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Last year , while walking around my little region , I noticed a pest on all the pool : alga . For months , I watched the groundskeeper in the parks and housing composite neglect the alga , let it establish and rise and become so bad that I no longer want to look at the ponds . But then one of the groundsman got a brainy mind : sum up alga - eating Pisces the Fishes in . Within a few weeks , the algae problem had vastly improve .
Not all Pisces are great at cleaning up ponds – partially because some are more carnivorous and less herbivorous and partially because some simply do n’t like eat alga . The mintage below are the I that really savor algae , learn to eat it by hired man - fertilize or other encouragement , and really do better eating the wretched stuff as a part of their diet .
Koi
The famously pop Japanese koi Pisces the Fishes is the ideal alga - wipe out simple machine for larger ponds ( 1,000 + Imperial gallon ) . The fish develop up to 15 - inch typically and take plenty of room to move around . you may keep these guys together in big numbers . Most of the time , they work well with other Pisces , though they can turn a bit belligerent during mating season .
Koi live , on modal , 25 to 35 years . Best of all , these fish get it on developinghand - feed relationshipswith their homo , so they ’re great for your pond and make great pets . They may require some boost to eat all that alga in the pool , so as you develop hand feeding with them , grab some algae from the top and hand - run it to them to help them uprise a better taste perception for it .
Koi prosper in pH levels between 7.0 and 8.6 , with water temperatures between 65 and 75 academic degree Fahrenheit .
Bristlenose Pleco
Image credit : Pete Brown via Flickr
The disastrous suckerfish , or pleco ( which come in many colors ) , is a keen choice for keeping that pond algae - destitute . They bolt up various species of algae , are hardy , and can handle some cool weather condition ( i.e. , they do great in pond ) , and they ’re prosperous to care for .
These little remora grow up to five inch , love a peaceable life history with other peaceful fish species , and only take a body of water that ’s 20 + gallons in size of it . This means they ’re keen for small ponds as well as outdoor natural spring in many cases . Their particular favorite alga to nosh on is gullible smear algae .
They do best with weewee temps between 60 and 80 degree Fahrenheit and pH levels between 6.5 and 7.5 .
Mosquito Fish
Image credits : schizoform via Flickr
While the mosquitofish is mostly screw for its mosquito larvae feeding capacity – thus the name – the little , peaceful fish is omnivorous and also enjoy dining on another pool pest : algae . They eat a number of type of algae and enjoy swim freely with other fish around . If they are in a pond with Pisces the Fishes larger than themselves , they will require mountain of concealing place and vegetation , however , to keep them from becoming the snack !
Mosquitofish can survive in a wide mountain range of piddle temperature from 30 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit ! Ideally , they should have water around 80 degrees Fahrenheit , though , with pH levels between 6.5 and 8.0 .
Siamese Algae Eater
effigy credits : Emilia Murray via Flickr
This Pisces is so well get laid for its alga dinner party that it ’s kick the bucket “ algae feeder ” in its name ! The fish is native to ponds in Asia and is well suited to larger ponds as it grows up to 11 inch . Its sucker - like back talk attache to rock ‘n’ roll , plant , and incline of ponds for prosperous “ cleansing ” in the pool . They ’re particularly corking for hoover up black algae .
Note : These fish can get aggressive , so avow compatibility with other fish before stocking them together .
Thai alga feeder like their pee between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit , ideally , with pH levels between 6.5 and 8.0 .
Grass Carp
The grass carp is the substantial quite a little when it comes to algae eating . Of course , they ’re also huge ( up to 55 lb ) , so they ’re only going to process in large ponds of several hundred gallon or more .
Grass carp wipe out anywhere from 40 % to 300 % of their body weight every single twenty-four hour period in plant material . They do favor rooted vegetation like pond Gunter Grass , but they bolt up that algae , too . They ’re ideal for keeping rooted plants under mastery in large ponds .
Gunter Grass carp do best with water temps between 68 and 86 level Fahrenehti and pH levels between 7.0 and 8.5 .
Channel Catfish
double credits : Ryan Somma via Flickr
Another fish only for large ponds ( 1,000 + congius ) is the channel mudcat . These search like to what most of us think of as wolf fish , thanks to the whisker - like tendrils . They ’re a scavenger / bottom eater specie that corrode practically anything in its nerve pathway .
