| An aquarium can be a very tranquil decoration in a | | | | not place tanks near windows and minimize the |
| home or office. There is nothing more relaxing than | | | | lighting to eight hours each day. Using a lighting timer |
| watching fish swim peacefully in clear, sparkling | | | | is a great way to give your tank consistent and |
| tropical fish tank. However, there is nothing more | | | | adequate amounts of light. |
| unsightly than an aquarium covered over with algae. | | | | Just like your fish, algae need to eat to survive. |
| So here are a few considerations and tips to help | | | | Algae grow best from consuming potassium, |
| you with algae control. | | | | nitrogen, and phosphorus. You can greatly enhance |
| Most all aquariums have algae. A small amount of it is | | | | algae control in tropical fish tanks by making sure that |
| not a bad thing. However, when algae grow rapidly | | | | aquariums are not overcome by fish waste, excess |
| and take over the tank, it can be troublesome. While | | | | food, and decaying plants. Also, perform water |
| there are no true ways to completely prevent it, it | | | | changes regularly and use a properly sized filter. And |
| can be controlled. | | | | finally, if the algae are persistent, you can get a |
| Green algae are a common concern for most | | | | special silicate absorbing resin to use in your filter. |
| freshwater tank owners. The two types, hair and | | | | Adding algae eating organisms to your tank is also an |
| green dot, can be time consuming and even difficult | | | | option. Snails and algae eating fish can help control |
| to remove from the tank. This alga grows rapidly in | | | | algae in the tank. It is important to keep in mind that |
| tanks that receive and over abundance of light. | | | | snails can populate very quickly. Adding a snail and a |
| The brown form of algae most often grows after | | | | plecostomus to a tank may be a good idea. |
| the initial set-up of the tank. The algae growth in | | | | Remember when all of the algae are consumed, you |
| tanks that have been established for a longer period | | | | will need to feed these animals. Your local pet store |
| of time may indicate a nitrate or phosphate problem. | | | | has the right food for them readily available. |
| The growth of this algae is also encouraged by low | | | | It is not uncommon for algae to begin to re-grow in |
| light levels. To remove it from the tank, typically you | | | | a clean tank within three weeks. For ongoing algae |
| need to clean the tank, increase the light it receives, | | | | control and management, be cautious about over |
| and ensure that the water condition is at proper | | | | feeding your fish, be certain to promptly remove |
| levels. | | | | dead fish from the tank, be mindful about the |
| Red-brush and blue-green are two other forms of | | | | amount of light that the tank receives, and use some |
| algae that can grow in a fish tank. The red-brush | | | | type of filtration system. And, remove any visible |
| form tends to feed from aquariums with higher pH | | | | algae with a magnet or scrubber designed for this |
| levels. Blue-green algae are a slimy type that can be | | | | type of cleaning. Hopefully these simple tips will make |
| dangerous to both plants and fish in the tank. | | | | your algae control efforts and aquarium keeping |
| One of the easiest ways to control the growth of | | | | much easier and enjoyable. |
| most algae is to control lighting. For algae control, do | | | | |