| There will always be some type of algae in your | | | | Brown algae is caused by inadequate light. Large |
| aquarium - no matter what you do. The trick is to | | | | brown layers forming in your aquarium is a sign that |
| keep it under control and not let it get out of hand. | | | | you have this problem. Green algae which results |
| Most algae are introduced into the aquarium by fish | | | | from too much light gives your aquarium that familiar |
| or live food. If you have live plants in your aquarium | | | | stagnant looking pea-soup green color. |
| and you keep them healthy, they will usually keep | | | | Aside from cleaning your tank and monitoring oxygen |
| the algae under control. | | | | and CO2 levels, another way to help control algae is |
| What if the algae do get out of hand? Well don't | | | | to add algae-eating fish to the aquarium. Now these |
| panic but take immediate steps to correct the | | | | fish will help but don't depend on them to completely |
| problem. There are several types of algae you may | | | | control the algae. Once it gets out of control there's |
| have to deal with. Blue-green algae is caused by poor | | | | far too much for the fish to handle. |
| water conditions and is fast growing. It will cover | | | | Having live aquatic plants in your aquarium is another |
| everything in the tank. Red algae is caused by a lack | | | | way to help with the algae problem. These plants |
| of CO2 in the water. This is nasty stuff, hanging in | | | | control algae by removing the nutrients that algae |
| threads all over the aquarium. You can try adding | | | | need to survive. Make no mistake about it. The best |
| oxygen to the tank but more often than not you're | | | | way to control algae is keep pristine water conditions. |
| going to have to empty the tank, scrub it out and | | | | Do that and algae will never get out of control. |
| start over. | | | | |