Banish Algae Blues: 5 Steps Every Aquascaper Must follow!

The worst nightmare of every aquascaper is the occurrence of algae. Quite an artwork is creating a brilliant underwater landscape inside your yoga studio. Algae doesn’t only spoil the beauty of an aquascape; it also threatens the health of the plants grown in it and of the living creatures inhabiting the aquascape. This is so because they compete with plants for food and light. Be it the ugly green cover that masks your aquarium glass or the stubborn blotches clutching onto your carefully chosen decor, algae are a beast that every aquarist has to fight with.

But fear not! With a knowledge of the right tools, you can reclaim the beauty of your aquascape and up your game in enhancing the aquatic beauty of your yoga space. This is the blog that helps in understanding the different kinds of algae you are likely to face, pinpoints the reasons for their growth, and looks at the effective ways that help in stopping them from growing, fighting against these unwelcome visitors.

Let us plunge into comprehensive understanding. Understand Algae:
It is important that whoever desires to keep a healthy and good-looking aquascape understands the kind of algae that is most likely to grow in his aquarium. Here is a brief overview of some types which are more typically found.

Section 1: Types of Algae:

1. Green Water Algae: This one makes its appearance when the waters of the aquarium get a green color from millions of algae spores. It isn’t necessarily toxic, only that the algae may impede the normal visibility within the tank.
2. White Algae: A common misnomer with water molds; this is actually a subgroup of Green Hair Algae called Leptomitus lacteus. It normally covers an aquarium’s surfaces with white filaments.
3. Black Beard Algae: A type of red algae noted for its persistent, hair-like appearance. Sometimes it has a bluish or greenish color, usually in environments rich in phosphate.
4. Green spot algae: This grows in the form of small green dots on all surfaces in the aquarium and is very hard to remove. High phosphate levels and CO2 could perhaps be a remedy against it.
5. Brown Diatom Algae: This type of diatom algae is likely to be found in almost all fresh and saltwater aquariums, which come in newly set-up tanks and disappear subsequently when the nitrogen cycle gets stabilized.
6. Blue-Green Algae: Actually, a group of Cyanobacteria, it forms a blue slime over surfaces. It is not dangerous to the aquarium, though able to suffocate plants.
7. Rhizoclonium Algae: This is a form of green algae belonging to the Cladophoraceae genus. This slimy, soft alga grows in fine brown or green hair-like strands rather like Hair algae.
8. Spirogyra: This organism is characterized by spiral-shaped chloroplasts. This type of algae form long and slippery bright green strands that can spread throughout your fish tank.
9. Green Beard Algae: This is a long, green, and fuzzy beard looking organism. It is controlled by the photoperiod regulation or nitrate and CO2 levels.
10. Staghorn Algae: It forms clumps of a gray, antler-like structure and difficult to remove. Proper support of the plants and no spikes of ammonia are the two main factors to inhibit the growth.

Section 2: Causes of algae growth in aquariums:

Each type of algae peculiarizes and has certain characteristics under which conditions its growth alone takes place. Certain reasons are described for encouraging the development of algae to create a point in studying how to manage and prevent an outbreak of algae. The following are comprehensive reasons for algal growth in an aquarium:

