How to Get Rid of Algae in Your Aquarium
Algae uses photosynthesis to grow in an aquarium. Luckily, there are ways to control this unruly protist.
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Instructions
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Understand that there are several types of algae that will grow in an aquarium. Get ready to fight.
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Do away with slime algae by lowering nutrient levels. Change the water and siphon out the slime.
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Lower the light levels. What makes plants grow will make algae grow.
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Keep direct sunlight off of the aquarium.
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Use grazing snails to eat many - but not all - kinds of algae.
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Use a gentle scrubbing pad for acrylic aquariums ' a Buf-Puf works great.
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Use a razor blade to scrape glass tanks, which are not as likely to scratch.
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Get algae-eating fish, which are your best and most natural line of defense against the stuff. These should be the first fish in your tank.
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Tips & Warnings
Algae spores are everywhere, including inside your new aquarium. Given the right conditions ' plenty of light and nutrients - the spores will grow and you'll have an algae problem.
To avoid introducing new algae to your tank, soak new plants in a solution of 1 part bleach to 20 parts water. Dip the plant for about 2 minutes and rinse it immediately in cool running water. Next, dip it in water treated with a dechlorinator to neutralize any remaining bleach before adding it to the tank.
If you have live plants in your tank, algae will be even harder to control because conditions that are good for growing plants are also good for growing algae.
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Comments
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I have planted tank and got problems with algea and don't know how to get rid of it without doing any harm for my plants. I have brown algea, hairline algea I think (it long kist like my hair) and also green one on the glass. I do have 4 Siamese algea eaters in the tank but still loads of algea appear.. what can I do? btw, its 210L tank. Any advice?
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my fish tank has had algae 4 about 6 months now and I cant get rid of I i have to lights on for about 9 hours a day...
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relaxitsfish
Jul 21, 2009
okay yeah algae eating fish is your best option. it all natural and they eat just about every type of algae. but remember do not buy them first. people think that if you buy them for your tank first they will just keep your tank clean. no! do not do that you will kill them. they do not eat fish food and if you have a new tank there is no algae. so give it about two weeks and then get one. -
quickhelp
May 13, 2009
does all this apply to salt water aquariums??** cover with black garbage bags
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aurania
Nov 11, 2007
Another method for getting rid of excess algae is to cover the tank with black plastic garbage bags for about a week. Don't feed your fish because they'll eat the algae. It is a good idea to check on them every couple of days. Without light, the algae cannot photosynthesize and it will die off. Then, siphon off any debris and do a 50% water change. This works best with smaller tanks.
