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.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Siphon

1. Understand that there are several types of algae that will grow in an aquarium. Get ready to fight.

2. Do away with slime algae by lowering nutrient levels. Change the water and siphon out the slime.

3. Lower the light levels. What makes plants grow will make algae grow.

4. Keep direct sunlight off of the aquarium.

5. Use grazing snails to eat many - but not all - kinds of algae.

6. Use a gentle scrubbing pad for acrylic aquariums ' a Buf-Puf works great.

7. Use a razor blade to scrape glass tanks, which are not as likely to scratch.

8. 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.

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.

[quickhelp]

on 5/13/2009 does all this apply to salt water aquariums??** cover with black garbage bags

[aurania]

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]

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]

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.)

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).