Top 5 Algae Eaters to Clean Your Aquarium

[@AquariumCoop]

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[@closetocreamy]

How many otos catfish for a 55 gallon?

[@angiei.1209]

Hi I have a 10 gallon tank , with 1 betta, 3 guppies and 2 mollies with 2 ghost shrimp. I just had to clean my entire tank because there was this white alge everywhere... I have plastic plants. I'm nervous that it will come back . Looking at your video I'm thinking not all of these alge eaters should go in my tank but I'm not sure could you recommend the ones I should get? Thanks🙂

[@121mcvUK]

I live the UK and in the winter the office drops to 10c, what do you recommend as a cleaning fish

[@Nagarjunapathuri]

Can i put hailstorm loach with flowerhorn Like regular plecos?

[@TheAquaPapa]

Can I request a video on things that you could add to your tank live in the substrate from different worms, snails, clams, fish and maybe even bugs. Obviously all stuff that would have a purpose

[@toddsherman]

I’d like to see a time lapse of a tank being cleaned by this combo

[@rustammamedov1732]

I'm too.

[@jeremyburrage4197]

Same!

[@erint5373]

I find watching these types of guys do their work in a tank SO relaxing and satisfying-like ASMR

[@user-nq3xi4wm2k]

Algae: exists Me: buys Otto to eat it Otto: I don’t think I will eat it, but those algae wafers look good

[@scottgeorge4760]

I have Otto"s and Chinese Algae eater 😀

[@lancerguy3667]

@@scottgeorge4760 Watch out for Chinese Algae Eaters... those things are known to turn into serial killers when they grow up.

[@CaleenKnow]

What brand works for them I heard they are hard to feed

[@Xsksnssjccxghb]

Mine won’t even look at wafers but they are nibbling surfaces 24/7 and pooping so I assume they took care of themselves. I still feed them algae wafers at night hoping they eat them while the other fish are asleep

[@xXdutchieeeXx]

Just don’t feed them the algae wafer for a while

[@bluemanpaul]

Otocinclus are better suited to being in larger groups in my experience. They can be mixed with similar looking corydora as they school with them for protection.

[@aprilsage5695]

My lfs doesn’t sell less than 5 otos at a time, as they school by the thousands in the wild and feel much more comfortable this way

[@striumph4771]

I used to have a Hillstream in my lidless tank, didn't end well. Poor bastard sucked his way over the edge and dried out on my desk. RIP

[@ariscosollover73]

Idk to laugh or cry. 😅😅😅

[@shecomments2much189]

F

[@Xsksnssjccxghb]

Same story. I have a strong flow tank which they love but my it’s a bit small and one time I filled my water up too full and it jumped out😂(I did have a lid but there’s a small space in the back) Switched to ottos and they seem happy in my tank

[@scifydi6446]

I had a crayfish crawl out of my tightly covered 55 gallon. I found him in a closet a few weeks later!

[@LadyCoyKoi]

I don't know to feel sad or laughing.

[@theshrimpscene4386]

Great Vid Cory! I never get tired of hearing about different algae eaters. Plus love the fact that all of these can live together. I find Scuds/Gammarus are another great algae eater that provides live food as well.

[@C.Radulescu]

2:35 bottom right goldfish going backwards and bumping his head in the sand :))

[@amandacaballero1964]

i noticed that too!! so cute

[@yuhanlee9676]

It sleepy

[@ajfilmsss]

is it ok?

[@C.Radulescu]

@@ajfilmsss I'm not sure. It seems to be OK

[@InDreamsYourMine]

@@ajfilmsss It totally fine, my goldfish bumps her head into the sand too

[@pamelapilling8785]

My 55 G is so clean. I bought 4 Hillstreams because Rachel O'Leary's are really cute. I guess I am doing something right. I now have at least 30. They are breeding like crazy right now.

[@rugvedkulkarni1593]

What temperature do you keep your aquarium at?

[@DrawerFullofRocks]

Thanks for this video, Cory. Can you consider doing one for a safe cleanup crew for goldfish? I hear so many horror stories in my Facebook goldfish groups about people putting in the absolute wrong clean up crew companions in their goldfish tanks. I know a lot of the members follow you here on KZbin. Thanks again for always creating engaging content.

[@diamondharris4963]

Hey my fish keeping friends.

[@1er1s]

heeeeeyyyyy

[@tupacshakur9847]

Ya man

[@murphdawgswizzle]

hiya!

[@MiraSubieGirl]

Hello!

