Effective ways to combat algae and life hacks from aquascape gurus

More than just an annoyance, algae in aquariums have the potential to upset the delicate equilibrium of your aquatic environment. You’re not alone if you’ve ever battled with obstinate brown or green patches taking over your tank. This is a problem that many aquarium enthusiasts encounter, but the good news is that there are practical methods for controlling algae growth.

We’ll examine doable strategies to stop algae growth in this post, using knowledge from knowledgeable aquascape experts. These pointers will assist you in keeping your aquarium tidy and healthy so that your fish and plants can flourish, regardless of your level of experience as a hobbyist.

Method	Description
Reduce Lighting	Lower the amount of light your aquarium receives to slow algae growth.
Add Algae-Eating Fish	Introduce species like Siamese algae eaters to help control algae naturally.
Regular Water Changes	Perform consistent water changes to remove excess nutrients that feed algae.
Use CO2 Injection	Increase CO2 levels to boost plant growth, which outcompetes algae.
Manually Remove Algae	Use tools like algae scrapers to physically remove algae from surfaces.
Introduce Algae-Reducing Chemicals	Use safe chemicals like liquid carbon to inhibit algae growth.
Control Feeding	Avoid overfeeding fish, as uneaten food can lead to algae growth.

Filamentous algae

The name "algae" comes from their appearance, which is similar to long, bright green to nearly black threads that tightly cling to plants, adhere to surfaces, and stunt plant growth. The most typical delegates are:

How to fight

Mechanical cleaning

Due to the fragility of most filamentous algae’s structure, any remnants that could not be removed during the process are destroyed, preventing further reproduction.

Using cotton swabs or tweezers, for example, you can remove the algae from the leaves.

An old plastic card, bank card, or store card can be used to clean glass surfaces with ease; it works well and won’t scratch the surface.

The electric toothbrush is another practical lifesaver. It enables you to clean driftwood and other components without taking them out of the aquarium and to remove algae from difficult-to-reach areas.

Natural enemies

The best "work" for amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata, Latin name) is against filamentous algae. Although they are frequently thought of as a cure-all for all kinds of algae, Sergey Ermolaev, the creator of products for aquarium maintenance, argues that this is not totally accurate.

They consume filamentous algae, such as cladophora, although large specimens—at least 3–4 cm—are thought to be the most beneficial (4 individuals for every 10 liters of water).

Neocaridina is yet another ally in the battle against filamentous algae. They only take in soft types of algae, but they are less expensive than Amano shrimp.

Chemicals

Regarded as the most successful in its battle against filamentous algae is Aquayer AlgoShock. Use the product as directed, adding 8 ml to 50 liters of water every day for three days. If there is a widespread infestation, you can up the dosage to 12 ml.

If there is a widespread infestation, the aquarium must be restarted and the substrate must be changed.

Using substrates free of phosphates and nitrates is advised, as is keeping a close eye on the water’s parameters during the first month.

When you initially start up or restart an aquarium, pay close attention to the lighting. It is necessary to use a light intensity reduction at first if it is feasible, until the microflora in the tank stabilizes.

Blackbeard

A kind of algae that looks like a weave of green or black hairs and feeds on organic remnants. Black beard can be challenging to manage because it quickly covers aquarium surfaces and plants.

How to fight

Natural enemies

The Siamese algae eater can be used to get rid of black beard. Two little fish in the tank is sufficient to maintain the aquarium’s cleanliness.

The drawback is that they can start feeding on moss or other plants if there isn’t any algae.

Red-nosed shrimp (Caridina gracilirostris) are a good option, but they can be challenging to preserve.

Sidex

• This product is used in medicine to disinfect surfaces, but recently it has been recommended to combat black beard.
• Sidex is poured once a day in a dosage of 10-15 ml per 100 liters of water. Gradually increase the dosage to 20-25 ml, the full course is about 2 weeks.

Aquascapers and aquarists who have used this method in practice claim that it does not harm fish or plants, but it is better not to increase the dose. There have been cases when adding more than 30 ml of the product killed some aquarium inhabitants.

Use a 25% solution and 75% water glutaraldehyde to completely destroy black beard. After soaking in the liquid, the decoration needs to be rinsed and put back in the aquarium. Following this, the material should be added for a week at a rate of 4–8 milliliters per 50 liters.

Chemical preparations

Use Aquayer Algaecide + CO2 to fight black beard. When treating an algal outbreak, use 4–8 milliliters per 50 liters of water for a duration of 3–7 days.

In order to administer intensive treatment, the filters must be turned off for thirty minutes and a syringe must be used to treat the affected areas.

Acetic acid

Rinse the infected plants in aquarium water, then plant them again after immersing the tops of the plants (do not touch the roots!) in a 3% solution.

You can use apple cider vinegar in place of acetic acid.

Black beard must be kept from growing again by regularly siphoning the soil and eliminating organic residues. You should also choose fish food carefully, as it should have the least amount of phosphorus possible.

Vietnamese

A typical "guest" in aquariums where the nitrogen cycle is unstable. It looks like black beard, but it takes longer to fight because it is more tenacious and rigid, clinging to any surface.

How to fight

Chlorine and other means

Using bleach or any other product containing chlorine to thoroughly clean all surfaces is an extreme method of combating Vietnamese. Plants are submerged to the roots for seven minutes, and items are soaked in the solution for several days after the product has been diluted in a ratio of one to twenty.

All of the treated components are then rinsed for 30 minutes. The drawback is that Vietnamese algae will regenerate if even a small amount is left on the surfaces. Use Saidex or 7% vinegar diluted 1 to 2 times with water in place of chlorine. These products don’t work as well, but they act gently.

