Algae, Why They Appear And What To Do
It is wrong to seek for the origin of the algae asking how they have entered to the aquarium, to a greater or lesser extent the algae are always as spores waiting for the optimal conditions to be able to develop.
The algae cannot be eradicated totally, they can only be maintained at a minimum level. There are many types of algae, all with one common characteristic: they are non vascular photosynthetic aquatic organisms.
The causes for which the algae prosper are due to a biological imbalance in the aquarium. The imbalance implies a change in the parameters of the water that produces the appearance of the nutrients that the algae need for their growth.
These nutrients are silicates, phosphates and nitrates. The algae prosper when some of these elements increases their proportion in the water. For the algae that make photosynthesis, certain lighting conditions can also favor the appearance.
Generally, the algae that cause problems in aquariums are those of the type Cyanophyta and Phaephyta
The Phaephyta are the brown algae (diatoms). Its occurrence is due to poor lighting and the presence of silicates in the water. They are the easiest to combat.
They are always present in any aquarium in small quantities. If the conditions that allow the algae to prosper are given, their presence can be detected as brown dark stains on the decorative objects of the aquarium.
The Cyanophyta are blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). Its occurrence is associated with excess of nutrients and poor water quality. They are very difficult to eradicate.
They are midway between bacteria and algae and they can contain photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll (green) and phycocyanin (blue) components.
Monitor and maintain the correct Ammonia Nitrate and Nitrate levels, pH levels and General Algae levels in your aquarium..
It cannot be said that an effective treatment exists to eradicate the algae, they will only be minimized taking the necessary actions, in order to avoid that the favorable conditions for the growth of the algae can happen.
All these measures should be aimed to combat the causes, that is to say, not to allow the excess of nutrients. These elements enter to the aquarium through the water, hence the first measure is to change the water of the aquarium with good quality water. Control the population of the aquarium and keep the substrate clean.
The best way to combat the algae is the prevention. If the aquarium is maintained in optimal conditions, and the due attention is paid to the biological balance, the excessive development of algae is avoided. The periodic partial water change, the proper care of the plants, the suitable light and the control of the values of the water are extremely important in this approach.