[@scarlettcourtney9205]

hiiii👋

[@jackanddan]

We love our Hillstreams....👍

[@jackanddan]

@@SpiritAquatics ....Believe ours are captive bred....we have several and are hoping they breed for us....they are the neatest little dudes ever and Jack just loves them....

[@madfishdiva]

@@SpiritAquatics I have been breeding HIllstreams Loaches in my 55 for over a year and know of other breeders as well.

[@rimrodi7]

Yeah they are.

[@persian9259]

Hi I was thinking of getting a hillstream loach, I have a 57 litre tank, with tetras and guppy's and shrimp, would you all recommend getting one?

[@jackanddan]

Persian ....probably be okay....👍

[@jacklandismusic]

Me, planning to get an angelfish for my new tank: I wonder if hillstream loaches can cohabitate with angels... B-roll footage: *angelfish swims directly in front of hillstream loach*

[@Scottholiday13F]

Late to comment. But i have a 75g that has 2 black angelfish and 2 koi angelfish with a couple ottos and 2 hillstream loaches and a handful of other species but yes that all get along well! No nips or anything.

[@Cashcash08]

@@Scottholiday13F have you tried putting shrimp in there?

[@Cashcash08]

@@Scottholiday13F do you have any small fish like neon there?

[@Scottholiday13F]

@@Cashcash08 so all together i have 4 angelfish, 2 black mollies, 2 Dalmatian mollies, 2 rope fish, 6 peppered corys, a zebra pleco, a hill stream loach, 2 ottos, 3 crabs, a handful of snails and my male guppy. Along with i get a dozen ghost shrimp each week for my rope fish. I have a 50g breeder tank for fancy guppies and red shrimp. I just started a small blue shrimp tank and i have a tank with guppies and snails alone. Started with a blue and red rams horn and a mystery snail. Now i have about 150 snails and i have multiple variations of rams and mysteries. I have a complete mystery rams all black and speckled. An albino rams etc. i have alot of plants and driftwood and floating lilies. So i do monthly water changes and my tanks basically take care of themselves. And i hatch/ feed brine shrimp to my tanks and blood worms along with beefheart! A lot of what i know came from Cory at aquarium co-op.

[@Scottholiday13F]

@@Cashcash08 also i run canister filters and CO2 in my tanks with aquarium co-ops green bottle of fertilizer

[@77navarram]

Those goldfish are amazing!

[@thatguy5367]

Thanks Cory. Just started a guppy breeding tank.. I have three otocinclus, 2 nerite snails and nowI'll be adding 6 cherry shrimp. I have some red tail guppies, that should look cool together.

[@shesellsfish]

Those 5 together...that's a hard working crew. 👍💕👍

[@tiborzakar697]

I have a 36 gallon. I use some amano shrimp. 4 Corys, a bristle nose pleco and some snails. Seems to work great and they all get along with my first in the tank

[@davesaquariums]

Thanks Cory! I've had good luck with a mix of 6 Otos, a single Bristlenose, a small horde of bladder snails, and a pile of platies. That group cleaned every bit of BBA, hair algae, and green spot out of my sons 29 when they got hungry. It was awesome, and none of it has come back since.

[@bambammrc]

Opening my package from you guys right now. Thank you so much for what you do for our hobby

[@pastelshrimp3106]

I love nerite snails, I have one for my 10 gallon community tank, and it has been an algae saver, just one is good unless if u got a lot of ammonia being produced in your tank.

[@TheMirraco]

Great Video Cory!

[@greenthumbaquariums1185]

I'm finding that the red lizard whiptail is a surprisingly good algae eater particularly for the fuzzy green variety.

[@breannagould4279]

Added 2 otocinclus and a hillstream loach and our extreme algae problem(the only place we can put our tank gets too much sunlight and makes algae spread like the plague) was over half way cleared up by day 3. Got one more otocinclus and another hillstream loach and two days later everything in the tank looks brand new. Blown away. Thanks!

[@AquariumCoop]

*Check out our other algae-fighting tips here: **geni.us/AlgaeTips*

[@wyomingadventures]

Thank you Cory! Appreciate it!

[@j.f.o.9399]

i have clown loach can i still do this

[@wyomingadventures]

@@j.f.o.9399 great question. I have dojos and was wondering the same thing. If I could do shrimp and snails?

[@bighitbattles2235]

Does this count for black beard or no if not could you ever make a video on how to control black beard thank you

[@joellove2054]

Hi cory, I have 5 ottosinclus in my 20 gallon tall with a pair of OB peacock cichlids. My tank is all planted and I get black beard algae and the ottosinclus dont seem to be eating it. Is there anything else that I can add that will eat it? P.S. your videos have helped me and inspired me to start up a tank and I love it! Thank you.

