Do Mollies Really Can Eat Algae That Thrive In The Freshwater And Saltwater Aquarium?

Most fish hobbyists certainly know about Molly fish. These freshwater fish are renowned for their beautiful patterns, vibrant appearance, and affordability. But have you ever heard the question ‘Do mollies can eat algae?’ and the myth that they are able to live in a saltwater environment?

You have come to the right place to find out the answers to that question. This time, we will thoroughly discuss the correlation between mollies and algae.

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What Are Algae?

They are members of a group of photosynthetic organisms under the kingdom of Protista. Algae take an essential role as the primary food for many fish species and other aquatic creatures.

Algae (for singular) is a great microorganism that offers many benefits, but for aquarists like us, it is a pest, and the pest must be eradicated.

An overgrowth of algae makes your fish tank dirty and unsightly. You should know if the algae can develop in every aquatic ecosystem.

Keeping a planted tank free from algae is almost impossible; they can occur in both young and mature fish tanks. Do not be afraid; their growth can be controlled to decrease to a lower level and is tolerable.

Before deciding to fight the algae, you should know the leading cause: ‘Why do they grow inside your tank?’

Algae flourish when there is an imbalance between the lighting and nutrients in the aquascape ecosystem. If your freshwater tank is exposed to too much light while lacking nutrients, it will stimulate them to bloom.

If you supply high doses of dissolved nutrients and reduce the light intensity, algae would take advantage of this condition to proliferate in the aquarium.

The solution is to maintain a balance of nutrients and light in the water. Unluckily, stabilizing both of these components is unachievable because the aquatic plants grow continuously and consume more and more nutrients.

There are many chemical products on the market that can harm algae. Although you think one of those medicines is suitable for aquariums, it might still have some effects that can be dangerous to your fish.

Moreover, you also need to add this product regularly to prevent the algae from growing back. Of course, it takes up too much time and money. So, balancing the aquarium ecosystem is the best way.

Is It Possible That Algae Can Kill A Fish?

In nature, algae are a source of life for many aquatic creatures. However, the excessive algae population can deplete the dissolved oxygen in the water.

When the water did not contain a sufficient oxygen level, the entire animal population in these places would compete for it. Instead of helping, algae probably kill them.

This situation typically occurs in smaller water systems, such as small lakes, ponds, swamps, and ditches.

Indeed, it can also occur in home aquarium environments. If their growth is uncontrolled, the excessive algae harm the aquarium fish.

How do we resolve this issue?

As mentioned previously, balance the elements, such as nutrients and light, and keep a close watch on them. To maximize, add some algae cleaner, such as mollies. They are known to be adept at consuming algae within the aquarium, while being adorable in appearance.

What Are Mollies Fish?

Molly is a freshwater fish species belonging to the Poeciliidae family, which includes platies and guppies. They are native to Central America, as well as the southern United States and Mexico.

These fish thrive in tropical water environments but can also be found in saline habitats, such as brackish ditches and lagoons.

Some species are known to live and spawn in shallow saltwater areas, such as harbors and regions around mangrove roots.

They are typically found in water bodies, including streams, lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, deltas, estuaries, and shallow surface waters.

Mollies are common animals and easily found in their natural habitats. The wild-caught Molly fish are dull; most are silvery-gray in color. While the captivity form is colorful, it has a beautiful body and fins that are shaped.

Depending on their species variety, an adult Molly can grow to reach a length of about 2 to 5 inches (5 – 13 cm). Their lifespan also varies; on average, most fish live for 3 to 5 years in captivity.

Almost all subspecies of mollies thrive well in any aquarium setup. They can survive in a wide range of environments, making them popular among many aquarists and becoming one of the most popular freshwater small fish to date.

Some species may require a specific condition to live; for example, a few Molly species need a certain amount of salt that should be mixed into their tap water. However, they are still easy to care for and suitable for beginners.

Due to their small size, they do not occupy much space. A 10-gallon aquarium is enough to cover up to 4 individuals, followed by 3 gallons per extra fish.

Mollies are widely available in fish stores and online; a single fish costs between $2 – $8, depending on the seller and its type.

They belong to the livebearer species and have the ability to reproduce quickly. Additionally, mollies can also help keep your tank clean and healthy.

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Type Of Mollies

Besides the ability to eliminate algae, they offer a fantastic view inside the tank, both of their appearance and endearing habits.

It makes the owner happy to spend more time sitting near the fish tank, watching them. Here are several popular types of mollies that are usually seen in pet stores:

• Sailfin mollies
• Silver/white sailfin molly
• Harlequin sailfin molly
• Golden sailfin molly
• Creamsicle sailfin molly
• Black sailfin molly
• Ballon belly molly
• Dalmatian molly
• Gold dust molly
• Gold doubloon molly
• Lyretail mollies
• Platinum lyretail molly
• Marble lyretail molly
• Black lyretail molly
• Dalmatian lyretail molly

Do Mollies Really Eat On Algae?

The common question we often hear is, “Which types of mollies are really eating on algae?” All varieties of them consume algae. That said, the black mollies species are the most effective at eating algae.

