Tropical fish tanks tend to be the most colorful fish tanks. They are home to tropical fish that are typically a wide range of bright colors. In order to house tropical fish, a tropical fish tank must have a heater to keep the water warm enough to emulate the water and environment that tropical fish naturally live in. A common misconception of tropical fish tanks is that they have to be saltwater, however this is not the case. There are many species of tropical fish that live in freshwater.
Additionally, there are a wide range of live plants you can put in your tropical fish tank to give your fish tank more color and style. Some of the best plants for tropical fish tanks include Java moss, Lilaeopsis, and ferns. When buying a live plant for your tropical fish tank, make sure you check to see if it is a freshwater or saltwater plant.
A tropical fish tank should be around 77 degrees Fahrenheit. You can alter it by 2 degrees higher or lower depending on the species of fish. Since tropical fish tanks are warmer and typically require more light, there is a good chance that your tropical fish tank will grow algae. While small amounts of algae is normal, and sometimes healthy for your fish tank, an overgrowth of algae can be dangerous to both your fish and plants. If you want to control your algae growth in your tropical fish tank, we recommend getting an algae eater.
Best algae eater for tropical fish tank
Here is our list of the best algae eaters for tropical fish tanks.
- Dwarf suckers (Otocinclus Catfish)
Dwarf suckers are one of the best options for choosing an algae eater for a tropical fish tank. They are very cheap (less than $5) and do a great job of controlling algae. They are very friendly fish and can coexist with just about any species of fish. They are native to South America, and will thus thrive in a tropical fish tank. Dwarf suckers should be put in freshwater tanks, and can be bought in most pet stores.
- Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish
Another freshwater fish originating in South America, the Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish is another great algae eater for your tropical fish tank. While it is not as readily available as the Dwarf sucker, it is an excellent algae eater and very compatible with other fish.
- Tailspot blenny
The Tailspot blenny is the best algae eater if you have a saltwater tropical fish tank. It originally comes from the warm waters of the western pacific ocean. They are very color fish that are distinguished by the large black dot at the back of their tail. They usually reach a size of around 3 inches, and should be put in fish tanks that are at least 10 gallons.
- Guppies
Guppies are the cheapest and most readily available algae eaters for tropical fish tanks. In their natural habitat, guppies live in brackish water, which is a combination of salt and freshwater. However, guppies do best in freshwater tanks. Guppies main source of food is insects, however they also eat all forms of algae.