They have a substantial sense of smell , which help them happen loads of algae . They ’ll gobble down somewhat much all kinds in large quantity . They should not be stocked with other fish their size of it .
Channel cats do well in urine temperature of around 70 degree Fahrenheit , with pH level between 7.5 and 8.5 .
Pond Loach
The pool loach is a hungry algae feeder . These guys work great with other mintage as well , like koi and mosquitofish , and they dead bolt down that unripened slimy material with fervor . Pond loaches do lean to be a bit diffident , though , so you ’re not going to see them hanging out where you could see them often . They necessitate a pond of at least 55 gal and can do all right in poor character water supply .
These fish opt pH levels between 6.0 and 8.0 , with temperatures between 59 and 77 degree Fahrenheit .
Otocinclus Catfish
The otocinclus catfish is another algae fan . They ’re peaceable and small – only reaching about two inches in distance – and tend to get along well with other bottom feeders that are herbivores or nonaggressive . They should be go along in schools together to keep them sound , happy , and blue tenseness . They should be in ponds at least 30 Imperial gallon or larger .
Note : They sleep together to eat brown algae .
These little guy like their body of water between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit , with pH levels between 6 and 7.5 .
Mollies
Another chocolate-brown algae feeder is the molly Pisces the Fishes . These popular aquarium pets are hardy and work outdoors in ponds as well . They work well with other alga - eating species and peaceful fish , though they can be a lilliputian aggressive if they ’re in pond too small .
mollie do good with piss temperature between 75 grade Fahrenheit and 80 degree Fahrenheit , with pH levels of 7.5 – 8.5 .
Twig Catfish
Image credits : Carnat Joel via Flickr
This unique fish is bang by its long , thin body and pointy nose . They typically grow to four inches in length and are compatible with other peaceful fish species . They should be keep in dyad . They do well in ponds at least 12 gallons in sizing , so they ’re outstanding for fountains and small ponds . They do need fair stable water chemistry , so though they roll in the hay gobble down alga , they involve to be well - give care for to prosper . Plus , lots of places to hide and some supplementary foods will aid them detain potent and happy .
Twig catfish need weewee temperature between 73 and 79 degrees Fahrenheit and pH levels between 6.0 and 7.0 for their healthiest life .
Chinese Algae Eater
Image credits : Garthh ~ common - swiki via Wikimedia Commons
Another Pisces so well - known for its penchant for algae is the Chinese Algae Eater . This is a super comfortable to care for Pisces the Fishes that does well in 30 + gallons . They love to eat and that enables them to grow up to 10 inch . They can get to become a bite strong-growing as they mature in size of it , so they should be hold on with other species that can handle their own .
These fish involve water temperatures between 74 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and pH levels between 6.0 and 8.0 for best results .
Notes and Cautions
Any time you stock fish , whether in a pool or aquarium , it ’s important to make indisputable you ’re stocking the correct species for your apparatus as well as species that will be compatible with each other . After all , you do n’t want your pH degree to do in the little otocinclus or the channel cats to run through your mollies .
You also call for to verify that you’restocking fishin the right size pond . Your small algae eater wo n’t do as well in magnanimous ponds as say a Gunter Grass carp or a koi . Large algae eater also wo n’t do so well in small pool , either , even if they ’re starting out low when you convey them home .
When you ’re quick to stock your unexampled alga eaters , it ’s also important to introduce them carefully and slow so that they may acclimate properly and not become ominous or contaminate the pool . An sick fish , for example , could infect the whole universe , or drastic water change could make a new Pisces the Fishes ill or even end its life .
Quarantine new fish for two to four weeks before usher in them into the pond .
Once the quarantine is over , they ’ll be quick to acclimate .
Are Algae Eaters Enough to Keep Your Pond Clean?
Depending on the alga - deplete metal money , the size of your pool , your use of filters , and the eccentric of plants and other critter you have in the pond , alga feeder may be enough to significantly rap down the alga growth in your pond .
However , most of us will never get that exact ratio perfectly down , so it ’s important to weigh other options for keeping things clean in there . You ’ll also want to exercise other methods for cleaning the pool . alga eaters can definitely make a divergence , but even the best of the undecomposed at their patronage wo n’t be enough to totally “ bring around ” a pond of alga issues .
