fish tankSince algae need nutrients for growth, their presence in your aquarium is in fact a good sign. It means that your fish tank is healthy. However, if there is already too much of algae, it now becomes a problem.

Regardless how well- maintained a fish tank is, an alga still finds its way to survive. There is definitely no way to stop such occurrence since it is a normal phenomenon. Once it starts to appear, it often grows and spreads quickly. However, there are tips on how to at least prevent algae growth in your precious aquarium.

Like any other plants, algae live given these three fundamental components: light, water, and nutrients. If there is an excess in any of these components, algae will multiply outrageously. Since light is essential in alga’s survival, find a way to minimize alga's exposure to light. As a matter of fact, limiting the light exposure is the most important key in controlling growth of algae. An alga can even grow even if it does not receive direct light. When you place your fish tank by the window, alga can still grow fast. Hence, do not place the aquarium anywhere near the window. If it is the only place available for your aquarium, make sure to close the blinds or curtains during the day. Artificial lights can also promote algae growth. Thus, never leave the light on for a long time. Lights should be used not exceeding eight hours. Fishes only need less than six hours of daily exposure to light for vitamin D synthesis. Be sure to switch the light on and off at the same time each day for consistency.

The chief nutrients for algae growth are potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. These come from fish wastes, decay of excess food, other organic materials such as dead fish and plant debris, and by-product of bacteria metabolism. This is why if there is excess fish food or dead fish, remove it immediately. Tap water used in aquariums also contain high levels of phosphorus.You can regulate the amount of these nutrients when you change the water. Phosphates can be controlled with the use of an external filter made in phosphate-removing material.

It is surprising to know that algae grow faster in much cleaner environment. Your tendency is to thoroughly clean your aquarium including the decorations, making sure that you leave no dirt or algae behind. This bright, clean, and refreshed environment provides more opportunity for algae to grow back even more rapidly. The clean and clear water and decorations tend to reflect more amount of light. Furthermore, since the old algae are already removed, new algae can solely benefit from the nutrients in the aquarium . Thus, it is advised to never totally eliminate algae while cleaning your tank. Those remaining algae will use the nutrients, limiting supply for the new ones and hence, controlling their growth.

There are algae-eating snails and fishes. Keep one snail or a few fishes that naturally eat algae in your aquarium. Algae-eating fishes include blennies, parrotfish, and tangs. You may also utilize live plants as these plants also compete with algae for nutrients.

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