1. Excess Light: Algae require light for the process of photosynthesis to take place, producing energy in them. The quantity and duration of time for the light influence algae growth. Aquariums situated in direct sunlight or exposed to artificial lighting that remains switched on for long durations accelerate the growth of algae.
2. Nutrient Imbalances: Algae feed on nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates commonly existing in aquariums, usually from fish waste, uneaten food, and decaying plant matter. Overfeeding the fish can result in high quantities of waste and leftovers from food, which in turn will serve as abundant nutrients for the algae.
3. Poor Water Quality: Insufficient filtration and irregular water replacement could favour organic material and nutrient build-up tendencies, which may lead to the increased growth of algae.
4. Imbalance CO2: The level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the water influences the level of algae growth. Both the inadequacy and excessiveness of CO2 are very much favourable to the population of algae. The plants would have to compete with the algae for the intake of CO2. Hence, the plant will have not have enough air to breathe. This will lead to decreased health of the plant while increasing the proliferation of algae.
5. Lack of Water Movement: Stagnant water might develop a “dead zone” scenario, where nutrients that do not get dispersed encourages the proliferation of algae.
6. Inadequate plant growth: Live plants compete with the algae for nutrients. Healthy and well-planted aquariums often have less growth of algae because of the competition that occurs between the plants and the algae to absorb the available nutrients. Unhealthy or sparse plantings can leave excess nutrients available for the algae, encouraging their growth.
7. Water source: The same water that fills the aquarium will bring along nutrients and silicates that favour the growth of algae. Moreover, tap water can be filled with phosphates and nitrates.
8. New Tank Syndrome: New setups often experience growing algae, likely from no nitrogen cycling and bacterial colonies being set up. The algae growth is probably going to die down when the tank balances with age.

Section 3: Preventive Measures:

Avoiding algae growth in the aquarium must be done with some proactive steps considering the reasons for the growth of algae. The following are the detailed preventive measures corresponding to the above-mentioned causes:

1. Light Exposure: The artificial light must not be used for more than 8-10 hours, with the help of the timer. Do not keep the aquarium close to the windows to avoid sudden algal growth due to excessive light.
2. Control Nutrient Levels: Feed fish sparingly with an amount not more than they can consume in a couple of minutes to avoid excess food wastage. The water should be changed regularly (10-15% weekly) to eliminate some of the nutrients and wastes produced.
3. High Water Quality: In the first scenario, a reliable filtration system should be used, and its maintenance should be regular. Test the water parameters, including the nitrate, phosphate, and pH, for any imbalance. Schedule regular monitoring of water parameters, including nitrate, phosphate, and pH, and check for any discrepancies.
4. Balance CO2 Levels: If at all CO2 is being injected for plant growth, then the level of CO2 must be controlled very carefully and not allowed to fluctuate to such an extent that it creates favourable conditions for algae. Try natural CO2 supplementation methods or CO2 reactors for a more controlled environment.
5. Increase in Water Circulation: Break up dead zones by using powerheads, airstones, or additional filters to prevent the diversion of nutrients and CO2. Make sure that your aquarium setup allows healthy plant growth throughout all regions of the tank.
6. Promote Healthy Plant Growth: Invest in a variety of aquatic plants to compete with algae for nutrients. Provide appropriate lighting, fertilization, and CO2 to propagate plants in order to reduce resources available for algae.
7. Use Quality Water Sources: To get rid of silicates, phosphates, and nitrates from tap water, either use reverse osmosis (RO) water or a water conditioner. If tap water is used, it is indispensable to regularly test the water source for these compounds.
8. Allow Natural Ecosystem Development of a New Tank: With new setups, be patient; for the nitrogen cycle and beneficial bacterial colonies takes up to six weeks to establish themselves naturally, controlling the conditions that encourage algae growth. Do not load it with more fish or plants than its holding capacity can support; allow the aquarium’s ecosystem to build up gradually.

Following these preventive steps will help you reduce the risk of overgrowth of algae in your aquarium and, as a consequence, create better environmental conditions for your aquatic inhabitants and develop a more improved setup. It would be advisable to maintain regular checking and maintenance, as this is the prescription towards long-term success with algae management.

Section 4: Fighting the Algae:

Control with Algae Eaters

Algae-Eating Fish: There are certain species of fish which are more or less known for their specific food as algae. They are used for maintaining the pace of growth.
The species include:
Siamese Algae Eater: Very good for black beard algae.
Otocinclus Catfish: Very effective in consuming soft green algae.
Bristlenose Plecos: Great for several types of algae, including green spot and brown diatoms.

Use Algae-Eating Invertebrates: Invertebrates like snails and shrimps can be very helpful in maintaining the population and control of algae.
Amano Shrimp: Most known for eating away all kinds of algae.
Nerite Snails work on greenspot and other hard algae on the surfaces of the tank.

