The Complete Aquarium Guide - Fish, Plants and Accessories for your Aquarium

["","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","","PLANTS DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PROBLEMATIC ALGAE Red algae (Rhodophyceae) It is unusual to find a proliferation of these algae in an aquarium. Brownalgae(Pheophyceae) In an aquarium, these mainly consist of diatoms, unicellular microscopic algae. These grow and form a thin film on the decor and glass panes of the tank. Under poor ecological conditions, they can follow from certain green algae. Greenalgae(Chlorophyceae) It is generally considered that their appearance in small, sparse clumps is a good sign (especially in alkaline water) that may indicate that the aquarium is well-equipped. However, if they proliferate they create two main types of problem: - green filamentous algae; this is probably one of the types of overgrowth most often seen. These algae are very thin and, although they sometimes only grow to a few centimeters in length, they can extend to several dozen centimeters. They reproduce through fragmentation, with one very short filament, invisible to the naked eye, sufficient to colonize an aquarium in a fairly short space of time, if the conditions are right; - green water; this is caused by the widespread growth of microscopic algae, generally unicellular, which can move around with the help of a flagellum. In a natural setting, these constitute phytoplankton. They often proliferate rapidly when the concentration of nutritional elements (mineral salts), particularly nitrogen, is too high, in strong light. Blue algae (Cyanophyceae) Also microscopic, these are extremely ancient in origin: they were among the first living elements to appear on Earth. Despite their name, they form a green-blue, sometimes brownish, layer with a velvety sheen. They often develop if the lighting is excessive. are very sensitive. Any submerged equip\u00ad using water with a low hardness contain\u00ad ment colonized by algae (heating, pipes, ing few mineral salts. diffuser, filter) can be treated in the same way. It is important to rinse and dry them thoroughly before putting them back into the tank. Sometimes, however, the prolif\u00ad eration of algae can be so extensive that the only option is to create a whole new aquarium from scratch. A disposable razor Ecological methods is useful for Try to regulate the factor provoking the algae overgrowth by adjusting the amount eliminatingalgae of light, which should be reduced in the that grow on the case of green or blue algae. Changing the aguariumpanes. position of the tubes, or the addition of deflectors, to keep algae off the front of \u2022 the tank, produces good results. In fresh\u00ad water aquariums, you can make partial water changes, on a fairly regular basis, 194","","","","","","",""]