They are omnivorous, feeding on plant matter, algae, soft plants, and tiny organisms in the wild. While in captivity, the breeders usually introduced conventional food such as pellets and flakes.

To complete their nutrition, they should also accept some live or frozen diets, such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, tubifex worms, and even boiled vegetables.

In many cases, aquarium enthusiasts have found that their mollies prefer to eat algae that naturally develops in the fish tank rather than dried food from stores. Well, you have a solution to deal with algae outbreaks.

But, before you go to purchase some mollies at the nearby pet shops, there are a few things that you should find out. Keep reading!

Can The Truly Algae Eaters Keep Alongside Mollies?

Yes, you could leave them in the same tank, which will increase the chance of conquering the algae. Moreover, it would be best if you were selective in selecting their tankmates; some species may cause conflicts with them.

Make sure not to put too large or too small algae eater crews together to prevent bullying between them.

What kind of algae eater species can live with mollies?

If you are facing a massive algae plague, mollies may not be an effective solution. So, you need some pure algae eaters to help them. Here is the list that you can introduce alongside them:

• Siamese algae eater (SAE)
• Otocinclus catfish
• Bristlenose plecos
• Chinese algae eater (CAE)
• Siamese flying fox
• Twig catfish
• Whiptail catfish
• Bulldog pleco
• Pitbull pleco
• Malaysian trumpet snails
• Ramshorn snails
• Nerite snails
• Apple snails

As you can see, we do not add any shrimp species to this list because they often make them their snacks, especially shrimp fry. Therefore, if you want the mollies to focus on algae, avoid adding shrimp to your tank setup.

What Algae Species Do Mollies Eat?

There are several types of freshwater algae that commonly appear in aquariums. And the question is, which types of algae do mollies eat? Let’s discuss this chapter.

Do Mollies Eat Green Hair Algae?

These algae varieties most often thrive in the aquarium and become the favorite food source for most algae-eating fish, including mollies.

Hair algae are divided into four subvarieties: oedogonium, rhizoclonium, cladophora, and spirogyra algae. They can grow almost the entire aquarium, attaching to decoration, plants, substrate, equipment, and even floating at the surface.

Mollies primarily feed on gentle green hairy algae; the fish usually nip little by little, constantly, until they are gone. The black molly tends to prefer grazing algae that develop on the surface of plants’ leaves.

You should severely underfeed them to raise their effectiveness. Do not worry, the green filamentous algae still provide enough nutrients, so do not think that your fish grows unoptimally.

Do Mollies Eat Black Beard Algae?

This variant is one of the toughest aquarium algae compared to other types. They are also known as Black Brush Algae (BBA) and typically appear in the fish tank as a dense clump or tuft with a dark green to grayish tint.

BBA is one algae outbreak that causes many aquarium owners stress because not many fish like to eat it. Most algae eaters, too, tend to dislike this variant; only two species, siamese algae eaters and Amano shrimps, have proven well against black beard algae.

According to an experience shared by an aquarist on a forum, his balloon mollies repeatedly chomp on the black brush algae, which then proves effective. So, he recommended Molly to other people who have the same problem.

However, the mollies probably can not be compared with SAE fish, but if you combine the mollies with them, a powerful weapon is ready to rock.

Do Mollies Eat Blue-Green Algae And Brown Algae?

Yes, many fish hobbyists agree that mollies eat BGA and brown algae. They keep some mollies for a long time to verify if they clean up the algae properly. Certainly, hobbyists unite them with pure algae eaters, such as Otto catfish.

Do Mollies Eat Staghorn Algae?

They really love this algae type, but you should make them hungry; it can stimulate them to eat only the staghorn.

The molly fish prefer the young and the dead staghorn algae. Injecting some doses of Flourish Seachem Excel straightforwardly can kill the staghorn algae, and then these livebearers species will feast. You can treat this with other algae varieties that mollies like.

However, there is no report about other red algae families (red spot algae) seen in the aquarist tank grazed by mollies; remember, this type is rare.

Sadly, staghorn algae contain fewer nutrients, which means you should provide them with other varied food, especially live food, to fulfill their needs.

Do Mollies Eat Fuzz Algae?

Probably yes, remember the fuzz algae is part of green filamentous algae, which is their main favorable diet. Unfortunately, other green algae forms, such as green dust algae and green spot algae, might not be eaten by the molly fish.

Do Mollies Eat Surface Scums?

Yes, most of them love the scum layers at the surface of the fish tank. It contains many bacteria that are beneficial for them. Some fish tank owners report that since their mollies were moved to another tank, scum films have appeared in their main setup. It means that as long as these fish settle in the main aquarium, they eat the main bacteria that form surface scums.

Other hobbyists also make a related statement that since he added some mollies to his tank, the surface scums have disappeared.

Mollies are also suitable for guarding your tank from some tiny aquatic parasites such as gammarus, planaria, hydra, and detritus worms.

Do Mollies Can Eat Algae In The Reef Or Saltwater Tanks?

