Post by Suzanah on Mar 24, 2015 0:30:28 GMT -5
Everyone will face the dreaded algae outbreak in their home aquarium at one time or another, whether it be green, black beard, hair, the dreaded cyanobacteria (blue green algae) and/or more. Here we're going to look at as many ways as we can think of to get rid of it and keep it from coming back.
LIGHT
The first thing to look at is how long are you leaving your aquarium lights on? Is it for only 9 hours or is it 14 hours. It does make a difference. The average time your aquarium needs lights on (even with live plants) is 8 to 10 hours a day. If your lights are on longer then this it could very well be the cause or part of the cause. Try leaving your lights on for a shorter period of time. If you need to, you can restrict the lights to 6 hours a day if needed. A timer can be really useful for turning the lights on and off.
The second way to help control algae is to break your light cycle. Turn your lights on for 4 to 5 hours. Turn them back off for 1 to 4 hours. Then on again for another 4 – 5 hours.
Look to see how much natural light your aquarium is getting. Aquariums that sit in windows and get natural sunlight are prone to algae outbreaks.
If possible, try raising the lights up about 18 inches or 2 feet above your aquarium.
The last thing to look at in a live planted aquarium is increasing the light strength. Basically have brighter lights. This will give existing plants the light they need for photosynthesis thus increasing their ability to use nutrients.
MANUAL REMOVAL
Simply remove as much algae as you can. Wipe the gl with a sponge or if it's really use a razor blade or scraper. Before you clean the tank is the best time.
Take out decoration and scrub the crap out of them. A toothbrush really helps with this. Give the gravel a good vacuum clean to help remove algae on your substrate.
If you have live plants then use a cloth to remove the algae by wiping the leaves off. If it's really bad you may want to take the plant out (if possible) and clean it outside the water.
Basically everywhere you can, remove it.
ALGAE EATING CRITTERS
Another great way to control algae is to get a clean up crew for your tank. Siamese algae eaters, some species of plecos like bristlenose and leopard frog, amano shrimp (these guys are great for hair algae), several snail species such as nerite or mystery, oto cats and a couple others I can't think of are all great to help control algae in your tank. Add one, 2 or more of these guys depending on your aquarium size. Just remember that not every algae eating critter eats every kind of algae.
A note on pest snails such as bladder and Malasian trumpet snails. These guys are great for eating algae as well as junk that grows on driftwood. They're actually quite beneficial to your aquarium. The only reason they're pests is because they can reproduce quickly – very quickly.
INCREASE THE FLOW
Algae tends to thrive in slow or still waters. Simply increasing the flow by adding a flowing filter or power head attached to a sponge.
REDUCE PHOSPHATE AND NITRATE LEVELS
In non planted aquariums this is done with your partial water changes. Give the water an extra big change and try giving it an extra one in the middle of the week. You can also get nitrate and phosphate liquid tests as well.
In a live planted aquarium these levels can also be increased with the use of fertilizers. In this case, reduce the amount of ferts you use. I've heard that using Excel in your tanks will also help control or get rid of algae.
PLANTS
Adding some fast growing plants like rotala, lloydiella or ludwigia helps to soak up extra nutrients in the water. There are several others that can be added as well that will work just fine.
Now if there's algae on your plants and you want to get rid of it now then using a syringe with peroxide in it is a great option. It won't hurt your fish either. All you do is squirt some over the affected area. By the next day the algae should start to turn a reddish colour and die off.
TOTAL BLACKOUT
If you have really bad algae in your tank and nothing seems to be working then a blackout can help. Keep all lights off, cover the tank with a towel and do not peak for 3 to 5 days. Your fish will be just fine without food for that long but may take a little time to adjust to bright light again. This should kill off a lot or all the algae you have. I would give the tank a good clean after this because there will be a lot of dead algae in there. Which will probably lead to more ammonia and thus back to possible higher nitrates.
A NOT ON BLUE GREEN ALGAE (BGA)
Blue green algae also called cyanobacteria, also known as Cyanophyta, is a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis. This can make it tricky to deal with since a lot of the products out there designed to kill algae has no affect on this stuff. Peroxide will not kill BGA either. Fish and algae eating critters won't touch the stuff because it's toxic for them to eat. While I don't recommend this, antibiotics will work to kill cyano but they will also kill every nitrifying bacteria in your tank and if the fish aren't sick then they'll be unnecesairly medicated. The other methods mentioned like reducing the time lights are on, manual removal, blackout period etc. should work though.
IN CONCLUSION
If you have an algae outbreak the best way to avoid another one is to take care of the root causes. Sometimes one of these methods will work, other times it will take a combination to do the trick. In balance, algae is a healthy and normal part of your aquarium. We just don't want it taking over.
