There are different types of algae that plague our tanks, and depending on how often you do water changes and how much natural light is available will depend upon what type and how much you get. One question people ask is will I be able to get rid of it completely, and the answer is no you will not be able to eliminate it, it will always be there, but it can be controlled. Some of the more common types of algae that you may encounter are as follows:

• Blue green algae (cyanobacteria)
• Brown algae (diatoms)
• Brown slime algae (dinoflagellates)
• Green/hair algae (chlorophyta)

If you’re not impervious to a little work then you can let plants and decorations soak in a mixture of bleach and water. You just have to make certain that all bleach is rinsed off before returning them to the tank. One way is by smelling each individual piece. If it smells of bleach then it needs more rinsing.

Another way to control algae is by adding a few snails to your tank. There are several different types of snails that will do the job effectively. One type you will find when purchasing plants at your pet store, and the store employees will gladly give them to you. These little buggers breed like rabbits though, and unless you want to see hundreds of little snails throughout your tank, even though they will eventually thin out, then I suggest you try Apple Snails. Apple snails are much larger and don’t breed anywhere near as much. But, one draw back is that they can cost a pretty penny at some stores, and if they aren’t tank raised they can bring in some pretty nasty diseases.

Another way of controlling algae is by algae eating fish. Plecostomus or just plain Plecos are one such fish. The only problem with Plecos is that most get to be quite large and if your tank is smaller than 55-gallons then I wouldn’t suggest you buy them. However, there are a couple of Pleco species that stay less than six inches in length, if you’re lucky enough to find them. Bristlenose and Clown Plecos fall into the less than six inches category. Another good algae eating fish are Oto’s. They only grow to be about an inch in length and are perfect for smaller tanks, although they feel more comfortable in groups so you may want to get about three of them to keep each other company. There are other algae eating fish, but Plecos and Otos are the best for most tanks.

Although these methods can be effective when it comes to algae, there is no substitute for finding out why you have it in the first place and correcting the problem. The more common things that cause algae in our tanks are lack of maintenance, too much light, overcrowding, and overfeeding.