Biological control
Biological control — who eats whom
Freshwater Algae-Eaters
| Organization | Seaweed he eats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Otocinclus affinis | Diatoms ★★★★★, GDA ★★★★, GSA ★★★, GHA ★★ | Best for glass and leaves. Very sensitive to environmental changes. |
| Ancistrus sp. (Pleco Finder) | GHA ★★★★, Cladophora ★★★, GDA ★★★ | A cave is necessary. Scrape wood, too. |
| Crossocheilus oblongus (real SAE) | BBA ★★★★★, Staghorn ★★★★, GHA ★★★ | The only one who eats BBA alive. Buy the real thing (not the fake one). |
| Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (Chinese SAE) | Diatoms ★★★, GDA ★★★ | It becomes aggressive as an adult. Avoid keeping it in community aquariums. |
| Caridina multidentata (Amano) | GHA ★★★★★, Staghorn ★★★, Dead BBA ★★★★ | Best algae-eating shrimp. You need at least 6. |
| Neocaridina davidi (Cherry) | Diatoms ★★★★, soft algae ★★★ | Less effective than Amano, but easier. |
| Neritina natalensis | GSA ★★★★★, GDA ★★★★, diatoms ★★★★ | Best for GSA and GDA. It does not reproduce in freshwater. |
| Melanoides tuberculata | Cyan (digging) ★★★, debris ★★★★ | It removes substrate. It reproduces quickly. |
| Jordanella floridae (Florida Flag) | BBA ★★★★, GHA ★★★ | Effective but somewhat aggressive. |
| Molly (Poecilia sp.) | Fine GHA ★★★, soft cyan ★★ | It needs a little salt. Easy. |
Seaweed feeders in seawater
| Organization | Seaweed he eats | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Zebrasoma flavescens (yellow surgeonfish) | GHA ★★★★★, turf ★★★★, Bryopsis ★★★ | The most popular one. Requires at least 200 L. |
| Ctenochaetus strigosus (kole tang) | Diatoms ★★★★★, cyanobacteria ★★★★, detritus ★★★★ | Specialist in short algae and cyanobacteria. |
| Zebrasoma xanthurum (purple surgeonfish) | GHA ★★★★, turf ★★★★ | Aggressive toward other tangs. |
| Siganus vulpinus (Foxface) | Bryopsis ★★★★★, GHA ★★★★, Caulerpa ★★★★ | Very effective. Poisonous thorns. |
| Mithraculus sculptus (emerald crab) | Wallonia ★★★★★, GHA ★★★ | It may attack small corals. |
| Turbo snail (turbo snail) | Turf ★★★★, GHA ★★★, Coralline Cleaning ★★★★ | It has a big appetite but can knock over corals. |
| Antillarum Headband (Hedgehog) | Turf ★★★★★, Cladophora ★★★★ | Very effective, but it has dangerous spines and can damage corals. |
| Tripneustes gratilla (sea urchin) | GHA ★★★★, turf ★★★ | Safer than Diadema. |
| Elysia crispata / E. ornata | Bryopsis ★★★★★ | A specialized nudibranch. Difficult to care for. |
| Hermit crabs | Diatoms ★★★★, cyanobacteria ★★★, GHA ★★ | A variety of species. They clean surfaces. |