how do you clean algae off of rock decorations?

Answer 1

I try to be really thorough cleaning the algae off my rocks or it comes back right away because of my high watt lighting. I bring water almost to a boil on the stove, and then soak the rocks in that. Then after they cool, I scrub them with an old toothbrush. Then I let them dry completely. Algae is pretty tough to kill, but you should be able to kill 99% of it if you let the decorations dry out completely. If you weren't able to get all the algae off in the first round of scrubbing (because your rocks have lots of small nooks and crannies), you can try the whole thing again after letting it dry completely to kill the algae and it should all come off. Algae prevention methods include only keeping your aquarium light on 8-10 hours a day, and getting small true algae eaters like siamese algae eaters or oto cats (unless you have large aggressive fish, and then you'll have to go with plecos, which aren't as good). Siamese algae eaters are great algae eaters throughout their lives, it is the Chinese (Golden) algae eaters that get aggressive and quit eating algae.

Answer 2

Use a toothbrush (a clean toorthbrush) to scrub it off.


Do you know what of algae it is?
Is it just a brown layer of gunk? If so, that's diatomes, or silica algae. They will go away when your tank settles. In the meantime, increase your lighting and your O2 by adding an air pump.
Is it bright green and stringy? That's hair algae. Try cutting back on your lighting to 8 hours per day. You could also get a school of oto cats or some amano shrimp to eat the algae.
Is it short and hair, and dark green, or reddish? That would be black beard algae. Nothing eats that, just scrub it off and cut back on your lighting.
Is it more like a greenish bluish slime, and it comes off in sheets? That's slime algae, common in new aquariums. It is caused by Cyanobacteria and high levels of organic wastes. It will go away in time, but do a few extra water changes, scrub it all off and increase your phosphates, if you can.

If your tank is 30 to 60 gallons, get a bristle-nosed plecotomous. They will eat many types of algae and excess fish food (but be sure to supplement their diet with zucchini and spirulina pellets)

If you tank is BIGGER than that, you can get other types of plecos like hi-fin plecos.

If your tank is smaller than 30 gallons, get 5 or 6 oto cats. (again, supplement their diet).

Above all, do NOT get a chinese of siamese algae. When they are young, they eat algae, yes, but they get a heck of a lot bigger, meaner, and more carnivorous. They will eat your fish.

Also, keep up with weekly 20-30% water changes. That will help with many types of algae.

Answer 3

the terrific way is to apply warm water and bleach. Bleach does kill algae. in case you do use algae you will desire to be anal approximately rinsing off the vegetation. you will desire to get all the chlorine off previously putting the vegetation returned on your fish tank. you ought to purchase dechlorinator at a close-by puppy shop.

Answer 4

there are several fish you can get that eat the algae, depending on whether you have a salt water or freshwater tank. if you go to the fish store and ask for algae eaters, i am sure they will know what you want : )

Answer 5

Take them out of the fish tank and scrub with a scrub brush under the faucet. Don't use any cleaners as they can adhere to or be slightly absorbed by the rock (which is porous) and can make your fish sick when you put them back in the tank.

Answer 6

Get an algae-eating fish! My plecostemus keeps the whole tank algae-free.

Answer 7

You can soak them in a bleach solution and when the algae is gone soak them in a dechlor solution(that's the cheap way) you can also buy drops(algae destroyer) at a pet store or department store that will work also.

Answer 8

first of all no bleach no cleaners no nothing just WATER!! I cleaned my 10 gallon yesterday and its so simple. just take the decorations out run them under cold water and scrub them with an extremely clean washcloth!! GOOD LUCK!!