Generally, water changes are not effective, as the remaining algae will quickly multiply. It is one of the more frustrating types of algae to remove as it cannot be wiped or scraped off like other algae. Green water: Also known as an algae bloom, this is caused by the growth of microscopic algae that are suspended in the water.This is the algae that is eaten by algae-eating fish, so try using some of them in your aquarium for control. As long as the tank is well cared for, it will not overgrow. It is a healthy type of algae that every tank will most likely experience to some degree. Green algae: This is also known as hair, thread, or spot algae.A dip in a weak (5 to 10 percent) bleach solution for a few minutes will often kill this type of algae. Red or beard algae: This is the toughest algae to get rid of, and it usually appears on plants.Erythromycin is effective against blue-green algae, but use it judiciously because it will likely harm the beneficial bacteria colony in your biofilter, too. Good water care will help, but if your water source has phosphate in it, you may have to use special treatments to remove the excess nutrients. It can spread rapidly and can be difficult to control. In most cases, this is actually not algae at all, but cyanobacteria. Blue-green algae: Also known as slime or smear algae, it can be caused by an excess of nitrate and phosphate in the water.Use a gravel vacuum to clean it out when doing water changes. It is usually harmless and will eventually go away as the tank matures. Brown algae: Also known as gravel or silica algae, this algae is common in new aquariums, and will coat the tank in sheets, which are easily wiped off.Keep algae-eating fish: Keeping Siamese flying fox, otocinclus, plecostomus, or other algae-eating fish will help reduce some of the algae in the tank.Fewer nutrients in the water mean there is less fuel for algae overgrowth. Keep live plants: Live plants will absorb many of the nutrients that algae thrive upon.Vacuum the gravel when you perform water changes. Scrape the glass, remove rocks, and scrub them. Clean it up: If you see algae beginning to grow on the glass, rocks, or other hard surfaces of the tank, remove it. It does not do much good to change the water if you are adding nutrients back into the aquarium with the tap water. Also, it is wise to test for nitrate, as some water sources have elevated nitrate levels. If it is high in phosphate, you should consider using phosphate removing chemicals available at your aquarium store, or find another water source, such as filtered water.
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