Subject: Higher Plants and Algae

When fighting algae the best defense is a densely planted aquarium, the higher plants use up the carbon dioxide and mineral salts that algae require to live.

Excessive fertilization can create a hot bed for algae growth and should be avoided if possible.

Partial water changes and siphoning off excess debris from the aquarium on a regular basis will help prevent over fertilization and hinder algae
growth.

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This is another reason it is important to remove excess food, any food left after five minutes should be removed from the tank.

It is impossible to start a new aquarium without brining in some algae spore or isolated cells. This creates a battle at the outset because the higher plants need time to establish themselves; algae doesn't require this establishment time.

In removing the algae, when possible, we must refrain from disturbing the higher plants, allowing the time they need to establish a root system.

Here are some important points in fighting algae:

* Plant a new aquarium as densely as possible and use only weak light for the first few days.

* Do not disturb the plants for the first few weeks and avoid fertilizing them.

* Carefully remove any algae that may appear, without disturbing the other plants.

* Stock algae-eating fish 4 to 6 days after the tank is habitable.

* Do partial water changes frequently and minimize the feeding, (overfeeding will make the algae eaters lazy!)

* Do not overload the water with fish at first; allow the plants time to establish their roots.

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A well-established aquarium will seldom develop a major problem with algae; brown algae are an indication that the lighting is poor. Try replacing the bulbs and, if applicable, remove some of the floating plants to allow more light to enter.

Other algae are an indication of overfertilization. Do a partial water replacement and siphon off any excess debris from the tank at the same time.

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Thank you,

Bill Anderson
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