How to Get Rid of Algae in Different Ways

 Some algae growth is normal and healthy, some people even use algae as background to achieve the natural look of an aquarium. However, excess algae growth is in most cases not so pleasant and can be harmful to both fish and plants.

There are many different types of algae, like brown algae, green algae, red algae and more. They can grow almost anywhere in your aquarium. You need to identify what are the causes of the algae overgrowth, and the ways to get rid of algae is different from one to another. 

Below are the useful tips for you to battle with them.

The Reasons for Algae Overgrowth: the plant life, water, light, and nutrients.

Some common reasons for algae overgrowth and the ways to tackle it are:

1. Too much unwanted nutrient in the water

Buy Aquarium One Touch Test Strips: 

You should buy phosphate removing chemicals available at your aquarium store if it is high in phosphate, or replace it with another water source, such as filtered water. Also, it is always a good idea to test for nitrate, as some water sources have high nitrate levels. 

Clean the algae: 

Once you spot any sign of algae growth on the glass, rocks, or other hard surfaces of the tank, get rid of it right away. Rub the glass, remove rocks, and scrub them. Vacuum the gravel when you perform water changes. Please find below the magnetic cleaner that hygger offers:

Keep live plants: 

Live plants will not only help fish hobbyists to achieve the natural look, but they will also use nitrate as their nutrients to grow leaves. Always control the nutrient level in the water.

Keep algae-eating fish: 

Keeping Siamese flying fox, otocinclus, plecostomus, or other algae eating fish will help reduce some of the algae in the tank.

Manually remove the algae:

You’ll have to be careful when dealing with plants, but you can use an aquarium cleanser tool kit lightly scrape off the algae.

Or you can find an algae eater to remove the algae automatically.

2.Too much lighting

Reduce lighting: 

You should consult with the fish store where you purchase the aquatic plants from, how many hours of lighting are needed for you to grow the plants. The intensity of the majority of Hygger lights can be changed.

Limit the amount of light that the tank receives each day. Aim for about 10-12 hours each day. A timer for your light really comes in handy here and you can set the lighting time freely.

3.Aquarium in a location with direct sunlight

Avoid putting the tank in a place where there is direct sunlight. Sunlight can, and will, promote algae growth.

4.Feeding too much

Feed less: The majority of owners tend to feed too much food to their fish, which increases the phosphate levels in the water. Make sure not to over feed your fish, you should only feed as much food as your fish can eat in 5 minutes.

5.Didn’t change the water frequently

The undoubtedly most effective way to avoid algae is to change water on a regular basis, especially for getting rid of those green algae that suspended in the water. Change 10 to 15 percent of your aquarium water every week to keep the nutrients level in a safer amount. This will get rid of nitrate.