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Algae - where it comes from

© Winston Vaughan Schoenfeld

All aquariums tend to grow algae. This is just a fact of biological life. When small amounts of water are kept in one place, algae grows. So, it is no wonder that every aquarium has a certain amount of growth which comes back no matter how hard you try to scrub it. In this article, I'll give you a little bit of an idea of what promotes algae growth, and how to reduce it.

The number one reason for large amounts of algae growth is poor water quality. There are many waste products produced by aquarium inhabitants. Both the fish and the bacteria in the aquarium create waste. As a result, it is important that you frequently change the water. This will decrease the amount of growth you have in your aquarium, and it will also help keep the inhabitants in good health. In addition, water flow is important. Think of a river, relative to a stagnant pond. Which generally has more algae growth? The stagnant pond, obviously. The same holds true for your aquairum. Keep you water flow up so that there are no "dead spots" in your aquarium where water is not circulating.

The other most common reason for algae problems is due to lighting. This can come from one of two sources. The first is the number of hours that you leave your aquarium lighting on. A general rule is that lighting should be left on for no more than 9 hours. I would recommend about 7 1/2 to 8 1/2 hours. This applies for all aquairums. When lighting is left on for longer periods of time, algae tends to form, and can easily overtake a large portion of your aqaurium. The second source for lighting problems has to do with sunlight. The worst thing you can do is place your aquarium in direct sunlight. This will produce algae faster than anything else. Many aquarists think that sunlight is a more natural source for light for their aquarium, but the fact is that when setting up an aquarium, you should try and avoid places where there will be sources of direct sunlight (e.g. next to windows with no curtains).

By trying to avoid some of the common causes of algae growth above, you will decrease the growth in your aquarium, and at the same time, decrease the amount of scrubbing that you will have to do. Unfortunately, there is no way to completely remove all algae growth from your aquarium. You will most likely still have to scrub the sides on a regular basis, but overall, the amount of time you spend doing this will be less.

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