In the food life cycle of a pond....what the heck eats algae? Something has too? Ive got the starts of a floating algae problem. I understand it starts from algae catching oxygen and floating to the top. But there has to be SOMETHING that eats the algae? right? Do fish eat it?

I use snails and tilapia, shade will help as well, the shade can be in the form of water plants works, but it might take a while to figure out how much surface needs to be covered. I have an 8x12 pond that needed 50 to 60 % coverage, so I added snails and the tilipia, which was a stroke of luck. Spider mites wiped out almost all of the plants.
I have about 10% coverage now, but the fish and snails are keeping the algae at bay. I don't know if tilapia are legal where you are, but you might try an aquaculture supplier, they will be all male fish, but if your goal is algae control and not forage they might work.

Tadpoles/toadpoles, too.

I'm the last person on this board who is qualified to talk about the eating habits of aquatic species, but I've heard some people say that grass carp will eat algae. Afer doing a bit of research, however, it seems that they focus more on aquatic plants than FA.

According to http://www.aquaticmanagement.com/grasscarp.htm

"Filamentous algae may be controlled by grass carp 2-4 inches in length in ponds without predators. Larger fish may consume filamentous algae but it is not a preferred food and effective control may be unpredictable."

Obviously plankton eat algae, but I'm not sure many fish do. I found a fish called the Siamese Algae Eater that supposedly eats red algae, but they seem to only be in Thailand. Have you heard of them, Rad?

Anyone else know of any fish that eat algae?

davatsa, Tilapia are algae eating machines. Placostamas (probably mispelled) eat algae, but like tilapia they will die when water temp gets in the 50's. By the way, I grew up in south texas and Poth used to be in our district.

Davatsa, my rosies (fathead minnows) love algae wafers and their fish tank never has algae slime or green water. I believe they feed on certain types of algae, though I doubt they munch on filamonous algae. Without LMB, FH's may help.

Heybud- Tilapia are the obvious answer, so naturally, I didn't think of them. I guess that's just one more reason to stock them. Anything that will eat both algae and aquatic plants is a winner. We're hoping they can survive next winter this far south, but it'll be close. How close to Poth were you?

SoSauty- I haven't noticed our rosies eating algae, but that's probably because they're too busy swimming for their lives! I'm sure without LMB, FHs in bulk could help control some types of algae, as you indicated. I'm sure in a smaller environment like a fish tank they are better able to keep the algae cleaned up.

davastsa, I went to school in the little town of Pettus. It is 16 miles south of Kenedy on 181. Had some great times.

Ghost shrimp, crawfish, gambusia, tadpoles, and snails are known to include at least some algae in their diets.

I'm guessing, but I don't think any of them would individually make much of an impact on algae. However, all together they could possibly make a small but worthwhile impact.

You might try this recipe if you can't get anyone to eat your algae
http://www.neverhappened.org/neverhappened/2005/02/algae_egg_flowe_1.html