Links with more information:
www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/volume_6_3/fwalgae.html
www.otocinclus.com/articles/algae.html
www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae.htm
www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/algae_types.php
www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_freshwater_algae.php
www.lenntech.com/eutrophication-water-bodies/algae.htm
www.aquariumslife.com/featured/hair-algae-control/
LIGHT
The first thing to look at is how long are you leaving your aquarium lights on? Is it for only 9 hours or is it 14 hours. It does make a difference. The average time your aquarium needs lights on (even with live plants) is 8 to 10 hours a day. If your lights are on longer then this it could very well be the cause or part of the cause. Try leaving your lights on for a shorter period of time. If you need to, you can restrict the lights to 6 hours a day if needed. A timer can be really useful for turning the lights on and off.
The second way to help control algae is to break your light cycle. Turn your lights on for 4 to 5 hours. Turn them back off for 1 to 4 hours. Then on again for another 4 – 5 hours.
Look to see how much natural light your aquarium is getting. Aquariums that sit in windows and get natural sunlight are prone to algae outbreaks.
If possible, try raising the lights up about 18 inches or 2 feet above your aquarium.
The last thing to look at in a live planted aquarium is increasing the light strength. Basically have brighter lights. This will give existing plants the light they need for photosynthesis thus increasing their ability to use nutrients.
MANUAL REMOVAL
Simply remove as much algae as you can. Wipe the gl with a sponge or if it's really use a razor blade or scraper. Before you clean the tank is the best time.
Take out decoration and scrub the crap out of them. A toothbrush really helps with this. Give the gravel a good vacuum clean to help remove algae on your substrate.
If you have live plants then use a cloth to remove the algae by wiping the leaves off. If it's really bad you may want to take the plant out (if possible) and clean it outside the water.
Basically everywhere you can, remove it.
ALGAE EATING CRITTERS
Another great way to control algae is to get a clean up crew for your tank. Siamese algae eaters, some species of plecos like bristlenose and leopard frog, amano shrimp (these guys are great for hair algae), several snail species such as nerite or mystery, oto cats and a couple others I can't think of are all great to help control algae in your tank. Add one, 2 or more of these guys depending on your aquarium size. Just remember that not every algae eating critter eats every kind of algae.
A note on pest snails such as bladder and Malasian trumpet snails. These guys are great for eating algae as well as junk that grows on driftwood. They're actually quite beneficial to your aquarium. The only reason they're pests is because they can reproduce quickly – very quickly.
INCREASE THE FLOW
Algae tends to thrive in slow or still waters. Simply increasing the flow by adding a flowing filter or power head attached to a sponge.
REDUCE PHOSPHATE AND NITRATE LEVELS
In non planted aquariums this is done with your partial water changes. Give the water an extra big change and try giving it an extra one in the middle of the week. You can also get nitrate and phosphate liquid tests as well.
In a live planted aquarium these levels can also be increased with the use of fertilizers. In this case, reduce the amount of ferts you use. I've heard that using Excel in your tanks will also help control or get rid of algae.
PLANTS
Adding some fast growing plants like rotala, lloydiella or ludwigia helps to soak up extra nutrients in the water. There are several others that can be added as well that will work just fine.
Now if there's algae on your plants and you want to get rid of it now then using a syringe with peroxide in it is a great option. It won't hurt your fish either. All you do is squirt some over the affected area. By the next day the algae should start to turn a reddish colour and die off.
TOTAL BLACKOUT
If you have really bad algae in your tank and nothing seems to be working then a blackout can help. Keep all lights off, cover the tank with a towel and do not peak for 3 to 5 days. Your fish will be just fine without food for that long but may take a little time to adjust to bright light again. This should kill off a lot or all the algae you have. I would give the tank a good clean after this because there will be a lot of dead algae in there. Which will probably lead to more ammonia and thus back to possible higher nitrates.
A NOT ON BLUE GREEN ALGAE (BGA)
Blue green algae also called cyanobacteria, also known as Cyanophyta, is a phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis. This can make it tricky to deal with since a lot of the products out there designed to kill algae has no affect on this stuff. Peroxide will not kill BGA either. Fish and algae eating critters won't touch the stuff because it's toxic for them to eat. While I don't recommend this, antibiotics will work to kill cyano but they will also kill every nitrifying bacteria in your tank and if the fish aren't sick then they'll be unnecesairly medicated. The other methods mentioned like reducing the time lights are on, manual removal, blackout period etc. should work though.
IN CONCLUSION
If you have an algae outbreak the best way to avoid another one is to take care of the root causes. Sometimes one of these methods will work, other times it will take a combination to do the trick. In balance, algae is a healthy and normal part of your aquarium. We just don't want it taking over.
Links with more information:
www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_6/volume_6_3/fwalgae.html
www.otocinclus.com/articles/algae.html
www.aquaticscape.com/articles/algae.htm
www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/algae_types.php
www.aquahobby.com/articles/e_freshwater_algae.php
www.lenntech.com/eutrophication-water-bodies/algae.htm
www.aquariumslife.com/featured/hair-algae-control/
