Who Gives A Fish Forums

Not all algae is the same. I've no experience with shrimp. Common green algae is natural in any healthy aquarium, it will appear on all submersed surfaces as part of the biofilm. This algae is what fish will eat (those that are vegetarkento4). Problem algae is a different thing. It takes over when the light/nutrient balance is out. Almost no fish will eat it, except a species or two like the SAE that will eat brush/beard algae, etc. Bristlenose plecos, otos, whiptails, Farlowella, etc will only eat the common green algae (which is in the biofilm and usually not even visible to us) and diatoms. I've seen some pretty bad tanks. Non-aquatic substrate fertilizer will feed the problem algae. I don't want the stuff growing all over the glass. I just want the stuff that grows lightly on rocks and plants in the tank. Nothing that gets out of control though.