Best algae eater for freshwater tanks

6 species in this category on Fishori. Open a profile for tank size, temperament, then run pair checks before mixing.

"Algae-eater" is a shop label rather than a taxonomic one. It covers bristlenose and common plecos, Otocinclus, Siamese algae eaters, and a handful of unrelated grazers. The common pleco is the famous mistake: it reaches 45 cm and produces enough waste to wreck a tank under 600 L. Bristlenose plecos stay under 15 cm and work in a planted 100 L. Otocinclus want a mature, lightly-lit tank with established soft algae, not a new tank that has just finished cycling.