A Quick Guide to the Different Types of Algae
Many people who start to maintain a fish tank or aquarium at home start to realize that they need a crash course in different types of algae. Algae are an integral part of many a water environment in the world and it is not really surprising that they show up in household tanks also.
What are algae?
Algae are plant like creatures that are found in water-based environments from sea water to fresh water to marshy land. They do not have traditional leaves and roots associated with plants but like plants they use chlorophyll to manufacture their own food.
There are many different specimens of algae and some of these are found frequently in home tanks. The appearance of algae is seen as a nuisance much as a weed in a well-manicured lawn. It is worth noting that algae are an indicator of a nutrient imbalance in the tank environment and hence can be treated as a good warning system.
Types of algae and ways to deal with them
There are some types of algae most commonly found in fish tanks of aquariums.
Black Brush (Beard) Algae: This looks like little tufts of hair and is black in color. The black carpet-like appearance of these algae is distinctive. It does not grow very tall and is usually found on slow-growing plants and on gravel. It is hard to get rid of these algae as it cannot be easily removed even by hand. It is often necessary to tear off a leaf or an entire plant that is affected. Some fish such as the siamensis eat these algae and so if it fits into your tank environment it is worth introducing this fish into your tank.
Green Spot Algae: As the name suggests, this algae appears as green spots either on the aquatic plants or on the side of the tank glass. It makes the tank look unclean and uncared for. The best way to clean up these algae is to scrub it off. It cannot be eaten by any fish as it adheres to the surface of the plant or the glass.
Staghorn Algae: This is a thick braided looking algae that is slimy to touch and bluish-green in color. It seems to thrive in places where there are high levels of light and low level of movement. It needs to be removed by hand and it helps to reduce growth of the staghorn algae if you can diffuse the lighting to the area.
Green Thread/ Green Hair Algae: This is a fast-growing algae that tend to spread their long and thing threads all over the tank. While it can be removed by hand, the infestation will reappear promptly if the conditions in the tank are not changed. Reducing nutrient levels and brightness seem to help and there are some shrimp and other fish that eat these algae.
Green Water Algae: This is a micro-organism that floats in the water forming a column and giving the water a greenish hue. As it is really small, this algae needs to be handled with a filter and cannot be just picked up and thrown out. Some very small fish are known to eat these algae.
While formulating a plan to control algae it is worth keeping in mind that algae perform a specific function in nature. They take organic matter from the water and produce their food with it thus reducing the debris in the water. So, they can serve as cleansers of the tank environment also. Similarly some kinds of algae can be used as food for fish and by balancing out the right kind of fish and algae, you can create a natural life cycle in your household tank.