How To Do Just About Everything
By eHow Pets Editor
Rate: (24 Ratings)
Algae uses photosynthesis to grow in an aquarium. Luckily, there are ways to control this unruly protist.
eHow Pets Editor
How to Care for Tropical Fish
By:
eHow Pets Editor
How to Clean an Aquarium
By:
eHow Pets Editor
How to Maintain Your Saltwater Aquarium
By:
eHow Pets Editor
How to Maintain Your Freshwater Aquarium
By:
eHow Pets Editor
How to Tell if Your Tropical Fish Is Sick
By:
eHow Pets Editor
Comments
aurania said
on 11/11/2007 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.
joerperez said
on 3/7/2007 I stopped at a Petsmart store and asked if they had anything I could use to rid my fish tank of snails. Everything they mentioned I had tried without success.This one worker in the fish dept. told to try vinegar that it wouldn't harm the fish! Has anyone ever heard of vinegar being use to eliminate snails. What would the ratio of vinegar to water be? I need to find a way to rid my aquarium of these snails w/o having to empty the tank and throw everything away. one last question when removing the fish from the tank do snail cling onto fish and go along for a ride into another tank. thank-you
lovesdogs2000 said
on 2/20/2007 I have been trying not to use a chemical in my tank but I do have plants and it has worked before. I have some fish eating my plants. -? Not sure which one. Could the one I have that got rid of the snail problem also be eating my plants? I never catch any of them. But the algae is getting bad now too. If I use the chemical, will it kill my baby fish? I have one (a Platy) that is now a month old but there's a new one in there that is probably onle a week. Any ideas for the algae? (I've tried catching the baby by the way and he's too little and quick. We can't seem to get him yet.)
Anonymous said
on 8/4/2006 I wouldn't recommend using a Buf-Puff (which, for you non girlie types, is a product sold to exfoliate your face) or any other type of kitchen/facial/bathroom scrubber to take algae off of a tank. They all contain chemicals (yes, even the facial buffers have chemicals on them) from the manufacturing process that will cause contamination. Splurge on a scrubber that is designed to remove algae. I got mine at WalMart for a buck and a half (whereas Buf-Puffs -which I use on my face- go for 0.99 two isles down).
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 For particularly tough algae, and for those with plants in the tank (thus scrubbing plants really isn't an option), place towels or blankets around the tank. Be sure to cover all sides of the tank, as well as have it thick enough so that light cannot enter the tank. After 3 days, check the tank-algae status. I have a very heavily planted tank, and I've used this method (for 5 days) with great success, and minimal damage to plants.
The best method I've found for snail removal is getting fish that eat them, particularly loaches or botias. Check with your local store for which specie to get, since some of them can reach upward of 10-12 inches (not the best for smaller tanks).