Algae in the aquarium

Algae in the aquarium as a nuisance

Who does not know them – algae in the aquarium? Once they have entered the aquarium in larger quantities or have been created there, they can quickly take over and destroy the sight. But algae do not always have to be bad. In our new blog topic we explain and show how to get rid of algae and what they are good for. We are often asked whether algae control in the pond or in pond systems behaves in the same way – yes and no – most methods also work there – in case of doubt, we recommend the pond guide garden.de for specifics about algae in the pond.

First of all it is important to keep calm. To what extent is the aquarium infested with algae and which algae are they? Panic does not help here. It is important to determine the type of algae, because not every type of algae can be combated with the same agent. The causes must also be looked at carefully, because even with effective control, the plague will otherwise always return to the tank. Nevertheless, you should be aware that a certain amount of algae in the tank is normal and some types of algae even provide valuable nutrients for one or the other aquarium animal.

But before we consider an effective method of protection and control, we should go back to what algae actually are.

What is algae?

The green monster unites many types of plants and creatures under one term. From small unicellular organisms to long plants, everything is thrown into one pot. Basically, they are particularly useful organisms that ensure that life on earth is possible at all. Since the green plant is also spread through the air, it is inevitable that sooner or later it will end up in the aquarium.

It is also not at all desirable to have an algae-free aquarium, as certain species are extremely useful, as already mentioned. So put the chemical mace back on the shelf and read the article first, then you can get active. Even tanks that are crystal clear have the plant in its smallest form – for an intact ecological balance a certain dose is essential.

Causes for algae

The strong growth of the unwanted aquarium plant can have many reasons, we have listed the most common causes here.

The most common reasons for strong algae growth:

Algae species at a glance

Here are the usual suspects listed. But you will not only find the names here, but also the most effective methods to fight them.

Algae names	Algae species	Reason	Combat
Brush Algae	Red Algae	too little CO2	C02 Increase values, remove infested leaves, boil out equipment, clean aquarium, use healthy plants with fast growth
Bearded algae	Red Algae	Too much ammonium, too little CO2	Add CO2, release ammonium
Green dust Algae	Algae spores/green algae	Life cycle of the algae	End of life cycle, application
Algae bloom – Floating algae	Green algae	Spores of the algae	Water fleas, diatom filter, UVC clarifier, blackout
Green spot algae	Green algae	A lot of light, little CO2 and phosphate	Increase phosphate level, introduce CO2
Thread algae	Green algae	Too little NO3 and CO2	Add nitrate, introduce CO2
Fur Algae	Green algae	Too little CO2, nitrate and too long illumination time	Increase nitrate, increase CO2 content, lighting time maximum 12 hours
Hair algae	Green algae	Too many nutrients and silicates, not enough fast growing plants	Algae eaters, nutrient balance, plants with fast growth
Lint algae	Green algae	Nutrient imbalance	Balancing the nutrient supply, algae eaters
Diatoms	Bacillariophyta	Too little light, low nitrate values, high silicate values	Remove by hand, algae eaters, plants with fast growth, more light
Lubricating algae	Blue-green algae	Nutrient imbalance	Dark cure

Algae control in a natural way and chemically

Natural algae control

The most natural way of algae control is – besides manual removal by hand – the use of aquarium animals to remove them. As there are many of these, there is a wide range to choose from. In order not to torture you and give you a jump start, we list the most common algae killers here. Because what could be better than to let the problem solve itself?

Fish, shrimps, mussels and snails that eat algae

Aquatic plants as a protective agent

Algae can also spread particularly quickly if there are too many nutrients in the water. This means that some aquatic plants need to be added to the tank, which are able to absorb many nutrients quickly. But how can you recognise such plants? Quite simply, all plants that grow quickly also consume many nutrients quickly. The choice is huge.

Plants that can be recommended are:

Of course there are a lot more fast-growing water plants.

Precaution against algae

The correct precaution against algae results from the errors described above. In order to prevent the strong emergence of algae you should take the following points to heart:

• put sufficient water plants in the aquarium
• do not let artificial light burn too long
• Avoid sunlight
• Avoid overfeeding the aquarium animals
• To settle useful animals that naturally keep the tank free of algae
• Carry out water changes regularly
• use a good water filter sufficient for the size of the pool

[/su_list
]If you have any questions or suggestions, we would be happy to hear from you! Alternatively, you can find more information about the control of algae in the aquarium
here.