how do you keep algee out of tank of goldfish?

Answer 1

Using chemicals to kill algae is only a temporary solution. As soon as you do a water change (and remove the chemicals) it may be back. It also doesn't address the underlying poblem which lets the algae grow in the first place.

Algae needs to have light and nutrients to grow. If your tank is too close to a window or your lights are on longer than 8 hrs a day, that's part of your problem. If you don't have any live plants in your tank, you can turn the lights off completely - without light for photosynthesis, the algae will die.

Also, look at how you maintain your tank and your water source. Test (or have your pet store test for you) your tank water and your tap water. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0 (ideal) and no higher than 0.5 if the tank is less than 2 months old. Nitrate should be under 40 ppm. Nitrate is a plant fertilizer, and algae uses it also. Nitrate and phosphate (another component in plant fertilizers) may also be present in your tapwater, and can even be added by your water company. If this is the case, you may need to use a resin pad to remove it, or switch to reverse osmosis water.

You should also be doing 25% water changes weekly using a gravel vacuum to remove wastes from the gravel which can decompose and add to the nitrate and phosphate in your tank.

Also, be sure you aren't overfeeding your fish - only give them what they can eat in 2-3 minutes twice a day.

Adding snails and algae eaters isn't really a solution. Even if they eat the algae (they don't eat all types), they won't usually clean it all, and they add more wastes to your tank. If you use chemicals to kill the algae and you have a lot of it, it can decompose and add more nutrients to the water and use up available dissolved oxygen as it decomposes.

Answer 2

Really all you can do is regular cleanings. They make chemicals that you can put in the tank that can eat away the algea if it gets to be a problem.

And yes, snails do eat algea, but they also add to the problem. Remember, most of the algea grows from the fish's poop, and the snails then eat the algea, well, snails poop also, so really all getting a snail will be doing is adding to the problem

Also, don't get an algea eater, like a catfish, or sucker fish. They don't live with goldfish. During the night, the algea eater fish attatch to the goldfish, and suck the slime coat off the goldfish, which can lead to death. Ive had this happen to me before, and it is not easy to take care of the goldfish after this happens, so please, no chinese algea eaters, plechostomas, suckerfish, or any other catfish type fish

Answer 3

I would buy a large pleco or plecostumous from your local fish retailer that will take care of the algee i know plecos work in cold conditions without heaters and in ponds he or she will love your aquarium

Answer 4

Algae grows because of the fish poo . Even lessening the amount of light the tank gets helps promote less algae growth. There are chemicals that you can buy to assure less algae growth, also. The safest/best way is to keep the tank clean!!

Or...... Read these!!!

http://www.drhelm.com/aquarium/algae.html

http://www.algone.com/algae_control.php

Good luck!!!!

Answer 5

I'd like to know that too. Limiting the light seems to help. Snails eat some of it. I have one of those magnetic scrapers that helps. I tried a loach and it ate the fish, tried a plecostamus and it died because the water temp was too low.

Answer 6

keep tank away from direct sunlight.Use creatures to help you,(chinese algae eater ect)but basically all tanks(even in pet shop)get some algae,you'll just have to clean it off&syphon it out,is the most natural way.
OR you could try ALGEA CURE,this works but is chemical.

Answer 7

Your best choice is oto fishs. They come in dark colors, those are the ones i have, and in yellow gold are the chinesse oto fish. They will eat all the algae, that all they do all day long.