[@vikka6310]

Woah! Looking good with the beard, man! Also looks like you've lost weight. Good on you, brother. Thanks for the fish info btw

[@davidmiller8030]

I have ghost shrimp, rams horn in both my tanks, in my 20 gallon I also have a fiddler, 2 mystery snails (gold and blue), and Malaysian trumpet snails in my gravel and the run of the mill pleco....they do a hell of a job

[@fili91]

Great video my two mystery snails couldn't keep up with my algea. I picked up 3 Hillstream Loaches and I'm really happy with them. Awesome fish super active and full of personality. Thanks for making these type of videos

[@sicboy83]

Awesome. This is very helpful for my outdoor patio pond

[@MacHamish]

We have clown loaches so no shrimp for us but the 4 baby Bristlenose plecos we added cleaned our 55 gal in a week. Now we have to give them veggies and wafers. 😎👍

[@professorm4171]

Panda gara would work. A note on the small shrimps. They're usually food for fish bigger than them.

[@Upierdliwiec4L]

Military helmet snail is my favourite.. I love it's black shell.. very good for algae on glass

[@selcouthgaming7957]

Hi! I’ve danios and molly in my aquarium. Which one do you suggest from your list to use? Kindly suggest

[@Xsksnssjccxghb]

Need to watch 300 Amano shrimps cleaning an algae infested plant. Just too satisfying! Would be a cool video idea

[@2-trueman918]

Good idea, I never really thought about having a few different types in the one tank 👍👍

[@daveyponderosa9549]

Thanks for your post Sir. I’ll be following your advice this weekend. Cheers

[@danricefish]

I have most of these plus A couple Siamese algae eaters, hoping they will clear up my hair algae problem, they seem to be doing a good job so far even after a day

[@loripullins4700]

Thank you for this list!!!

[@alishaforster4950]

Watching from Canada and have been able to get some of ur recommendations! Just got two hill stream loaches I love them ❤

[@maxmal9375]

That aquarium in the back 👌🏻👌🏻

[@jamesgreen9372]

Great video for a common problem, Jim

[@davepothier5508]

Nice i use 1 hillsteam 3 otos cherry shrimp n snails..nvr had amano shrimp tough

[@sicilianotoronto]

Oto can die on a whim though. I loved my Siamese Algae Eater, great for all the hair algae on plants. Not so much for the glass walls. Also, it will get lazy and also eat the food you give for the other fish. LOL but overall so great. I think i had a female, she grew and got all chubby like a porpoise. It was so relaxing to see her on the plants and rocks at night before the lights went out just chilling and relaxing.

[@KyazRock]

how to solve SAE not eating algae but fish food

[@gildagarraton6762]

Hi! I have a small Betta fish tank 1 gallon 1/2 . Getting algae spots in the glass and plants . What do you recommend?

[@vanithaahrelis8631]

I have panda garras in my tanks - anything even vaguely algae related is gone. my driftwood looks like it's been sanded down and any that was growing on my plants - gone. I do have some hillstream loaches in with them and they seem to have divided the tank into: Hilstream on the glass sides, garra - everything else.

[@brazzr]

Just the video i needed, Thanks Cory!

[@catfishcave379]

My Sewellia loaches are breeding like rabbits in their 40 breeder with LF White Clouds. Lots of plants with hair algae - Will Amano shrimp bother the loach eggs?

[@mikehalf1453]

Cory I have red tail shark and two zebra loachs and two hillstreams what can I put in my tank to help with hair algae???? Flying fox or otto's????

[@krisdonohue3959]

Thanks for all your well tested information. Got a Hillstream loach and he cleaned off the front of my 55 within 24 hours. My others guys are getting lazy!

[@kellysuzanne976]

I love my otto's they are my favorite and in my opinion cute too. I have three want 3 more .

[@vegaf2011]

Which one would you recommend for a 120 gallon tank with two red ear sliders?

[@gautamb904]

Hi cory.. You always provide me with somegood information about aquarium hobby... 👍🏻. You didn't mention about SAE's in this video why?

[@dean_fit]

ive literally been waiting for a video like this!

