Not only does algae ruin the aesthetics of your pond, in large blooms they can decompose and remove oxygen from the water, potentially harming your fish.
The best thing you can do to prevent algae from forming is to introduce algae eating fish to your pond. Below I mention some of the best algae eaters you can add to your pond or aquarium right now!
The 9 Best Algae Eating Fish For Ponds
Each of the following fish can be a great addition to your pond if you are looking to get rid of algae:
Goldfish
Goldfish have smaller mouths as compared most other fish, so they are perfect to get the algae out of the nook and crannies.
However, they don’t have an appetite for algae and they do prefer to eat fish food, and insects over algae. Because of that, they only help control algae in a pond a small amount.
Pond owners that have a significant algae problem will need to incorporate other methods of algae control in addition to using goldfish.
Guppies
Guppies are smaller fish known for sucking algae off of rocks and other substrates, such as your pond liner. These fish are best used for algae control in smaller ponds because they do not eat a lot of algae.
However keep in mind guppies are also feeder fish which means most larger fish eat guppies for a snack, so it’s important to double check whether your current fish are omnivores.
Grass Carp
These fish do not eat common types of algae, such as string algae. However, they do consume musk grass, which is a blue-green algae that is usually mistaken for pond plants.
When deciding if Grass Carp is a good idea for your pond, it’s important to consider what type of algae is present in your pond.
Otocinclus Catfish
One of my personal favorites Otocinclus catfish love to eat algae over other small fish or fish feed. These fish love munching on different types of algae, helping to keep your pond clean.
They will happily eat the slimy pond algae off of rock and enjoy snacking on large clumps of algae. They are one of the best algae eaters to help you control algae in your pond.
Although these fish are small, and only grow to be about two inches long, they eat more than their weight in algae.
Mollies
Mollies are often referred to as algae suckers because they tend to suck the algae off of the pond floor instead of eating large pieces of algae.
This pond-cleaning fish reproduces quickly and due to their large numbers the do a wonderful job at preventing algae from taking over your pond.
Siamese Algae Eater
The Siamese Algae Eater not picky about the type of algae that they eat. They will eat almost all types of algae including red algae, string algae, and even large clumps of algae that most other fish won’t touch.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Siamese Algae Eater requires a warm temperature and a large pond. They are a great pick if you live in a climate that stays warm year round.
Common Pleco
The common pleco is one of the most common algae eaters for ponds. They are known for eating a large number of string algae.
Larger plecos tend to eat more. However don’t feed them too much fish food as they won’t be hungry for algae if they are over fed. I suggest feeding them half of the recommended amount of food to encourage them to eat more algae.
Pond Loach
Also referred to as a Dojo Loach, eat small bits of algae making them a mildly effective algae eater.
Pond Loaches can be an exceptional option for water garden owners that want to use algae eaters in combination with other methods of algae removal.
Koi Fish
Algae is not the favorite food of koi, but in the absence of other food, they will consume algae. Especially during winter months as food is more scarce. Koi fish are best used in combination with other algae eating fish, such as pleco.
Factors to Consider Before Introducing an Algae Eater To your Pond
Many factors will affect how well your algae-eating fish does its job. From the type of algae growth to the type of fish here are a few factors you should consider before adding fish to your pond.
- Think about the water temperature. You’ll find some fish are better suited for cooler waters and while others will need warmer waters to survive
- Consider what species of algae you are experiencing, how much there is to remove, and where that algae is most present, to make an informed decision.
- Think about the species of fish that are already inhabiting the environment and consider that will they exist with other pond fish.
- The water conditions dictate how healthy pond is and the water quality can dictate how much algae they eat.
- A small pond can cause the fishes to exude territorial behavior while a larger pond can prevent that.
- Clean the fish waste regularly. Fish waste can convert into nitrates and ammonia, which can also be harmful to fish in large amounts.
Other Strategies To Control Algae In Your Pond
If you can’t add other fish to your pond you can use these strategies to manage algae around your pond
1st Strategy
A traditional strategy to stop algae problems from developing is to add a small bundle of barley straw to the pond.
When the straws decompose in water they produces substances that inhibit the growth of algae. However, it’s important only to add a little straw as too much can affect the water quality.
2nd Strategy
Another great algae control measures is to include UV clarifies and use pond vacuum cleaners. You can also install a pond filter or an ultraviolet clarifier to remove algae and other debris from the water.
Now You Know How To Keep your Pond Clean And Free Of Algae
We hope this was a useful guide to algae eating fish Once you’ve taken everything necessary into consideration, call your local pet stores to pick up algae-eating fish to help control the growth of algae in your pond.
