Dealing With Aquarium Algae

Algae is that unattractive (and smelly) greenish-brown "gunk" that attempts to cover every non-moving thing in an aquarium and there are about twenty five thousand different species of it! It's a problem that plagues both experienced and beginner aquarium enthusiasts alike and although it's pretty much unavoidable, there are a few things that you can do to minimize the time it takes to removed it from your tank.

Check And Clean Aquarium Accessories Once A Week

Check your filters and clean them according to the instructions given by their manufacturers. Then check under the hood of the aquarium because this area can also attract algae growth. With a non-soapy scrubbing pad - wipe them clean. You'll want to remove algae with a non-soapy scrubbing pad.

One thing that you never want to do is use soap while cleaning any part of your tank because you may inadvertently pass on toxic chemicals to your fish (regardless of how well you think you rinsed everything). The only place that's appropriate for a soapy application is the outside of the tank!

Get Rid Of Stubborn Algae with A Little Razor Action

Now because some algae can be hard to remove with simple scrubbing, you might have success with using a razor blade to scrape it off. You just have to be careful not to scratch any part of the aquarium (or yourself) while you're scraping because scratches - no matter how small - can become breeding grounds for bacteria.


Monitor the Effects of Your Aquarium's Lights

Grow lights encourage the growth of not only the plants and fish in your aquarium (something you want), but they also encourage the growth of algae (something you definitely don't want). One way that you can tell if you're exposing your fish to too much light is to look for high levels of algae growth. Algae loves light and if you notice a lot of it in your aquarium, it might be the result of over-exposure.


Let Nature Take Care Of The Problem

You can combat algae growth by placing an aquatic snail or a Pleco inside of your tank. Plecos and snails consume algae for you. You could also include some flatfish in your system. Flatfishes are curious little creatures, as they swim along the bottom of a tank on their sides with both of their eyes peering up on their upper side. Strange indeed but the good news is that they algae too.