I have a question about algae in a fish tank.

Question

What is the best thing to slow growth of algae in a fish tank. Do snails really work? Is there some kind of liquid, I can add to the water?

It seems to appear to quickly after cleaning. Please let me know of anything I can do to help.

Answer 1

You can  purchase phosphorus pads for around $2.00 at your local pet store.  These come in large pink sheets.  You can cut them to match the filter media you are using.  Piggy back these on your filter.  It will remove the phosphorus from the water and slow then just about eliminate the algae.

These can be washed out and reused for a number of months before you need to change them.

This is the best thing I have found to control algae without adding chemicals.

Also snails can get out of hand in an aquarium and doesn't solve the original problem of too much algae.  Stick with the pads.

Answer 2

salt water fish tank.

Answer 3

Saltwater or freshwater is a great question. The person who responded with light and nitrate is absolutely correct. Algae only grows at certain wavelengths of light. If you are using PCs, metal halides, VHO's, or regular fluorescent is also a good question. Make sure the lighting you use is aquarium only lighting, and stick away from anything that produces a yellowish-orange light. This is the wavelength that algae grown the most. Actinics, bluish, or a very white light is the best. If you do have the proper light and have not changed the bulbs in a long time, the color rating on the bulb degrades and it could be putting out bad wavelengths... Filtration is also a key, make sure that your filter is rated properly for your aquarium size and do not overload your aqaurium with too much life for its capacity. If its saltwater, blue legged hermit crabs, or turbo snails would be a good supplement; however, once all the algae is gone you will have to add food for them.  

Answer 4

easy get a dwarf sucking catfish they only get two inches long and will eat all the algae

Answer 5

some fish eat algae

Answer 6

You can definately use a snail.  They work excellently.  

Here is a link about an Algae clarifier called PHOS ZORB

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.h...

Answer 7

Algae can come from alot of things,the main spot you dont want to put a fish tank is in front of a window. Get a placacamis they help.Snails work but they multiply BIG time. OOPS cant get that word placacamis lol

Answer 8

Algae is directly related to light and nitrate.  Limit the light your tank gets and make sure that you don't have high nitrate levels in your tank.

Snails eat some algae but they also p**p a lot which adds to the nitrtate problem.

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