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Green plaque on the walls of the aquarium is microalgae. By themselves, they are not very dangerous, in some cases even useful – they serve as food for snails, catfish and crustaceans, but with uncontrolled reproduction they can not only spoil the aesthetics of an artificial reservoir, but also cause an unpleasant odor, and even diseases in fish.
In this article we will talk about how to remove the greens in the aquarium, and how to control its reproduction.
How to remove the greens in the aquarium, if there is not much of it yet
Scraping is the last step. For starters, you can try to remove the greens in “biochemical” ways. Be careful when applying the following guidelines because they may harm other residents.
Remove the aquarium from the window. Direct sunlight can cause rapid growth of microscopic algae. The aquarium must be positioned so that it is at least 1,5 meters from the window;
Reduce daylight hours. It should be no more than 10 hours a day;
Raise the pH carefully. In an alkaline environment, microscopic algae develop worse and die naturally. However, keep in mind that a high pH level can harm other inhabitants of the aquarium;
Уincrease the number of plants The higher aquatic flora “competes” with the lower one;
Change the water regularly changing at least 15-20% of the volume of the aquarium;
Install better filters and water aerators;
Place the appropriate fish (Ancistrus catfish, Siamese algae eater, Girinocheilus, Corydoras catfish), arthropods (Amano shrimp), snails (especially theodoctus).
With the last tip, the main thing is not to overdo it. “Sanitary fauna”, having dealt with the microscopic flora, can take on higher plants or even start biting the neighbors in the aquarium.
How to remove the greens in the aquarium, if there are already a lot of them
If a thick green coating appears on the walls, this indicates that using the above tips will no longer be effective. It’s time to pick up the scraper.
The cleaning procedure is quite simple:
Fish, shrimp and other fauna need to be transplanted into a temporary aquarium. Try to keep the water in it in terms of temperature and pH balance the same as in the main, so as not to cause stress to the animals;
Thoroughly clean the inside walls of the aquarium by moving the scraper over them. Try not to scratch. Just wide sweeping movements;
Pump out part of the water in which there are algae residues;
Using a siphon, clean the soil from dirt and algae residues;
Remove large stones, decorations and plants. Clean them from the remnants of algae and other greens;
Wash the inside of the equipment. They also accumulate a raid of algae;
Top up with clean, pre-settled water. Bring back the fish.
This cleaning needs to be done about once a week. As a rule, the reproduction cycle of microscopic algae takes about a month. Therefore, 3-4 such “large-scale” cleanings will be required.
Whom to bring in the aquarium to prevent the appearance of greenery
The most effective way to deal with greenery is to prevent its occurrence. In nature, the natural enemies of microscopic algae are various mollusks, arthropods and fish. Therefore, it makes sense to have a few new inhabitants that will help prevent the appearance of greenery:
Horned snail is a beautiful snail with an exotic appearance. Effectively cleans the walls, decorations and leaves of large plants. However, it can harm some algae;
Neretina horned is a freshwater snail with an extremely unusual appearance. Therefore, it will not only clean the aquarium, but will also decorate the local biome. Prone to escape, so not suitable for open keeping;
Theodoctus is a medium-sized snail, undemanding to the conditions of detention. Feels comfortable only in small groups of 6-8 animals. Young growth prefers hard water, so a small piece of limestone can be placed on the bottom;
Daphnia are small, almost microscopic crustaceans. Intended for aquarium maintenance grow up to 1-2 mm in length. Not only do they feed on algae, but they themselves serve as food for most fish. Therefore, they must be kept carefully so as not to cause overeating in other inhabitants of the aquarium;
Labeo is a bright herbivorous fish. They feed on algae, cleaning them from the surface of the inner walls and decorations. They need a lot of space. After cleaning the aquarium, you will have to select special food for them;
Corydoras are herbivorous catfish with a “carp-like” body. Clean walls, ground and decorations. They grow up to 15-20 cm, so they need a spacious aquarium. Peaceful;
Ancistrus are herbivorous catfish with a characteristic “sucker”. Most of the time is spent cleaning the dirt from the wall of the aquarium. They easily get along with other fish, have a peaceful disposition, are suitable for small reservoirs, but they feel uncomfortable in them. A pair of female and male Ancistrus requires an aquarium of at least 80 liters;
Amano are small and peaceful shrimp. Omnivores, but gatherers, not predators. They are especially effective in cleaning aquarium decorations and higher flora, but they do not collect plaque from the walls well. Not recommended for keeping with large fish – they can hunt shrimp.
You can also get a Siamese algae eater. But these fish are often “forged”. Under the guise of a Siamese algae eater, they can sell a “flying fox”, which does not help in cleaning the aquarium from greenery. So you can get by with ordinary catfish and snails.
How to avoid greenery in the future
In order to control the growth and development of protozoan algae, follow a few tips:
Control the temperature. In warm water, the simplest algae develop faster. Pay special attention to temperature control in the hot season;
Avoid direct sunlight on the aquarium. They also stimulate the growth of protozoan flora;
Remove excess food. It serves as a kind of fertilizer for microscopic algae;
Remove fish waste. They not only stimulate the growth of microscopic algae, but also release toxic substances into the water – nitrates and ammonia.
You can remove excess food and fish waste with a siphon to clean the aquarium.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.