They will eat some algae, but just as importantly they’ll help take care of some of the problems that caused your algae bloom, such as uneaten fish food and decaying plant matter. If you have really cold winters, it’s still best to bring them indoors where possible or install a pond heater to keep them comfortable. And, be sure wherever you are buying your fish from knows the difference as well. They are schooling fish, so you’d need a minimum of six to keep them happy and healthy. The algae will run out quickly if you keep a large group of Otos. Remember, you don’t just want to solve a problem in the short term, but create a healthy miniature ecosystem that will thrive for years to come. The UV Pond Clarifier can easily be installed in or out of your pond. Barbs can live up to 6 years in the tank if the water quality and a good diet are ensured. usually takes over the open spaces from the hair algae, and the snails end up doing the legwork to keep it that way. When it comes to fish, options are more limited in the UK as many effective algae eaters, such as plecos, do not do well in cooler climates and would need to be brought indoors most seasons. Not really a good choice for large ponds with bigger species as they’ll get eaten pretty quickly and won’t make much impact on algae growth, but they’re a good choice in smaller water gardens. Fancy goldfish tend to stay smaller, while common goldfish can grow fairly large. Ghost shrimp and cherry shrimp more common and less expensive options if you like the idea of shrimp in your tank. I forgot to mention I live near Lake Erie 40 miles East of Cleveland. I can move a couple of mollies to another aquarium so that would bring it below 100%. Add one every couple of days. Unless your pond could house much larger fish, such as adult koi or goldfish, I’d personally opt for an alternative algae control measure, such as a UV clarifier. In addition, they’re both considered easy species to take care of and will reproduce fairly quickly, meaning that these little guys can put a surprising dent in overall algae growth. My husband and I live in Red Deer County, Alberta. A bristlenose pleco would be a much better algae eater, but they would require warmer water temperatures and are not as hardy. Be careful when treating fish for illness if you have snails in your tank. Some of them can be harmful to snails and shrimp. In general, most fish do quite well on one feeding per day. Are you having an algae issue? In the main pond the fish kept the algae very short but in the overflow chamber the algae was very long and dense. Any uneaten food will add nutrients to the water, further encouraging algal growth. Yhe pond is about 6-8 ft long by 3-4 ft across and about 3ft deep. Now, generally, mollies come in plenty of colors. This is probably because of the way it grips the sides of the tank with its mouth, scraping up any algae it can find, and making a downright spectacle of itself. By Gudsine (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Also, if temperatures in the pond suddenly drop, you may no longer see noticeable growth, as most algae species begin to suffer in temps under 60°F (16°C). You can do this by adjusting nutrient levels in your tank and by promoting aquatic plant growth that can take away resources from these algae. This is of particular importance, as they are an invasive species outside of Asia and can wreak havoc on natural ecosystems if allowed to breed. Small freshwater shrimp also work day and night to eat algae and polish every grain of gravel in the tank. Batfish have a prominent, high dorsal fin that inspired its name, and bold, banded coloring that makes it quite eye-catching. It’s okay if you are a beginner and not fully experienced in maintaining the condition of the aquarium. Sides are pretty clean. Unfortunately the Green Spotted Puffer (GSP) is often misunderstood. Maybe add fish slowly and alter some of your maintenance practices so you can be sure water quality is stable and safe. As a pond owner, a pleco can quickly become your best friend, particularly if you live in a temperate region where algae is more likely to thrive. Looking at your pond, you could probably get up to 20-25 grass carp in there quite happily, which would essentially be doubling your long-term weed control potential. Consider their needs, plus how they will interact with any other fish you already own. On 2/8/2021 at 5:41 AM, easyreefer said: You also suggested to stop dosing NoPoX, but I see that when I stop dosing it No3 can go to even to level 30ppm after some time. It’s thriving with many species of fish. If you’d rather not worry about having to transfer your algae-eater inside for the winter, a pond loach (also known as the dojo loach or weather loach) may be more suited to you. The Siamese algae eater belongs to the freshwater carp family and, as its name implies, is one of the most popular and adept algae consumers for freshwater environments. Now that I cleaned it, I’m waiting to see if those two plecos can keep up. These livebearers get an honorable mention. You asked this question in an article about algae. Neither is a good fish for a 10-gallon tank, but you may consider them for a 30-gallon and up. You’ll see otos scrubbing the glass for algae, but they also have a tendency to disappear into the background. What is happening. You’ll see them puttering around the substrate, climbing plants and occasionally even swimming. Although no pond fish will likely be able to fully control a rapid algae bloom (more on this later), they’re a great natural method for reducing it’s growth alongside more traditional means. They should also do well in the warm Virginia climate! Reply For example, if your pH is close to 5.0 or as high as 9.0, you would be unlikely see much algae growth at all. They’re a tropical fish hailing from South America, and so they will have to be brought in for the winter if your pond’s temperature falls below 50°F. In fact, they could make things worse by adding to the bioload. Being two of the most commonly kept pond species, you’ll be happy to hear that both koi and goldfish are omnivores and will indeed feed on algae to some extent. 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. Here are my top five freshwater snails that eat algae: 1. You could try adding a few extra algae eating species, such as a bunch of common plecos, but if you have “way too much” algae already, I feel they won’t make a significant dent. May be worth a shot! Thanks. Check here for more info: https://pondinformer.com/best-uv-pond-clarifiers/. Add a pleco, algae-eating loaches, even Mollies, and all will graze algae all day long, reaching all those little spots that you can’t. Plecos generally do just fine with koi, but can inadvertently latch onto smaller goldfish and damage their scales and necessary slime coating if there isn’t much swimming space in your pond. 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 8-10 feet at its deepest. As a result, you need to decorate the bottom of your tank with fine sand, lots of plants, and more. Guppies, Mollies, Platies, and Swordtails. Also, will all three types of fish live happily together? Do your research! Even koi can appear dwarfed in size when they’re fully mature! Before we get to the best algae eaters, it should be noted that when feeding your fish, make sure that you are not feeding them any more than they can eat within a five minute span. I’ve done the normal filter/pump cleaning and chemical treatment of the water and a third water change. Is this predominately green water algae, or string algae, as well? Otos are probably my favorite algae-eating fish, just because they are so easy to manage. They will need to be brought inside for the winter, as mollies prefer water above 75°F and guppies do best in temperatures over 55°. Molly fish, or just mollies, are freshwater fish from the genus Poecilia, in the Poeciliidae family. Do you test your water parameters in the overflow? They’re also gentle feeders, meaning that they can get to algae in hard to reach places without harming the plants in your pond, which may be useful if your pond has plenty of nooks and crannies. I tried to get some string algae back but with no success. Be careful with medications when you have invertebrates in the tank.