Cleaning Algae

[jenrkit84]

I had an odd algae outbreak within the past 2 weeks that I spent hours cleaning up tonight, found out it was coming from the early morning sun through the bedroom window. Is there an easier way (besides avoiding direct sun) to prevent and clean this outbreaks? I had to soak all plants and gravel in scoulding hot water, scrub, as well as scrub the coral formations by hand. Pretty sure this entire process was very stressful to Duma and I'd like to avoid anything like that for it's sake.

[wagner7123]

Are you asking if you can do something to your tank to allow you to leave it in direct sunlight and still avoid an algae outbreak? Most algae needs light and nutrients to grow. I assume you have lights in your tank so that part is already provided with or without the sun. So, cleaner water seems like the next step.

[ILoveLola]

Nothing "safe," I'm sure. There are chemicals they sell to reduce the ammount of algae in a tank, but I'd rather scrub.
Be careful when cleaning your decorations, I scrubbed one of mine too much and the color scrubbed away with it!

You could always try a CUC, but it'd probably get eaten

[JRC3]

I run timers on my tanks and they only see 8-9 hours a day from the hood lights. If I was you I'd block the direct sunlight and reduce the bulb light to 8-10 hours daily. You may need to use even less light right now to reduce algae if you are having an algae bloom.

[El Scorpio]

Reduce the nutrients in the water that algae feed off of. Your enemies are Nitrate and Phosphorous. Nitrate is the end result of the nitrogen cycle and can only be reliably removed from the water through water changes. Phosphorous comes from decay - everything from uneaten food to dead livestock or snails. Even dead algae - if it's dead or decaying, get it out. You can also try some PhosBan in your tank to soak up the excess phosphorous - I use it in my tank and it does help.