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How to Control Algae Growth in Your Aquarium

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Whether you’re a novice or an expert at owning aquariums, you will eventually have to deal with one major problem in your tank: algae. Algae appears in green, brown, red, or blue-ish residue in the corners and edges of your tank. This growth can eventually end up on tank accessories, rocks, gravel, and other locations […]

Whether you’re a novice or an expert at owning aquariums, you will eventually have to deal with one major problem in your tank: algae. Algae appears in green, brown, red, or blue-ish residue in the corners and edges of your tank. This growth can eventually end up on tank accessories, rocks, gravel, and other locations in your aquarium.

Now, don’t be worried if you notice a little green or brown residue around your aquarium tank—a little algae growth in an aquarium is normal and even healthy for your fish and plants. It only becomes a problem if it grows excessively as it can make your fish sick.

There are several ways you can prevent excess algae growth in your aquarium:

1. Find the cause of algae growth

Algae, in its basic terms, is a simple aquatic plant that requires water, sunlight, and nutrients to survive. If any of these necessities are provided at an excess, algae will continue to bloom and take over any area, your aquarium included. Other reasons your tank may experience algae growth are:

  • Overfeeding your aquarium fish
  • Tank lights are left on for too long
  • Inconsistent water changes
  • Providing too many nutrients for water environment

Once you’ve found the cause of the algae growth, you can take steps to prevent this plant from taking over your aquarium. 

2. Identify the types of algae your tank has

If you notice the algae in your tank is growing, you need to get rid of it quickly. To do this, you must find out what type of algae your tank has, and what steps to take to remove it. Some common algae growths in aquariums include:

  • Brown algae:  this algae growth is common in new tanks. You may see a little film of brown algae coating the glass of the tank. Fortunately, you can easily scrub off brown algae with just a swipe of your finger, making it easy to clean out your aquarium. Brown algae also goes away on its own as tanks continue to thrive.
  • Red algae: If brown algae is easy to clean, red algae is on the opposite side of the spectrum. Red algae is quite tough to get rid of and may require a dip in bleach (5 to 10 percent) to effectively eliminate. This type of algae will usually appear on your aquatic plants.  
  • Blue-green algae: Blue-green algae is normally caused by too much nitrates and phosphates in the water environment. It may also not be algae, but a group of bacterial organisms known as cyanobacteria. It’s crucial to eliminate this type of bacteria from your tank as it can cause significant damage to your fish and plants. Make sure to remove the excess nutrients in the water and use treatments like Erythromycin to get rid of the algae.
  • Green algae: Green algae is a sign that your tank is healthy, and you may notice it every once in a while. Take good care of your aquarium by maintaining the right nutrient levels and exposure so that this type of algae doesn’t overgrow.

Sometimes, your tank’s water may turn completely green. This is known as an algae bloom, and like the red algae, it is one of the most frustrating types of growths to remove. Wiping or scrubbing the tank glass or even changing the water will do nothing. We recommend blocking off all light or using a specialized filter to win this battle.

3. Take steps to prevent future overgrowth

After you’ve found the root cause of the algae growth in your tank and identified the type of algae growth, you can prepare your aquarium from potential growths. You can do this in various ways, such as:

  • Reducing light exposure: When choosing the right location for your aquarium, make sure it’s in an area that does not receive direct sunlight. You should also use artificial light that isn’t too strong and only have it on for around 8 hours per day. 
  • Limit food intake: We know it’s hard to feed smaller portions of food to your fish, but in truth, your little critters do not need much food to thrive. Most owners end up overfeeding their fish, and this can cause a buildup of debris and a rise in phosphate. Remove uneaten food from your tank after 5 minutes of watching your fishies eat.
  • Regularly change water: The best way to avoid algae overgrowth is to change the water on a regular basis. We recommend changing around 10 to 15 percent of your aquarium’s water each week to help keep nutrient level low. 
  • Maintain the right nutrient levels: Along with water changes, you should regularly test the waters to observe the nutrient levels. Make sure to check phosphate and nitrate levels, and to use phosphate removers if they’re too high. 
  • Consider keeping live plants and/or algae-eating fish: Aquatic plants live off the nutrients that algae often thrive on. You can also keep algae-eating fish and organisms, like the Siamese flying fox or the plecostomus in your tank for a regular cleaning. This can help keep algae from taking over your aquarium. 

Algae growth can be beneficial to your aquarium in moderate levels. It also serves as a way to let you know that your tank is doing well. Excess algae growth is a problem that you, as an aquarium owner, should rectify before it impacts your aquarium fish and plants. Be sure to regularly follow our tips so that your aquarium continues to thrive!