Get Rid of Algae: Once and For All
- Jan 24, 2022
- Anshika Mishra
- 277 0 0
If you have found yourself as one of those unfortunate souls who is constantly fighting algae outbreaks in your tank, we are going to give you the tools to stop that forever. By the end of this article, you will have a very clear path to never deal with it again.
A new tank is a finicky thing, and a bit of timely lunch is a fundamental component of secret sauce in that first year. The first step is to understand it took you many months to get to the point you are at. It is going to take months to get out. It is not hard, but the best path does take time.
We all want our tank to look awesome tomorrow. It is just human nature. But, we can remove that from the list of options. Would it be okay if the issue is solved in a few months and you beat it permanently without other problems taking their place?
This is how we approach an algae issue with progressively aggressive steps, one of which will certainly work.
High Nutrient
The first is a high nutrient, and bright lights probably got you here, but it won't be what gets you out. It is wise to understand that high nitrate and phosphate levels often lead to algae issues in new tanks, but it is pretty rare that a reefer can eliminate algae from their systems just by lowering nitrate and phosphate.
Note that if you have tons of algae but the nitrate is zero, the nitrate is an alga. It is already used to grow. So, testing low nitrates and phosphate means both on a test kit and simply not seeing the algae growth in the tank.
So, while lowering phosphate and nitrate may not eradicate algae from your system, it is an important step to make sure it doesn't come back. So, related to that, consider your feeding habits and approach to filtration for the future.
Again if you see nitrate or phosphate rising, stop feeding so much. It is that simple. If you can't help it, then up your filtration, better skimmers, add a refugium, increase the water changes until the levels stop rising.
Manual Removal
When possible, manual removal of the algae. You would not scrub it off in most cases because it just tends to spread it more than. But you are using a siphon, pinching it off, and sucking it out of the tank.
The algae from the tank and all the nitrate and phosphate it contained will be permanently removed as well, almost like an in-tank refugium. You may have to do it weekly for a couple of months for the results to show.
Algae Cleaner
The third is adding a Tang gang or fishes that eat algae for a living. A few fish like this are just the most effective component of a cleanup crew, end of the story. It can eliminate signs of algae in a matter of days to weeks.
Some are more aggressive than others or like different varieties. So, multiple types of algae eater are the best practice,
So, even if you have small Tangs, there are always Tang options in a couple of years. After that, they will probably outgrow the tank, and you will have to swap them out. But, let's be real, after a couple of years of successful reefing, a vast majority of reefers end up upgrading to a larger tank.
Even if you don't upgrade to a larger tank, the goal here with the first tank isn't keeping the same fish for as long as possible. It is an awesome-looking tank. So, re-homing them as they get large is a legit option that achieves that goal.
If you can't add fish, there are other livestock options like snails and crabs. But very rarely is the complete solution to an algae outbreak.
So, more a component to an overall approach, whereas in contrast to that, more than half the time, a Tang gang can wipe out all traces of the algae on their own.
Natural Method
There are sometimes unintended side effects, especially in stress systems. But, these are generally considered sage options. Starting with bacterial options, meaning dosing an aggressive type of heterotrophic bacteria that may eat algae.
These bacteria do not reproduce in the seawater. So, they do need to be dosed periodically. The most important advice we can give here is it can take up months to create this problem, and it will take months to get out of it.
So, follow directions on the bottle, and when you see the initial result, keep doing what you are doing adn don't up the game. This isn't horsepower where more is always better, and the right amount is best. So, dose to the instructions and watch the algae nearby magically disappear over the next couple of months.
One is not don't be taken totally off guard. Dosing more will eliminate algae faster, but rapid changes like that allow new pests to take over—potentially other algae or bacterial slimes.
So, these are very effective solutions, but follow directions and set a couple of month expectations to produce the best results.
Fluconazole
Fluconazole is sold to treat fungal infections in fish, but reefers found it can completely eradicate algae from the tank by inhabiting some important metabolic functions.
Most notably, reefers use it on one of the most difficult to beat algae with Bryposis, which at one point was nearly impossible to beat. It is very effective in eliminating Bryposis and some other algae.
There are always some risks to aggressive solutions. It can reduce uptake of calcium and alkalinity, meaning it is likely adding some stress to the system that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Drain the Tank
If nothing else works, drain the tank down and kill the patch of algae with direct application of hydrogen peroxide. You can get it at a drug store in a spray bottle, spray it right on the algae, and let it sit for a few minutes because filling the tank back up.
Many corals tolerate peroxide even directly on the tissue well. Many reefers even use it as a coral dip, but at the same time, when spraying it, try to keep it off of the corals.
Note that peroxide would not kill the roots to grow back, but it is a great way to set them back. It will work best combined with some of the other more aggressive options.
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