We have all seen tanks overrun with algae and have probably all dealt with it ourselves. How do you get rid of the blasted stuff? Let’s start by getting one thing straight. You can’t get rid of algae. The fact of the matter is, algae is always present. Whether it is present in quantities that are noticeable is a completely different story.

Algae can look very good in a tank and give it a more natural look. I have some stones in my tank that have grown a fair amount of algae on them. I think the stones look much better with this growth. It adds more color to the tank than would exist in an algae free environment.

The method for preventing algae in planted tanks is slightly different from non planted tanks. For both kinds of tanks, controlling the amount of light that hits the tank and keeping the bioload low with proper stocking and regular water changes helps keep algae at bay. In planted tanks, there is a bit more involved. Keeping a balance of carbon and fertilizers will allow plants to uptake the nutrients faster than algae.

I would not recommend buying an animal just to eat algae. Whether they are shrimp, snails, or fish, algae eating critters generally do a spotty job cleaning up, because they can’t keep up with the amount of algae in a tank, or because they get spoiled off of foods that you feed them. Those that are able to keep a tank clean are generally over sized for their tank. Unless massive amounts of light hit your tank and an algae farm is what you have on your hands, your algae eaters will require supplemental feeding, which may bring you to the problem of having your inhabitants forgo eating algae and go with your food.

Trying to prevent algae is your best bet, but it’s a tough task to keep on top of, so when algae comes creeping into your tank, the sponge or scraper is your best bet. Get the algae eaters only when they make a good addition to your tank for other reasons other than just cleaning up.