Fish species that help keep your tank clean

This month we figured we’d switch gears up a little bit and instead of talking about our usual bulkhead fittings and bioballs – we’re going to talk about some of the fish that can help you get the most out of both!

These species are prime algae eaters and can help take the edge off carrying the workload for your bioballs and other filtration media. Not only are these fish good eaters and great helpers; but they also get along well with their other fish friends and are super easy to take care of. Let’s jump right in!

Amano Shrimp

Amano Shrimp are very active and very entertaining and remain a very popular choice for tank owners who want fish with a healthy appetite for algae. And if we’re being honest, here – these shrimp don’t just stop at algae. They’ll eat dead plant material and leftover food as well – making them the clean freaks of any fish tank.

Just be a little careful as they tend to get picked on and eaten by bigger fish, so keep them with populations of smaller fish with friendly dispositions.

Bristlenose Plecos

These guys are popular with tank owners because they look… different. They have funny looking heads and noses and have an odd shaped, stout body that can grow to be as big as 15cm long. They come out at night, eat up a lot of the green stuff and then take to hiding during the day. They get along with almost everyone so as long as there’s dark substrate and a nice shelter at the bottom of your tank – they’ll be pretty happy fish.

Siamese Algae Eaters

Siamese Algae Eaters are among the most popular tank fish in the world and with good reason- they eat everything, look funny, look great and help tanks keep clean. Most of all- they get along with everything – even edgier fish – making them an incredibly versatile species.

They do come with a few surprises thought – most of which being that they’re hyper sensitive to pH levels in tanks. Ask your local provider what the ideal levels would be. Second, they jump! That’s right – you need to be careful because they’ll jump clean out of a tank. Be careful and don’t tempt fate!

If you’re thinking about investing in one of these species, we recommend you do so as they make great additions to your community. That being said – it’s important to remember that they can’t survive on just algae alone. You’ll need to supplement their diets with food and other goodies so they can live long, comfortable lives. Good luck!