[@mikaelafox6106]

I just started fishkeeping last year when my cousin temporarily moved in with us while she was in college. Now that she’s gone I’m trying to keep a schedule with water changes and such. Not doing a great job because I’ve got a lot of hair algae growing. 😩 Do the hillstream loaches eat the algae on the glass of tanks because the Otto cat I have doesn’t seem to like it. Now I want to look into the hillstream loach and the cherry shrimp! I love shrimp. One thing though - other than pea puffers, what other small fish like to eat the pest snails? I have five pea puffers, and I love them, but I don’t think I’m doing it right by them. So I might rehome a few of them and just stick with my bettas and cory cats. Also, any site recommendations for buying a hillstream loach online? I really wish you sold and shipped fish! I loved buying some products from you already. You’re one of my top fishtubers!!

[@hereticdude2788]

Don't know if you've solved your pest snail issue, but try a couple of Zebra Loaches, they absolutely wiped out my pest snail infested 175 L tank in 2 days flat, and they're a really playful and inquisitive fish, not had any problems with fish aggression towards or from them. Highly recommend them!

[@mikaelafox6106]

Heretic Dude I still have pest snails and the pea puffers. My only problem is I need a fish that stays small. I currently can’t get anything bigger than a 10 gallon tank. I’ve heard yoyo loaches and weather/dojo loaches also love snails. Is that true?

[@hereticdude2788]

@@mikaelafox6106 Dojo Loaches can get pretty big (8+ inches)and Yoyo loaches get to about 6.5-7 inches, but Zebra Loaches stay pretty small (up to 3.5 inches), and they will actively hunt snails of all sizes, but also happy on generic fish food they can get to on the floor of the tank. Honestly can't recommend Zebra Loaches enough, absolutely love mine, real characters and gorgeous patterns.

[@mikaelafox6106]

Heretic Dude I’m sold!! Thanks for the explanation! I’ve seen them at petco sold as golden zebra loaches. Is there a difference between regular and golden, or is petco just making them sound fancy?

[@TheBernardino1977]

Can you send me the link where you bought those Bubblers. Thank you

[@2view944]

I wish I could have a robot Pleco. Clean my aquarium glass by using the remote control

[@Jodster223]

I have 3 hillstream loaches, 4 amano, 2 nerite snails, 2 clown plecos, and pygmy catfish in a very clean 50 gal tank.

[@gleysongriebeler3536]

I love the fish in the background

[@blakeobi8812]

What mix of these would you recommend for a 10 gallon tank?

[@problemaquarium]

Your losing a good amount of weight there buddy! Looking a lot healthier! Good job! Hello from Newfoundland, Canada! 🇨🇦

[@XZumex]

This is essentially what I stocked my first 29 gallon tank with minis an Bristlenose Pleco named Cotton

[@ludvigsaquariums5801]

Amazing will definitely help me in the future!

[@joshweaver673]

I have a 75g community tank, currently has 1 Blue Acara, 1 Green Severum, 1 Panda Angel, 9/11 Tiger Barbs, 4/5 Albino Tiger Barbs, 3 Gold Barbs, 4 Odessa Barbs, 3 Platinum Green Barbs, 2 Red Glow Tiger Barbs, 2 ‘reject pink’ Glow Tetras, 4 Albino Cory Cats, & 1 Rubberlip Plecco. Tank has been up and running stable for roughly 18 months or so. Just recently decided to give plants another go so placed 4 Amazon swords, 2 Ozelot Swords, 2 Red Flame Swords, & tossed in 2 two-three inch thick moss balls. Tank has a 40g sponge filter as well as an internal overflow/sump filter system while doing 20-30% water changes weekly. (Might also add a Ziss in the future). With my set up which of these Algea Eaters/cleaners or combinations would you recommend for my tank to help with Algea & cleaning up. Thanks for any advice in advance, love your videos and support to the community!!!

[@lancesmith6908]

Nice vid thanks

[@notavailable1174]

the shrimp are my favorite, they’re so cute and fun to watch

[@oneuup9417]

What kind of tank setup is this in the video I like the way the water is going back into the tank

[@closetocreamy]

Are these all ok for a community tank?

[@louiegroenewald]

Would you recommend Siamese Algae eaters for specifically black beard Algae. If so how many for a particular size Aquarium.

[@varanidguy]

One of my favorite algae eaters out there is the Siamese algae eater. I've personally witnessed them even decimating BBA, they're great! I have a couple of them in my 75, wanted to add in 2-3 hillstream loaches, but I'm using lava rock as my hard scape (substrate is #20 pool filter sand). Would the lava rock be too rough for them?

[@Paul-044]

I definitely need some Otocinclus catfish. How many would you recommend for a Landen 60H 30 gallon rimless aquarium 23.6" W 17.7" D 17.7" H ? Great video and content.

