Whether we like it or not, algae and aquariums are partners for life. Many types of algae represent some of the most successful colonizers of any new aquatic environment. They can be beautiful and desirable, like Coralline Algae in different shades of red, green, yellow and orange or Halimeda with its cactus-like appearance. They can be very useful such as Chaetomorpha, Gracillaria or Caulerpa used for controlling nitrates and phosphates in attached refugium filtration systems. Some are necessary for biological processes like symbiotic Zooxanthellae which utilize light to convert into energy for the corals. Mostly, however, they are known as the scourge of the aquarium hobby, growing quickly to smother and kill beautiful plants in freshwater tanks and corals in reef systems.
Algae growing on the glass makes the windows into our aquatic microcosms look unsightly and the rocks and prized decorations we cherish look old and dirty. We scrub almost incessantly to keep our creations looking like new and we utilize a host of chemicals and living “Algae Janitors” to remove algae from every surface in the tank only to see it return as the effect of the chemicals wears off or the janitors diminish through attrition. Constantly trying to improve our filtration sometimes only increases the problems once they develop and so what is an aquarist to do in order to win the algae battle?
ALGAE HAPPENS!!!
So…what do we do to keep it under control?
COMING SOON!!!