How to avoid algae in the aquarium?
Today is the second post in the series about the basics of aquaristics.
Algae blooming on plants and windows, and sometimes also green water, is a common problem for beginner aquarists. And sometimes it happens to experienced ones 😉
While algae on stones in an aquarium in the type of Lake Malawi or in the type of mountain stream will be something desirable 👍🏻 water bloom and "moss" on plants can make life miserable.
How to prevent it? Algae thrive when they have the conditions to do so. They need light and nutrients, especially nitrogen.
So what favors algae?
-Too much lighting time in the aquarium (6 to 8 hours is enough for plants) and/or too much light. If you have low-demand or slow-growing plants and you have two fluorescent lamps or special lighting for plants - that's too much.
-Too fertile soil. If you have a super substrate or ready-made substrate, and it releases a lot of nutrients into the water, then algae can take advantage of this.
-Too few fast-growing plants. Plants that grow quickly and make up a lot of mass in the aquarium take nutrients from the water, leaving no place for algae.
- Excessive water changes, either a complete water change, or washing the filter with tap water. Such treatments wash out good bacteria from the aquarium, which decompose nitrogen compounds. This upsets the balance in the tank.
I wrote what could be done wrong. Now, briefly about what can be done well:
If you have no experience with growing aquarium plants, then choose a simple, trouble-free substrate - river gravel with a granulation of 3-6 mm. Coarse gravel is not suitable, because, firstly, the plants will not root well in it, and secondly, in the gaps between the pebbles, food residues and excrement will collect. As they decompose, the level of nitrogen compounds will increase.
Stick clay-peat balls from the pet store into the ground, or fertilizing sticks for green plants without copper content from the garden store. Plant the plants on it. Lots of fast growing plants. I described them in my text about easy-to-grow plants. Occupy even 80-90% of the bottom. You can also add floating plants: limnobium, hornwort and duckweed.
Only wash the filter media in water drained from the aquarium. Never in the tap. This way you won't kill the bacteria.
Don't replace all the water. Replace 20 to 30% weekly.
Do not dig too much into the substrate so as not to release plant (and algae) nutrients from it.
They do not cram too many fish into the aquarium. Especially viviparous fish, because they have a fast metabolism. The more fish, the more feces and urine, and the greater the chance that plants and bacteria can't handle it. Be moderate.
It's not difficult, and it will prevent algae invasion and will allow you to enjoy a nice tank.
Today is the second post in the series about the basics of aquaristics.
Algae blooming on plants and windows, and sometimes also green water, is a common problem for beginner aquarists. And sometimes it happens to experienced ones 😉
While algae on stones in an aquarium in the type of Lake Malawi or in the type of mountain stream will be something desirable 👍🏻 water bloom and "moss" on plants can make life miserable.
How to prevent it? Algae thrive when they have the conditions to do so. They need light and nutrients, especially nitrogen.
So what favors algae?
-Too much lighting time in the aquarium (6 to 8 hours is enough for plants) and/or too much light. If you have low-demand or slow-growing plants and you have two fluorescent lamps or special lighting for plants - that's too much.
-Too fertile soil. If you have a super substrate or ready-made substrate, and it releases a lot of nutrients into the water, then algae can take advantage of this.
-Too few fast-growing plants. Plants that grow quickly and make up a lot of mass in the aquarium take nutrients from the water, leaving no place for algae.
- Excessive water changes, either a complete water change, or washing the filter with tap water. Such treatments wash out good bacteria from the aquarium, which decompose nitrogen compounds. This upsets the balance in the tank.
I wrote what could be done wrong. Now, briefly about what can be done well:
If you have no experience with growing aquarium plants, then choose a simple, trouble-free substrate - river gravel with a granulation of 3-6 mm. Coarse gravel is not suitable, because, firstly, the plants will not root well in it, and secondly, in the gaps between the pebbles, food residues and excrement will collect. As they decompose, the level of nitrogen compounds will increase.
Stick clay-peat balls from the pet store into the ground, or fertilizing sticks for green plants without copper content from the garden store. Plant the plants on it. Lots of fast growing plants. I described them in my text about easy-to-grow plants. Occupy even 80-90% of the bottom. You can also add floating plants: limnobium, hornwort and duckweed.
Only wash the filter media in water drained from the aquarium. Never in the tap. This way you won't kill the bacteria.
Don't replace all the water. Replace 20 to 30% weekly.
Do not dig too much into the substrate so as not to release plant (and algae) nutrients from it.
They do not cram too many fish into the aquarium. Especially viviparous fish, because they have a fast metabolism. The more fish, the more feces and urine, and the greater the chance that plants and bacteria can't handle it. Be moderate.
It's not difficult, and it will prevent algae invasion and will allow you to enjoy a nice tank.
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