General information about algae in the aquarium
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Algae appear in every aquarium after a short time. Algae reproduce through spores. These spores are found in the water, on substrates that are brought into the aquarium, and even in the air. As a rule, algae are brought into the aquarium with the plants. Every now and then, one or the other algae spore sticks to a new fish that is placed in the aquarium.
Algae become a real plague when the growth conditions for algae in the aquarium are better than for the plants. Which type of algae dominates in such a case depends on the exact circumstances (light, nutrients, etc.) in the aquarium. If you create good growth conditions for as many plants of different species as possible, you prevent unwanted algae growth at the same time. However, a completely algae-free aquarium is not achievable. In many cases, an algae-free aquarium is not desirable at all. A whole range of fish species likes to eat algae as supplementary food and many young fish are dependent on algae as food.
A frequent cause of increased algae growth is insufficient CO2 content in the aquarium water. High pH values can be an indication that the CO2 content is too low. Plants need a lot of CO2 for assimilation. If there is not enough CO2, other nutrients in the water will not be used by the plants either. These excess nutrients are absorbed by the algae.
Algae appear in newly set up aquariums after just a few days. Once they get the upper hand, they take a long time to disappear as they can store nutrients for about 4 weeks. Even if all the conditions in the aquarium are optimal, it takes about 4 weeks for the algae to starve.
Different measures against algae should therefore not be carried out too quickly one after the other. This usually does more harm than good.
Chemical algaecides should never be used. These damage the plants at least as much as the algae. It cannot be ruled out that the toxins contained in algae-eating fish, e.g. B. catfish enrich.
A few rules should be observed so that the joy of the new aquarium is not immediately spoiled by an algae plague.
Rules to avoid algae plagues in new aquariums:
- Since most plants are not yet growing properly in newly set up aquariums, no fertilizer should be used during the running-in period. Nutrient-rich soil additives can also be dispensed with. Some plants, such as B. Echinodorus are grown in the Air Aquatic Nursery. After being transferred to the water, all leaves are shed and new underwater leaves are expelled. That takes several weeks.
- Use fast-growing plants such as hornwort and waterweed to take nutrients away from the algae.
- In order for plants to grow well over the long term, the aquarium floor must be at least 7 cm high.
- keep patience. Algae come fast and go slow.
- If, as is often recommended, catfish are used as algae eaters, there must be a root in the aquarium. Long-tailed catfish need wood as a food supplement.
- CO2 fertilization strengthens the growth of aquatic plants and is therefore bad for algae. Yeast fermentation is a simple and inexpensive way to produce CO2.
- Only clean the filter when almost no more water is being circulated.
- Use three-band fluorescent tubes for lighting.
Questions about algae in the aquarium
At the latest with the purchase of plants, the aquarist introduces a large number of different types of algae into his aquarium. The algae or their spores adhere invisibly to the plants. If the conditions in the aquarium are unfavorable for the algae, they will not appear visibly. Only when favorable conditions are present do they spread visibly. If the conditions are particularly favorable for the algae, a veritable plague of algae can occur. To make matters worse, the different types of algae also prefer different conditions in the aquarium. For example, there are algae that prefer shady spots and algae that grow particularly well in bright light.
It is therefore understandable that algae appear very quickly in the aquarium and spread more than desired, but avoiding and eliminating them is often difficult and time-consuming. On the other hand, algae are not an inevitable plague that inevitably spreads as soon as the first algae become visible in the aquarium.
The first contact with algae
Every aquarist inevitably comes into contact with the subject of algae for the first time when the first algae start to spread in their newly set up aquarium. The start-up phase of an aquarium is always a critical time. Usually there are a lot of nutrients in the aquarium, without these nutrients being consumed by the plants.
Too much fertilizer is good for algae
Many aquarists recommend soil additives and fertilizers, especially for the initial phase, which are intended to promote good plant growth. The amount of nutrients is usually calculated as needed for an aquarium with good plant growth. In addition, the amount of fertilizer required is usually calculated based on the maximum amount of water in the aquarium.
It is not taken into account that due to the substrate, furnishings and decorative objects and even the thickness of the glass, there is significantly less water in the aquarium than the gross information given when the aquarium was sold. A rule of thumb assumes that there is approx. 20% less water in the aquarium than is calculated based on the external dimensions of the aquarium.
Plants also have to get used to it
Aquatic plants are mostly cultivated above water in the nurseries. Many plant species in the aquarium therefore first shed their leaves above the water and develop new underwater leaves.
All plant species first have to get used to the new aquarium climate and have a relatively low metabolism during this time. Often only a few plants are used in new aquariums because the plants reproduce. In the newly set up aquarium, the plants therefore consume relatively few nutrients.
Fish food brings nutrients into the water
Beginners in aquaristics usually overestimate the food requirements of the fish and give them a lot of food. Through feeding, many additional nutrients and trace elements get into the water.
High supply – low consumption
In a newly set up aquarium, a very high nutrient supply is usually offset by a very low nutrient consumption. In contrast to plants, algae can adapt very quickly to changed or new environmental conditions. The excess nutrients are processed by the algae, which can then spread quickly.
Find the balance
The most important measure in an aquarium that is overly infested with algae is therefore to balance the supply of nutrients with the consumption of nutrients by the plants.
Since the nutrient consumption by the plants depends on several conditions, it is not easy to find the balance. The effect of a measure is not immediately apparent, but always takes a certain amount of time. Again, this makes it difficult to find balance. If different things in the aquarium are impatiently changed at the same time, it is practically impossible to find a state of equilibrium. In such aquaria, new algae plagues appear again and again due to partly different types of algae.
prevent algae?
planting
The aquarium is densely planted with various types of plants, even if some plants have to be removed after a while because the planting has become too dense due to growth and offshoots. The aim is for many different plants to consume as many nutrients as possible and for the algae to have as few excess nutrients as possible. The plant species depend on the environmental conditions. Plants with high light requirements will also thrive in shady aquariums and consume correspondingly few nutrients when all other conditions are optimal. In the running-in phase, stem plants are valuable because they grow quickly and thus use up a lot of nutrients.
fertilization
The supply of nutrients should be based exclusively on consumption by the plants. There is no need for soil additives with nutrients when setting up a new one. If plants show signs of deficiency, these plants can be strengthened by targeted fertilization with nutrient tablets or clay balls. Liquid fertilizer only needs to be added to the aquarium when the plants show the first signs of deficiency. Initially, a maximum of half the dose recommended by the manufacturer is given. If more algae occur, the dose is reduced. If the growth of algae remains weak and the plants continue to show signs of deficiency, the dose is increased slightly. After some time, you can determine what nutrient supply is required so that the plants grow healthily and not too many algae appear.
Algae anyway
Despite preventive measures, algae can occur in newly established and established aquariums. In new aquariums, the algae often disappear after a few weeks without any special countermeasures being taken. Apparently the aquarium settles into equilibrium after a while. In established aquariums, suddenly appearing heaps of algae are a sign that the balance is disturbed. In any case, the possible causes must be carefully considered and then appropriate measures taken. The other pages on the subject of algae provide many tips on possible causes and suitable measures.