Algae Not Welcome

Algae tends to show up uninvited, settle in on glass, driftwood, and plants, stubbornly spreading despite our best efforts. The key to preventing algae from taking over is understanding what conditions invite algae in the first place - and hot to avoid making your aquarium a tempting home.

Light Keep light under control - Place your aquarium out of direct sun and only keep lights on 10-14 hours per day for planted aquariums, 6-10 for ornamental setups. Only use aquarium lamps - The limited spectrum of "office" flourescents invites undesirable forms of algae. Use aquarium lamps designed specifically for plant growth. Change bulbs frequently - Even aquarium bulbs lose their spectrum and intensity as they age. As the spectrum changes, the light will likely encourage algae growth.

Nutrients Remove phosphate - Keep algae's favorite nutrient out of your aquarium with phosphate controlling media and biological boosters for your filtration system. Feed fish sparingly - Overfeeding or overcrowding both lead to an abundance of nutrients on which algae thrive. Give algae some competition with plants - The more plants in your aquarium, the less chance algae has of taking over. Plants compete directly with algae for light and nutrients, and most often win if given proper conditions.

By making your aquarium conditions unwelcome to unwanted green, you're helping prevent algae before it can get a foot in the door.

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