[@bgs9man]

Another great informative video. Thanks

[@Boss-zo4lw]

Will those shrimp be OK with Mollies? Do you need a lid for shrimps?

[@carter1605]

I’ve heard flag fish are good for black beard algae, are they good for other algae too?

[@iwin2655]

Hey buddy! I have a question! Are those sponge filters in the back? What kind? :) thanks dude!

[@sarahcorfield992]

What would be a good option if you have a couple of Platys?

[@englishtime5327]

Siamese Flying Fox. I bought three. They are tiny but in just three days my plants are clean and I have a heavily planted tank. They are in a tank with 9 angels and loads of guppies.

[@suzannenichols6900]

What do I do about the snails that I get that or not purchased? (although it seems to me they are TRYING to clean algae in my tank) I feel awful about trying to get rid of them; they're alive too. I've thought about getting assassin's nails but I don't even know where to get those and I've heard they can become a problem and frankly I'd rather have a nice algae eating snail a regular sized snail like a golden mystery snail. But I don't know whether I should get rid of the other snails first or how to do it or what to do with them. It sounds like you're prescribing the algae eaters for a large tank what would you say for a 10 or 20 gallon tank?

[@s.y9308]

Will my fishes eat the shrimps? Does yours? Thanks for the ideas love the video's

[@LNX308]

I have some pretty aggressive long fin tiger barbs in a 20 high. Would the hillstream loach still do fine in there?

[@lovol6536]

Would you recommend apple snails / mystery snails ?

[@sueyounglove9253]

Very useful to know.

[@gregorypeck2763]

Do Hillstream loaches need a strong current in the aquarium?

[@machscga6238]

What freshwater clean up crew would do well in slow moving river style water that is between 26°c -32°c and what plant + clean up crew. Combo crew would ypu recommend?

[@Marco-dm3tc]

What about Asian golden clams? I heard they help with cloudy water

[@FireflyXOXO1]

For a 20 gallon tank, how many of each of these five?

[@yoltproductions3109]

What combo would u recommend for a 20 gal long with room for other fish???

[@jrycsssss]

I'd recommend hillstream and tetra/danio combo, theyd look good

[@freds3315]

Trying to get restarted in the hobby again, could you put written list put in order of how you recomend them to be added

[@niva8043]

Haha look at the chocolate/golden fish at the end of the video. It looks like he's given you the evil eye 🤣

[@MrClown_The_Gamer]

Can have the 1st one then keep it with shrimps and baby fishes?

[@shonenonmyouji320]

My 5-6 inches koi ate all my amano shrimps and my panda corydoras which lasted for a few weeks before getting eat by my Koi. Do you have any suggestions to get rid of my algae? ( small fish will get swallow by my Koi)

[@Fathernsonadventures]

I need help I have a 29 gallon. I know I'm going to have algae but I need ideas on what I can add to it to fight algae it needs to be something that is betta safe. It will be a betta grow out tank that will be heavily planted

[@Benstrosity]

I have a video up of my tank, the snails work well

[@DCN2010]

How many otocinclus would you recommend for a 10 gallon cherry shrimp tank?

[@sepharad58]

Bought Hillstream loach, otocinclus, panda corys' no dwarfs available) Amano shrimp, cardinal tetras and galaxy Rasboras. All supposedly gentle, communal fish. The Amano shrimp were eaten within 36 hours. Did I miss something about these species living together. Tank is 300L.

[@nikfarishezrienikishak8582]

Do you have any suggestion for snails that are safe for plants? Especially carpeting plants, dont want it to uproot them

[@Aquagold.goldysingh1313]

Beautiful vedio...keep going...u r best

[@lisasnoddon8120]

Quick question what's best to put in with a beta fish? I need cleaner fish. I have a 10 gallon tank.

[@eileenbowers6750]

Hi! What's good for a 3 gallon betta tank for algae? My mystery snail is of no use. It's brown algae specifically.

[@vampgaia]

I have all of these. They do a great job. *** Goldfish trolling A+ ***

[@ioannisgeorgiou4347]

What do you suggest for a dark coloured stringie black beard type of algae, i heard of panda garras but not sure??? I have all 5 of the algae eaters that you mentioned!!

[@DrawerFullofRocks]

Read that Hillstream Loaches prefer a tank with higher flow, like being in a steadily moving river. Is this true? I really love them, but have held back because of this. I had thought to try a couple in my tank with Pristella maxillaris, cories and Tiger Nerites. Thoughts?

[@asisters2727]

This are great ideas