Algae Control in Marine Aquarium

Algae Control in Marine Aquarium

The presence of algae is essential in a marine aquarium as it is an important instrument in facilitating ecological balance inside the tank. It is the primary food for many aquatic animals. Algae process the excreta of marine animals and control the level of nitrate, apart from cleaning up the tank. Like the other green plants, algae releases oxygen during photosynthesis, and maintains its ample supply for the animals. Nevertheless, excess growth of algae gives rise to two key concerns. Firstly, apart from imparting an unsightly appearance to the tank, it reduces the visibility from outside and cuts down the passage of light inside. Secondly, it requires oxygen intake during the night and may leave lesser amounts available for the other animals. Therefore, it is important to maintain an optimum level of the plant inside. Following tools come handy for the task:

Sunlight: Since, algae is a green plant, sunlight greatly promotes its growth. There are two options in this case. The first one is to allow only small amount of sunlight into the tank by placing it at the appropriate spot in the house. The other option is to cut out the sunlight completely and allow only artificial lighting to simulate days and nights. While choosing your alternative, give allowance for the different types of animals, which survive in different depths and are accustomed to different lighting conditions.

Cleanup Crew: A natural way of regulating the propagation of algae is to keep hermit crabs and snails along with other animals. They feed voraciously on algae, keeping its spread in check. Consult the aquarium shop to understand how many of them will be enough for your tank size.

Concentration of Nutrients: A synthetic remedy to control algae growth is to limit the concentration of phosphates, nitrates, potassium, and silica. Ideally, the concentration of phosphates and nitrates should be zero. The problem is that the ordinary tap water contains sufficient quantity of these materials. The best remedy is to use marine water prepared using purified water, preferably from RO (reverse osmosis) filtration. This should be supplemented by the frequent replacement of the aquarium water. The greater the number of animals, the more will be the frequency.

Carbon Dioxide: Use appropriate tank filtering equipment to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2). During photosynthesis algae needs dissolved CO2, which in turn promotes its growth.

Dissolved Organic Matter: One of the key promoters of algae is dissolved organic matter or DOC. Protein skimmer is simple equipment that controls DOC and nitrates in the water, thereby discouraging the algae growth.

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