Carpet Algae Freshwater Aquarium

Lower light will not cause green hair algae to spread in your tank.

Carpet algae freshwater aquarium. It forms a thick green carpet over the surface closer to the light source. The fertilizers and carbon dioxide also encourage algae growth as does over feeding. Common in freshwater aquariums a small amount of green spot algae in your tank is normal and expected but an overgrowth should be prevented or treated. It is very soft and slippery but it is impossible to be removed mechanically.

It can grow quickly and can cover the substrate in the aquarium. The species structures can be unicellular to filamentous and some species are colonial. Algae may appear as a brownish greenish reddish residue or film that creeps up on tank glass the gravel or substrate accessories and plants inside the aquarium. Plants produce carbon dioxide in the dark and that plus the co2 supplement could be reducing the oxygen available to the fish.

Buy some fish or other aquarium inhabitants that can be fed by algae hair and they will do the job for you. At the surface riccia fluitans usually doesn t compete well with other plants but if used as a carpet it does fine. Beard algae can actually be an attractive addition to an aquarium on big pieces of stone and or bogwood. When disturbed it comes off in sheets.

It normally keeps to your aquarium glass but can spread to the leaves of plants. Some algae growth is normal and healthy but excess algae growth is unsightly and can be hazardous to fish and plants. I was told lack of nitrate could be a problem so i added seachem nitrogen now my nitrate level is about 5 10ppm. The special feature of this algae is that it is tough and is not normally cleared well by magnetic algae cleaners.

You can always add some duckweeds on top to further accent the visuals in your low light carpet aquarium. You may want to try operating the aquarium light ten hours a day or less and make sure it does not receive direct sunlight. Cyanobacteria formerly called blue green algae are not really algae but are a phylum of photosynthetic bacteria that live in moist soils and water. A carefully used metal bladed algae cleaner is the most effective way to remove them.

It can also be seen on slow growing plant leaves. As its name suggests green spot algae first appears as tiny green spots on pretty much any surface in your tank decorations plants glass etc. A dark green algae which grows in small flat spots. Another efficient way that will help to get rid of algae hair is by the help of algae eaters.