NorthSide Aquatics FAQ on Algae - Tropical Fish, Corals, Freshwater Fish, Cichlids, Aquatic Plants, Aquarium, Reefs, Clams, Installation, and Maintenance

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Saltwater Algae
Frequently Asked Questions

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Why do I have so much algae in my saltwater aquarium?

There are many possible causes of algae in a saltwater aquarium that are all interconnected. The primary factor in excess algae growth is too many nutrients (organic molecules) in the water. This is caused by the addition of food to the aquarium. Residual food and fish poop produce nitrates in the aquarium. Nitrates, for all practical purposes, are fertilizer for algae. Combine that with high-intensity lighting, and *poof* you have algae.

What can I do to keep algae from becoming a problem?

Keeping feeding to a minimum - as in every other day is a good start. Using RO/DI water to keep the addition of nutrients to a bare minimum is a second thing you need to do. However, despite our best efforts, sometimes other factors are still a problem. Phosphates are another common problems to have. Phosphates typically come from food and when combined with the nitrates, make an ideal fertilizer. If you are having a problem with these things, you are probably behind on your regular monthly water changes. Make sure to keep up with them so that you keep the levels of phosphates and nitrates down to minimal levels. Remember to check out information about water changes in our FAQ section about regular maintenance.

I'm doing regular water changes, but algae is STILL a problem. What next?

Some people, despite their best efforts, have problems with algae. This is common in tanks that are heavily fed because of the type of fish (predators) or a high number of fish. in this case, NorthSide recommends the regular use of Seachem's Purigen to remove organic wastes such as nitrates. One may also use Seachem's Phosguard to remove excess phosphates. Another product that we have had success with is Algone. NorthSide regularly keeps all of these products in stock.

Purigen:

Purigen is a synthetic resin that acts like carbon, in that it absorbs organic waste (fish poop - ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate). What makes Purigen better than carbon is that it does not leach phosphate. Cheap carbon leaches tons of phosphate. Good carbon leaches some phosphate. Purigen leaches none, because it does not contain phosphate.

Purigen polishes the water, making it crystal clear. Better still, you can regenerate Purigen by using bleach and water. You will know when it is time to regenerate Purigen because it darkens as it is used up. Follow the directions on the package to regenerate it with bleach, soak in tap water with Prime to dechlorinate it, then throw it right back into your filter.

Using Purigen from the beginning can help to lessen the algae you get during the algae cycle as the aquarium is setting itself up.

Purigen can be run continuously, but remember to remove it if you are medicating as it can pull out medication.

Purigen does not remove trace elements and it significantly increases the REDOX potential. The REDOX potential is basically the measurement of an aquarium's ability to rid itself of waste material. The higher the REDOX potential, the easier it is for your aquarium to support life.

Algone:

Algone is an all natural product that you add to your filter. It comes in a bag and is easily added to the filter by dropping it in any canister, hang on the back style filter, or sump.

Algone produces a natural algaecide that is safe for use in fresh and saltwater.

Algone protects and enhances bio-availability of trace elements, assimilates organic and in-organic pollutants and toxins, energizes microbial activity, corrects nutrient imbalances, breaks down carbohydrates, protein, fat and other water pollutants, and restores the chemical and biological balance of the aquarium.

It is safe for fish, plants, algae eaters, snails, coral, live rock, polyps, invertebrates, etc.

Algone enhances the environment of oxidizing (nitrifying) bacteria and promotes a higher dissolved oxygen content in the aquarium.

What animals can you use in a saltwater aquarium to control algae?

There are a number of animals that can be used to control algae in a saltwater aquarium.
Invertebrates:
Snails do a good job at controlling algae on glass and on the rock when it is short.

Hermit crabs, in large numbers, can do a bang up job on cleaning up rock. They can clean up rock that is very dirty in a short period of time, provided there are enough of them to do the job. Remember to stick to small blue and red legged hermits if you have a reef tank. You may also use Scarlet hermits, but be sure to stay away from hermits that become very large. They may prey on your fish.

Urchins also do a good job at controlling algae, but they will not consume it at a rapid rate. NorthSide recommends Globe Urchins because they are easy to handle without risk of being stuck by spines. Just be sure to have your corals glued down with some Aquascape Epoxy, because they like to decorate themselves with whatever is loose in the aquarium.

Emerald crabs are wonderful critters to have in the aquarium when hair or bubble algae are present.

Sea Hares and Sea Bunnies are voracious algae eaters. If you have an out-of-control algae situation, these guys are a great temporary fix in a medium to large aquarium. You must plan on bringing them back to the local fish store as soon as your algae disappears, because they will starve without it. Be aware that these guys can cause problems in your aquarium if they die. You should always run carbon as a precautionary measure.

Algae-Eating Fish

Rainford's Gobies and Hector's Gobies are small algae-eating fish that are very suitable for nano and small aquariums. They pick at algae as it grows out of the rock. While they will not raze a completely overgrown rock, they do help keep it from becoming a problem in the first place.
Lawnmower Blennies are so named because they "mow" down algae. They are suitable for medium sized tanks and up. They can become aggressive, so be sure not to select them if you have a small tank.
Tangs (a type of surgeon fish) are great at eating algae, but they require a lot of swimming room. Many tangs get quite large, so they need a 6' tank to be happy.

7610 Counts Massie Rd.
Maumelle, AR 72113
501-803-3434
store@nsaquatics.com

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