How To Get Rid Of Algae Bloom In Fish Tank?

Many beginners in the aquarium business are faced with such a problem as algae blooming on glass and vegetation.

Not fully understanding what the reason for this phenomenon is, they sometimes take logical, but not productive measures replacing water, cleaning decorations, and so on. And this only exacerbates the situation.

Therefore, it is worth understanding all the important nuances regarding this aspect. We will talk about the reasons for algae bloom in fish tank and how to get rid of algae bloom in fish tank in the article.

What is algae bloom in Fish Tank?

Any aquarist at least once faced with the flowering of water in a tank with fish.

Initially, the aquatic environment becomes slightly cloudy, and after a while it becomes green. This process develops spontaneously.

What is it from? And the reason for this is phototrophic microorganisms (in particular, euglena and chlorella) , which receive nutrition as a result of photosynthesis.

Such organisms are constantly present in the water of the aquarium, but are invisible when the environment is favorable. But when conditions arise that provoke their activation, they begin to multiply intensively. The result is a greenish haze.

In fact, blooming water does not adversely affect the health of the inhabitants of the. However, its aesthetic appearance deteriorates. You should not ignore the problem that has arisen, since green water is a signal of an imbalance that has arisen.If appropriate measures are not taken in time, then it will be more difficult to correct the situation in the future. And this will harm the fish.

They become lethargic and stop eating. As a result, they are at risk of being affected by bacterial diseases. Along with this, vegetation begins to die.

how to get rid of algae bloom in fish tank?

There are 3 key ways to get rid of algae bloom in fish tank:

• removal of rotting organic matter and fish residues;
• artificial lighting setting;
• placement of the tank at an acceptable distance from the window.

Treatment of the aquatic environment occurs in the following sequence:

1. They clean the soil from pathogenic inclusions using siphonization.
2. Cover the aquarium with opaque paper, turn off the backlight and leave it in this state for a week.
3. The filter device is not turned off. Moreover, they increase its power. For this period, this is the only source of oxygen for fish. You can add peat chips to it to acidify the water.
4. Feed the fish once a day in small portions.

It is highly likely that after a week of quarantine, the water will become light. Upon completion of therapeutic measures, the water volume is replaced by 1/5 of the original one, the walls are cleaned and the filter sponges are thoroughly washed.It is recommended to populate the aquarium with orderly fish – catfish, pacelia, planktonic crustaceans, and mollies. They actively eat algal mucus from plants and other surfaces.

It is productive to equip the filtering device with an ultraviolet sterilizer. Under its influence, pathogenic microorganisms die.

What causes an aquarium algae bloom?

Factors that causes and aquarium algae bloom:

1. Polluted soil. The dirt accumulating at the bottom over time creates a pathogenic environment for putrefactive formations and acidity increases in the water. Local residents can no longer cope with cleaning on their own, and the water becomes cloudy.
2. foreign matter in the water. This refers to various inclusions: food leftovers, fish excrement, decaying leaves of plants, and shrimp shells. Excess waste creates conditions for the development of microscopic algae, and the level of toxic substances (ammonia and nitrates) in the water rises. These are what phytoplankton feed on.
3. Not a good place to set up an aquarium. The degree of illumination of the aquarium depends on this. The more intense it is, the more actively euglena algae reproduce. When the length of daylight exceeds 12 hours, then soon we should expect flowering water.Therefore, it is impossible to place a tank with fish near a window, and it is also unacceptable to install high-power lamps. It should be located no closer than 2 meters to the light source, and the recommended spectrum of artificial lighting is 22 lm per liter of water volume.
4. Infrequent filtration . With infrequent water filtration, contaminants accumulate in large quantities over time. They serve as a breeding ground for unicellular microorganisms. Cleaning should be done at least once every 2 weeks. And also change the sponges in the device at least once a year.
5. Incorrect use of chemicals. The abuse of chemicals, as well as their use not according to the instructions, leads to a quantitative imbalance of microorganisms.
6. Elevated water temperature . If the water temperature in the aquarium is more than 27 ° C, then this leads to turbidity. It is important to measure the temperature daily and maintain it within 25-27 ° C.To solve the problem, you need to move the tank away from the heat source or remove unsuitable artificial lighting lamps (halogen, incandescent lamps) to fluorescent or LED. You can use a fan for cooling.
7. Too frequent water changes . This entails the active development of blue-green algae. To avoid this, it is enough to change the water 2 times a month. Just make not a complete replacement, but a partial one – 30% of the total. It is preferable to keep the water at room temperature for about a day before this.
8. Lack of oxygen . When the aquarium is overfilled with vegetation, especially in winter with reduced daylight hours, insufficient oxygen production occurs. This is because plants only release it in good light.In return, they synthesize carbon dioxide, which feeds green algae and stimulates their growth. To eliminate the problem, weeding is done and plants are planted mainly with slow growth.

how to prevent algae bloom in fish tank

In order to no longer face the problem of flowering water in the aquarium, certain preventive measures are followed:

1. Systematically resort to mechanical cleaning of glasses. The main thing is not to scratch them, and therefore it is better to use non-hard sponges.
2. Once every 2 weeks, replace the water by 1/5 of the volume. Previously, it is defended for a day.
3. Monitor the level of illumination. The aquarium is placed at a distance from the window – 1.5-2 meters. In winter, the duration of artificial lighting should not exceed 10 hours, in summer – 12.
4. Representatives that feed on microalgae (for example, daphnia) are added to the aquarium. Plants are also planted that can absorb nitrates (tubular elodea).
5. Do not feed the fish – give as much food as they are able to eat at a time. Then the remains will not rot at the bottom and pollute the water.
6. Periodically, special chemicals are added to the aquatic environment as a preventive measure.
7. Do not allow overpopulation of the aquarium. The crowding of fish, as well as a lot of vegetation, negatively affects the general microclimate.
8. The decor (taken from natural reservoirs) planned to be placed in the aquarium is pre-disinfected. Otherwise, the risk of infection increases.

Conclusion

There are several ways to get rid of algae bloom in fish tank. Sometimes it is enough to filter the water and add daphnia.

With severe turbidity, you will have to apply the entire range of therapeutic measures:

• decrease in temperature,
• creating shading,
• water change and total cleaning of the internal surfaces of the aquarium.

And to prevent a problem in the future, standard prevention is required.