This bottom dweller is also a community-type fish that likes warmer waters. They can live in a pond or aquarium. The common plecostomus is a rather large fish, and not the most common choice for this exact reason. However, it does well in a fish community. The cold nugget pleco is endemic to the region of Brazil. A shy omnivore that has no problems living in a community, most owners of this algae eating fish testify that it does not bother the other fish, koi including, and cannot coexist well with aggressive species.
These algae eating pond and aquarium fish are among the most common and preferred helpers. The best bonus? Also known as the suckermouth catfish, the common pleco Hypostomus plecostomus is omnivorous, feeding on algae, plant material and insects in a pond. It can grow to more than 24 inches long and is known for being aggressive in adulthood, so stick to one pleco in your pond at a time.
Mosquitofish Gambusia affinis are small freshwater fish that eat mosquito larvae. Mosquitoes breed in many backyard water bodies including ponds. Mosquitofish are compatible with most ornamental pond fish, but they live most harmoniously with fish their own size, as larger fish sometimes eat mosquitofish. If mosquitofish live with larger fish, provide them with plenty of hiding places such as rocks and vegetation. It grows up to 11 inches long and uses its suckerlike mouth to remove algae attached to rocks, plants and sides of the pond.
The Siamese Algae Eater can be territorial, so test it with different pond fish to check for compatibility. Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella are voracious feeders that can eat 40 to percent of their body weight each day in plant material. We are proud that our customers find Nualgi to be the best solution for removing algae naturally, while also creating a environment for all inhabitants. Try Nualgi in Your Pond! Do you have any of the algae eating fish above? How much algae have they eaten?
Would you recommend them to new pond owners? Do you see any fish we may have missed? Your email address will not be published. What types of algae will fish eat? How do I choose the right algae eater for my pond? Take an inventory of these factors in your pond to select the right algae eater from our list: Water temperature: Start by thinking about your average year-round temperature.
If you live in a warmer region with temperatures above 70 F, some of our recommended algae eaters might not survive the negative effects of high temperatures on ponds. Will your small pond be able to accommodate larger fish as they grow bigger? Not sure pond size? Read these tips on how to measure the size your pond. Do your current fish or critters mesh well with your chosen algae eater? Championship koi owners should think twice about adding any fish that may show aggression to a prized fish!
Make sure you pick an algae eater that matches your existing conditions or your new fish may struggle. What algae is in your pond : Consider what type of algae you are experiencing, how much there is to remove, and where that algae is most present, to help inform the best type of fish that will feast on algae in your pond. What are the best algae eating pond fish? Koi aka Nishikigoi Cyprinus carpio. Pond Size Over 1, Gallons.
Fish Size 12 to 15 inches. Life Expectancy 25 — 35 years. How to get your koi to eat more algae If you want to get your koi to help more, try developing a hand-feeding relationship with your koi , and then try hand-feeding them algae from your pond. Pond Size A pond with at least 1, gallons is recommended. Temperament Generally docile but may show signs of aggression during mating season. Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus.
Fish Size 15 to 24 inches. Life Expectancy years. Their strong sense of smell makes them very good at eating various foods, including algae!
But, are Catfish aggressive? Pond Description A pond with at least 1, gallons is recommended. Water Conditions Channel Catfish prefer water temperatures between Temperament Channel Catfish can be aggressive toward other fish and eat a variety of both plant and animal matter.
Fish Size Up to 39 inches. Life Expectancy 25 years. For this reason, grass carp are better suited for use in lakes or very large ponds. As always, this depends on the climate in which you live, your pond itself including pH level , size, plants, etc. If you have a large pond or a significant amount of algal growth, more voracious, larger algae feeders like the pleco, Siamese algae eater, or Chinese high-banded shark may be better suited for your pond.
If your region experiences temperature fluctuations, semi-cold-tolerant fish species include batfish, the pond loach, guppies, koi, and some goldfish species. Sadly, in almost all cases, algae in ponds will eventually begin to grow faster than fish can actively consume it — especially in summer months.
Pond fish may be able to graze down algae during quieter periods, but as soon as the sun begins to shine during summer months, algae will slowly start to win the battle and gain a foot-hold over the eco-system.
These methods include UV clarifiers , pond vacuums , barley straw , and even natural algae deterrents, such as pond plants. All of these methods are safe to use with fish, so combining them alongside your natural algae eaters will ensure you keep the maximum amount of algae growth controlled. More information on these methods can be found in our separate articles below I live in Winlaw BC, and have a pond that is about 40 feet across, and feet at its deepest.
It is becoming algae infested, and I would like to add some fish which can withstand the winters, and will eat the algae. In the Summer we do swim in the pond if that is an issue. Any info, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You could look into Grass Carp not common carp — which look similar! Grass carp are incredibly hardy, tolerate cold winters, and will eat all kinds of pond weeds and algae.
We have a small pool we turned into a small pond where we have a couple turtles. We live in Georgia. What kind of algae eater would be best for us??? Georgia gets pretty mild winters, so most algae eaters would be suitable for your climate. However, the main problem I see here is that most turtles are predators, and will very likely try to eat or nip smaller fish species in their environment. These are very effective at removing the algae which cause green pond water, and are very safe for wildlife and the eco-system.
There is also two upper settling areas that I keep water hyacinth in during the warmer moths; followed by a stream that spills into the pond. What would you suggest for an algae eater? The pond is a little small for grass carp what many consider the best weed control fish , but you could potentially add a whole bunch of smaller fish, like plecos, to help with algae control. This product contains a silica-based algae species called Diatom, which eventually works to out-compete regular nuisance algae.
The difference between the two is that diatom is a great food for zooplankton, which in turn, are a favorite food for fish, insects, and wildlife. Once this new type of algae grows to a certain extent, and zooplankton begin to multiply, everything is simply kept in-check by the natural eco-system of the pond.
May be worth a shot! Hey , my name is Chris. My family owns a coal company land reclamation pond. The pond is about 1. Our only issues we are having is mass algae growth and cat-tails. We placed 10 grass carp but recent rains have washed away most of the carp. We have 3 that have survived the past 10 years one has grown to just shy of 4ft in length. Just wondering if there is any other way to control the growth or if we should just get more carp. Did the 10 grass carp have any noticeable impact on the amount of algae while they were all present?
If they did, a general rule of stocking grass carp for weed control is about adult grass carp per per acre of pond water. Looking at your pond, you could probably get up to grass carp in there quite happily, which would essentially be doubling your long-term weed control potential. Common carp and Israeli carp can look very similar 2 Do you just have algae? Grass carp prefer eating algae alongside other weeds.
Alongside grass carp, you could also check into water dyes which work very well for slowing the growth of algae in larger bodies of water. Between the shark and the other fish, I have very little algae in my pond and I live in Southern California. Glad to hear your algae eaters are helping keep your pond in good condition. The Chinese high-fin sharks are a really interesting fish, and certainly one of the better algae eaters out there; especially for larger ponds.
Out of curiosity, how big are your sharks at this point?
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