Feb 11
14
My tank with my female Jack Dempsey chichlid is constantly growing algae. I know she will eat any algae eater I add to the tank with her because she is around seven inches and one of the most aggressive fish species around. How about snails? Will my chiclid eat snails if I add them to the tank to deal with the algae problem? What kind would be best for eating algae?
Yup! Jack will definitely crush and eat them.
And snails really won’t help much with algae realistically..
Understand what grows algae, then you’ll know where to tackle.
1. Sunlight/Light
This is primary factor. I know friends that have aquarium directly under the sun, and algae grow like crazy. But they can’t move it to any other spot. So they installed better window curtain. It helped.
2. Nutrients
Algae is basically a plant that needs other source of nutrients beside light. They eat what plants eat. Therefore, have lots of live plants. Have them suck away all the nutrients available for your algae. That’s my primary method. Both my 30 and 72 gallons are almost/really algae-free due to that.
If you’re not good with plants, i recommend the following for you:
- hornwort <– especially this
- moneywort
- java fern
- java moss
- giant vallis
These are very undemanding plant, and can live through low light. I use these primarily. They are awesome. On top of nutrient-sucking ability, they make your tank look better, more hiding space for fishes, and provides oxygen.
Overfeeding your fishes encourage algae growth as well, due to excess nutrients swimming around.
3. Algae-eater
Understand that, this is not the best method. But in combination with the one(s) above, it’s excellent.
Not all pleco/catfish are good at eating your algae. Most catfishes, will outgrow your tank, and eventually lose their algae-eating capability as they grow. They will eventually need food supplements like algae discs.
I know 2 types that won’t grow big, and will always be active algae-eater.
- Oto (must be in school, at least 3 for midsize tank)
- Bristlenose catfish (max 4-5")
When your tanks have no more algae like mine, they will eat left over food on the gravel. Which makes your tank even cleaner 
If you follow these guildelines, I guarantee you that your tanks will be free of algae. And please, don’t use chemicals. They don’t kill the source.
Instead, when starting what i mention above, use a window scraper to scrape visible algae on the glass. So you don’t kill the algae that are not obvious. These non-obvious algae will keep on taking nutrients like your other plants. They will help you reduce "visible algae".
Hope this helps!
