yet they'll eat the black stuff so it must be a different species. There are many species of algae that fall under the same common name so when I say they eat it all, I mean that they've eaten all that I've put in front of them. The BBA is a good example - I used to say they ate it, then I got the red stuff and they ate it, but it took them a long time so I know they weren't thrilled about it. Chances are without as much competition for food they wouldn't bother with it. Yet the black BBA is tastey stuff - snails and even Mollies love it.

Otherwise I have Cory's & Plecos for janitors. I do have Shrimp but they have their own tank.

Edit: I should also mention that Ramshorns (Planorbid) are known to eat the brown algae/diatoms.

[thegrandpoohbah]

My P. bridgesii apple snails are great for keeping algae in check. I keep mine in a bare bottom 33G and they keep it relatively free of algae. The one downside is that they seem to poop a lot. However, I recently moved my red cherry shrimp into this tank and they have eaten all of the snail poo!

[Melody]

For God's sake Wallace, I'm trying to eat Christmas Eve homemade pizza over here :Eeewww: lol.