The colorful aquarium life can be marred by algae. Once they find a way into the water, they multiply and take up more and more space. While stones and decorations can be cleaned with force, the sensitive green plants are a challenge.
How do I remove algae from my aquarium plants?
Many algae deposits can bewiped offPlants with stubborn deposits can be removed from the water so that they can be cleaned better. Cut off severely infected leaves,dispose of severely infected plants entirely. Clean the aquarium preventively and optimize the living conditions.
How do I recognize algae infestation on aquarium plants?
Many algae are tiny and individually invisible to the human eye. But they reproduce abundantly and extremely quickly. They can then no longer be overlooked as a mass. Depending on the type of algae, there are clear visual differences:
- Dot algae (green algae): green or black dots
- Thread algae (green algae): up to 0.5 m long green individual threads
- Beard algae (red algae): up to 10 cm long, beard-like structures, curly and grayish
- Brush algae (red algae): “fluffy brushes” on leaf edges, gray, black and occasionally green
- Diatoms: brown deposits
- Blue-green algae: greasy coating, dark green to bluish-black
How do I remove algal deposits from living plants?
Coins of diatoms and blue-green algae do not stick firmly and can therefore be easily removed from the leaveswipe offThread algae can be picked off with your fingers. Spot algae, beard algae and brush algae cannot be removed easily or completely. If necessary, remove affected plants from the water so that they can be cleaned better. Severelycut off affected leaves them. If a plant is heavily infested with algae, for example an Anubias covered with black algae, dispose of it completely.
How do I prevent new algae infestation on plants?
If living plants are freed from algae, the algae problem is not necessarily solved. CleaningAlso clean the walls, floor, stones and decoration. Identify the type of algae and immediately take appropriatecontrol measures, for example using algae-eating snails or fish that eat algae. You should also take a close look at the conditions in the aquarium. Because algae multiply en masse where there is an imbalance. OptimizeIn particularPlanting, water quality, lighting conditionsandStocking
Tip
Algae can also be useful in the aquarium
Keeping an aquarium completely free of algae is almost impossible. If the infestation is manageable, control is not absolutely necessary. Spot algae, for example, can serve as food for fish, snails and other creatures in the aquarium.
