Most fish keepers run into algae sooner or later. One week, the tank looks clean, and before you know it, there is a green layer starting to appear on the glass or decorations again.
A little algae is fairly normal and nothing to worry about. The problem starts when it begins spreading faster than you expected and starts taking over the look of the tank.
We jump for an algae treatment straight away, but that usually is not the real solution. In many cases, there is an underlying reason for the growth, whether that’s too much light, feeding a bit more than necessary, or waste gradually building up in the aquarium.
Mind the Lights
Algae is just a simple plant. It needs light to live. If you leave your tank lights running from breakfast until bedtime, you are basically building an algae farm.
Cut the timer back to six or seven hours a day. Also, take a look at Melbourne’s changing weather. If your tank is near a window and getting hit by direct afternoon sun, it’s going to turn green fast. Move the tank or shut the blinds.
You might be Feeding Too Much
It is so easy to overfeed fish. They always act like they are starving. But any leftover flakes or pellets drop to the bottom and rot. That rotten food turns into pure fertiliser for algae.
Only feed them what they can finish in a minute. If food is hitting the gravel untouched, cut back. Less food equals less algae. Simple as that.
Get some Helping Crew
Some aquarium species happily graze on algae throughout the day, which help keep things looking cleaner between maintenance sessions.
Bristlenose Catfish, Mystery Snails and Glass Shrimp are all commonly used for this. They won’t get rid of an algae problem overnight, but they can certainly help keep it under control.
Just make sure any new additions are a good fit for the fish already living in your tank.
Don’t Skip the Water Changes
A lot of algae problems start when waste is allowed to build up in the tank.
Changing some of the water every week or two can help keep things in check. It’s also worth cleaning the gravel at the same time, as leftover food and fish waste often accumulate there unnoticed.
Keeping the tank clean won’t stop algae completely, but it can make a noticeable difference over time.
Swap to Real Plants
If you only have plastic plants, think about switching to real ones. Hardy stuff like Java Fern or Anubias is super easy to grow. Live plants eat the same nutrients that algae do. Because real plants are hungrier, they starve the algae out naturally.
An aquarium should bring peace to your home, not stress. If you are struggling with a stubborn outbreak or just don’t have the time for maintenance, our team at https://atlantisandco.com.au/ can sort it out for you. We handle tank cleaning and Aquascaping all across Melbourne.
You can book a tank clean or grab some advice through our Contact Page. We’ll get your view crystal clear again.