Algae-eating Plants: Some aquatic plants will compete with algae for nutrients and light, hence reducing algae growth.
Floating Plants: These could be duckweeds, which help take up extra nutrients and light, starving the algae from growing.
Fast-Growing Stem Plants: These can quickly take in the left-over nutrients that would otherwise be fuelling algae.

Chemical Treatments: When and How to Apply Safely

When it comes to using chemical treatments to control algae in your aquarium, it’s essential to choose products that effectively combat algae without harming your tank’s inhabitants. Here are some specific guidelines and product recommendations.
Choose the Right Chemicals: Some chemicals that can be used to fight algae include copper sulfate, fentin acetate, endothall, and benzalkonium chloride. One has to be, however, very keen on what one is using, because of their possible danger to live plants, snails, and invertebrates, which make it a matter of concern. “Tetra AlgoStop depot” is a plant-safe treatment that controls and treats all types of algae, including green water, blue-green algae, diatoms, and hair algae.

Liquid carbon is often sold to aquarists as a plant fertilizer for aquarium use, but it can have a secondary use in being a product to inhibit algae. Products like Easy Carbon are safe for fish and invertebrates, bringing about a reduction in algae growth. You can even apply liquid carbon directly to the affected site for something stubborn, like algae-like black beard algae (BBA), for the most accurate spot treatment.

Safe Use of Algaecides:

Algaecides are a great regulator for the control of algae; however, care should be taken in using them to avoid affecting your fish and plants. In case if you have sensitive species, like crustacean; then, look for items to be put into home aquariums that do not have harmful substances like copper sulphate. Algaecides come in the form of either dissolving tablets or liquid solution.

Section 5: How an algae-infested aquascape can impact your Yoga space:

Visual Distraction:

First, algae accumulation contributes not only to a decline in the aesthetic beauty of the glass, substrate, plants, and decorations in an aquascape but also introduces a huge visual distraction that can compromise the very soul of a meditative and relaxing environment. The beauty of an aquascape is that it can translate the tranquility of nature into a living area, having a focal point that may be amicable to thoughts and inner peace. However, if that view is marred by some unsightly algae, then it can shift one’s focus from a state of contemplation to a state of distraction.

The visual clutter made by algae disrupts the visual harmony and simplicity, which are often part of meditation and yoga practices. Clear, well-maintained tanks, free from the intrusion of algae can foster a sense of visual purity and order conducive to maintaining a focused and meditative state. This visual serenity is paramount in creating a conducive environment for deep relaxation and effective yoga practice, where every element of the surroundings contributes positively to the overall experience.

Energy Imbalance:

In the realms of yoga and meditation, the concept of energy balance within oneself and one’s environment is a foundational principle. An aquascape, when thoughtfully designed and well-maintained, can act as a vibrant source of positive energy, enhancing the peaceful ambiance of a yoga space. However, an overgrowth of algae within an aquascape is indicative of an underlying imbalance in the tank’s ecosystem. This physical imbalance can mirror, and even contribute to, a disruption in the energetic balance of the room. Algae overgrowth suggests that the elements within the aquascape are not in harmony, leading to a proliferation of life forms that, while natural, are not conducive to the intended aesthetic and purpose of the space.

This disharmony can subtly influence the energy of the surrounding environment, potentially affecting the mood, focus, and overall effectiveness of yoga and meditation practices. The presence of excessive algae can introduce a sense of neglect or disorder, which may unconsciously impact one’s ability to achieve a calm and centered state of mind. In contrast, an aquascape that is in energetic balance, characterized by healthy plant growth and clear water, contributes to a sense of well-being and supports the energy flow within the space, enhancing the practice of yoga and meditation.

Maintaining an aquascape, is not merely about preserving the visual appeal of a miniature underwater landscape. It is about ensuring that the space it occupies remains a sanctuary for relaxation, meditation, and the pursuit of inner peace. Through diligent care and attention to the balance of the aquascape’s ecosystem, one can foster an environment that supports the spiritual and physical benefits of yoga. This will eventually reduce the interconnectedness of our external surroundings and our internal states. It is our exit from the world full of stress.