Some people might be surprised that mollies can live in a marine environment, as most of the species they see in aquarium shops are displayed in freshwater tanks. It makes them assume that Molly is a pure tropical water fish species.

When understanding why mollies can live in the reef tank, you should remember that they naturally inhabit brackish water. While brackish water itself consists of two different types, one part is partly freshwater, and the other is salty water. This enables them to adapt to both tropical and marine environments.

The sailfin and giant sailfin mollies are the most recommended mollies by many marine tank keepers. They are skilled hunters, nipping algae off corals like pros. However, the black mollies still receive high rankings from hobbyists as well.

Drip acclimation is a method for transitioning mollies from freshwater to saltwater environments. This process typically takes about 3–4 hours; after it finishes, they can switch completely to the desired water type. Other mollies variants that are suitable for drip acclimation are:

• Platinum Lyretail Molly
• Marble Lyretail Molly
• Dalmatian Lyretail Molly
• Black Lyretail Molly
• Gold Dust Molly
• Harlequin Sailfin Molly
• White / Silver Sailfin Molly
• Dalmatian Molly Fish
• Balloon Belly Molly Fish
• Yucatan Mollies

How To Acclimate The Freshwater Mollies To The Saltwater Aquariums

If you are surfing the internet, you may find various methods for transitioning mollies from freshwater to saltwater.

The common ways range from just dropping these fish directly into a marine aquarium and leaving them to acclimate to a new environment for a couple of weeks. Nonetheless, this approach yields varying degrees of success.

First Step: Prepares All Required Supplies

You would need some stuff, including:

• Fish net
• A few old towels
• Airline hose
• A 5 – 10-watt heater, set the temperature to around 78°F
• A clean 5-gallon bucket
• Air pump

Step Two: Put Your Mollies Into The Bucket

Place the Molly fish into the clean bucket with the water from the fish bag or their tank.

Step Three: Add Heater And Aerators

Generally, most aquarists do not use heaters during the acclimation process. It makes the transition of the mollies to saltwater type go slowly because there is no heater. The water in the bucket would quickly drop to the surrounding ambient room temperature. Installing an air pump is necessary to supply oxygen for them; they will feel more comfortable and have a higher life expectancy.

Step Four: Secure The Airline Hose

Place one of the end airline hoses below the surface of the saltwater aquarium water and secure it; this will prevent the airline from falling into the water for several hours. Check back again to confirm the airline hose is not pinched, or the water from the can not flow.

Step Five: Set The Drip Rate

Suck on the other end of the airline hose to move the water from the tank. Assure that it is released from your mouth before the salty water reaches you. Tie the other end of the airline hose that you sucked before that aims to the bucket; the tighter it is, the slower the drip rate. Two drips per second are enough; after that, insert the end of the hose into the bucket.

Step Six, Switch Off Automatic Top-Off (ATO) Systems

It should be turned off if you installed an ATO system in your aquarium. This can prevent mixing the saltwater that is withdrawn from the bucket with freshwater, thereby maintaining the salinity of the reef tank.

Step Seven: Prepare New Water

Losing 2-3 gallons of water in the nano reef tank is significant during this process. It’s time to prepare new saltwater to add to your marine aquarium after the mollies have been acclimated. Make sure the salinity and temperature of this water are matched.

Step Eight, Remove The Water

When the drip acclimation has been operating for one hour, half of the water volume from the bucket is eliminated and then disposed of.

Repeat this process every thirty minutes until the mollies’ bucket’s salinity levels match those of your marine aquarium. This process typically takes around 3-4 hours. Adjust the drip rate to achieve the desired numbers.

Step Nine: Quarantine Your Molly Fish If Possible

This phase is optional; if you want, and then have a quarantine tank, it would be better for your fish to be quarantined first before being added to the main tank. This is very useful in preventing your aquarium populations from contracting potential diseases that mollies can bring when introduced to the tank.

Step Ten: Prepare Your Saltwater Tank

Before adding the fish, ensure to switch off the aquarium lighting. It will allow your mollies to hide for the first time they enter the tank, if they want.

Take a net, scoop up the mollies, and gently place them into the tank. Pour a small amount of food at the opposite end of the tank. It may slightly help to mitigate some aggression from the tank inhabitants during their initial introduction.

Step Eleven, Replace the Water

You should fill up the aquarium with salty water, replacing the water that was removed during the mollies’ molting process. It aims to restore the water level to its normal height. Next, turn the Automatic Top-Off (ATO) system back on.

Step Twelve: Keep Watch Out for Your Mollies

Keep your aquarium lighting off for the rest of the day. It can help them to adapt and find a fine place to settle temporarily.

Please do not feed them during this period; remember, you were feeding your tank population, which may cause the mollies to become stressed.

Constantly monitor your fish to see the signs of breathing heavily and distress; even if your mollies die, remove them immediately and dispose of them. If your mollies successfully adapt to the new environment, enjoy it, and wait for them to start to work on eating the algae.

Note: You may need to try a couple of times before being successful, as the quality of the fish is crucial.