How to get algae off fake plants in shrimp tank?

Hey everyone. So I have a ten gallon with one pea puffer, and 14 cherry shrimp. I k ow what you’re thinking, but they get along fine. Never any nipping. Anyways it has mostly fake plants with the exception of some duckweed and a clump of christmas moss. Eventually I want to go full plants, if my gravel is ok. Anyways since I have fake plants, theres been a huge algae breakout, which is why I got the shrimps. I can take care of the algae on the front pane of glass, but the plants are FILLED with it. It makes my tank look ugly. Now I could boil them in hot water, but is this a good idea since the shrimp might need the algae? Theres climps of it in the substrate and I want to clean that off too.

 

Cherry shrimp aren't the best algae eaters to begin with. While they do occasionally go after some algae, it's better to blanch some veggies for them and put them in the tank.

 

I don't use fake plants, but I used to have to with by huge tank of silver dollars. I'd just take them out and use my fingers under running water to clean them once in awhile.

 

Cherry shrimp aren't the best algae eaters to begin with. While they do occasionally go after some algae, it's better to blanch some veggies for them and put them in the tank.

Yeah thats true. They are tiny after all. Still love the little guys tho. They did massive work on some algae on my rock tho.

 

Cherry shrimp aren't the best algae eaters to begin with. While they do occasionally go after some algae, it's better to blanch some veggies for them and put them in the tank.

Ok im done with this puffer. Now all of a sudden theres three dead shrimp and I saw him nipping a twitching one. I cant take puffers anymore. Too little, too much, too much upkeep. Im gonna ask my lfs if I can take him back because hes turning into too much work for nothing. I hate to do it but he never does anything or goes anywhere. He just kills.