Natural enemies

Because of its inflexible structure, Vietnamese has few natural enemies; most shrimp and fish are unable to withstand it. The most common snails given to aquarists are ampullaria, however opinions regarding their efficacy are highly divided.

The best ratio for marisa snails to use in the battle against Vietnamese is 10 pieces per 30 liters of water. They have to be caught after cleaning, or they will start eating the plants.

Given how tough it is to combat Vietnamese, it is preferable to employ multiple strategies simultaneously in a complex. While black beard algae cannot be entirely destroyed by preparations (Aquayer Algicide + CO2, Tetra AlguMin), they can break down the structure of the algae, making it easier for snails to absorb it.

Diatoms (brown) algae

Plants and surfaces are covered in a solid brown coating known as diatoms. They typically reside in recently installed aquariums and truly "love" dim lighting.

How to fight

Mechanical cleaning

Diatoms can be cleaned from glass and leaves with a soft cloth, and from the ground it can be easily sucked out with a siphon.

After this, it is necessary to increase the lighting, and the algae usually die.

Natural enemies

You can use Otocinclus affinis or Gyrinocheilus aymonieri to combat diatoms. These fish can tolerate algae in the form of a coating because of their unique mouth structure, which resembles a sucker.

It is advised to keep one fish per 40–50 liters of water in order to combat algae.

The distinction is that otocinclus are slower, less adept at handling their task, and more sensitive to water parameters.

Chemicals

Tetra AlguMin and Tetra Aqua Algo Stop depot work best against diatoms. Five milliliters of Tetra AlguMin are added to ten liters of water; the maximum amount of algae should be mechanically removed following treatment.

After three to four weeks, repeat the process. Tablets of Tetra Aqua Algo Stop Depot dissolve gradually—one tablet for every 25 liters of water. They ought to be buried in soil in areas that allow for natural flow. They maintain their shape, but should be removed after six weeks because they will no longer release active ingredients.

Diatoms are typically easily eliminated, and if you use filtration and keep the lighting at the ideal level, the issue won’t recur.

Expert aquascapers advise using lamps with a predominantly red spectrum to inhibit the growth of algae. Since algae are not well suited to absorb them, this technique is highly successful when used in conjunction with other strategies.

Aquarium algae can quickly become a problem, but you can maintain the clarity and vibrancy of your tank by using the appropriate techniques. This article will help you maintain a lovely and healthy aquatic environment by sharing practical ways to fight algae, ranging from easy maintenance routines to professional advice from seasoned aquascapers.

Blue-green algae

Blue-green algae are distinct from other types of algae because they are bacteria rather than unicellular organisms. They resemble a slick, green layer covering soil and plants.

How to fight

Antibiotics

You can combat blue-green algae using common antibiotics found in pharmacies, as they are harmful microorganisms.

When used at a dosage of 0.25–0.5 g (1-2 tablets) per 100 liters of water, erythromycin is thought to be the most effective.

Once you have removed the adsorbents from the filter, you can dissolve them in a small amount of liquid and pour them into the aquarium.

To get rid of extra antibiotic, you should change the water (30–50%) after a day.

Although erythromycin is thought to be safe for fish and plants, it can cause death in some extremely delicate species. Adherence to the dosage regimen is crucial in order to mitigate any potential harm to aquarium inhabitants.

Shading

The renowned Takashi Amano is credited as the method’s creator. You must remove as much algae as you can from the aquarium, turn off the lights, and cover it with a dark cloth in order to solve the issue.

In addition, the carbon dioxide supply needs to be cut off, but the water also needs to be heavily aerated. After three days, return to the aquarium and add Amano shrimp and otocinclus. The drawback is that certain plants that prefer light might not survive during the "dark" period.

In addition to fighting blue-green algae, shading can be used to treat severe water blooms brought on by pathogenic microorganisms that are light-sensitive.

Xenococcus

These algae are found in nearly all aquariums, but they don’t actively reproduce until the system is out of balance. Anubias, staurogynes, and other slow-growing specimens are the most vulnerable to xenococcus, which appears as green dots that combine into a solid coating.

How to fight

• algae must be removed from surfaces using scrapers or improvised means (toothbrush, etc.d.);
• Gyrinocheilus or otocinclus fish can be used as natural enemies;
• Aquayer Algicide+CO2 is recognized as an effective tool – the drug needs to be treated with infected surfaces with a syringe, turning off filters for half an hour;

• Tropical Algin (1 ml per 10 l of water) and JBL Algol (a 100 ml bottle of the product is designed to treat 400 l of water) give a good effect;
• in an infected aquarium, it is recommended to plant fast-growing plants (hornwort, vallisneria, hygrophila) regulate the excess of nutrients, which causes the appearance of xenococcus.

You must change the lighting in the aquarium after cleaning it; red and "cold" lamps should be used more often, as yellow light makes xenococcus more likely.

Consistent effort is needed to keep an aquarium clean and balanced, but the benefits are well worth it. You can manage algae growth by putting into practice doable strategies like limiting light exposure, preserving water quality, and introducing species that consume algae.

Enhancing the efficiency and enjoyment of the process can also be achieved by taking advantage of the advice and tips provided by seasoned aquascapers. By taking the initiative, you’ll be able to successfully eradicate algae while also giving your aquatic creatures a healthy, attractive habitat.

Keep in mind that every aquarium is different, so in order to get the best results, you must remain vigilant and modify your tactics as necessary.

Video on the topic

How to #overcome #algae in 1 hour!

JBL Algol anti-algae agent – review, instructions and tips for use

Algae in the aquarium and methods of dealing with them