Find here the essentials and best sellers for our pond owners.
Find here the essentials and best sellers for our pond owners.
Are you looking for an effective way to rid your aquarium of black algae ? How to eliminate black algae (cyano) in an aquarium? Resistant and aggressive, these particular algae are however not impossible to eliminate. Let's see together the different ways to avoid or get rid of black algae.
Basically, the presence of algae in an environment like an aquarium is an entirely natural phenomenon. Also known as blue-green algae , they tend to disappear after a few weeks following the installation of the aquarium ( nitrogen cycle ).
It is important to regularly analyze the water in your aquarium, and we have a small guide to discover here on water analysis in aquariums . Below is a case that we recommend in most cases to all our aquarium owners.
It already allows you to identify the water quality and act accordingly to slow down the development of algae in an aquarium. You can also add aquarium bacteria that will accelerate the development of the nitrogen cycle.
These bacteria will help reduce the level of organic matter that promotes the development of algae in an aquarium. We of course recommend that you carry out a small water analysis.
When black algae proliferate, it means that your installation has a problem (deficiency, excess of nutrients, overpopulation, ...) We can easily identify the problem by carrying out an appropriate water analysis + addition of aquarium bacteria . Also remember to provide an aquarium filter adapted to your water volume and properly cleaned.
Indeed, black algae are more harmful, even more ferocious for plants and fish. They make aquarium maintenance more difficult, and can end up establishing themselves completely and becoming completely invasive.
You may also be interested in: How to remove algae from an aquarium
In short, black algae are what are called cyanobacteria orCyanobacteria . They are therefore molecular organisms, which develop in an aquatic environment.
" These cyanos can grow almost anywhere, in fresh water, sea water. They are photosynthetic species, creating energy in the form of carbohydrates from the energy of the sun."
They contain chlorophyll, which gives them their blue/green appearance. These types of algae can also be composed of other water-soluble pigments: these become black when mixed with the blue/green color.
In practice, filamentous black algae do not just invade the scenery. They also take root in the leaves of aquatic plants, which they eventually destroy.
Here are some products that work very well to limit algae:
The growth of these algae indicates that the aquarium ecosystem is out of balance. Unlike green species which are less harmful, you will have to be quite reactive with black algae. Indeed, you must quickly eradicate them at the risk of seeing your tank destroyed.
Black algae can be found in many types of aquariums, even those designed for aquascaping . Black algae generally appear in aquariums with a large number of fish, with or without plants. To complicate things a bit, black algae come in several shades of color: sometimes, this makes identifying them a bit more difficult.
Inside the aquarium, black algae can take various forms. Thus, we will sometimes find filamentous black algae and, other times, brush-shaped black algae. These invasive plants also take the appearance of fairly slimy blackish dots on surfaces, walls or even gravel.
Black algae are so resilient because they have an outer covering that protects their cells. They are also called penicillate algae or beard algae, because the clumps resemble a beard or brush.
You may also be interested in: our selection of oxygenating plants to keep a balanced pond .
In an aquarium, the appearance and proliferation of black algae can be caused by different reasons. Below, we have listed different parameters that could promote the development of these algae, as well as the corresponding solutions.
A worrying proliferation of black algae can be explained by a large organic contamination of the water. Generally, this contamination is caused by overfeeding and a lack of regularity in changing the water. In other words, the risks of invasion increase if your water is not renewed frequently. This is also the case if the tank is not well maintained.
An alkaline pH above 7.5 and a high carbonate hardness above 13°KH or 25°THCa strongly promote their development. In this case, the more dirt your aquarium accumulates, the more nitrate forms and the greater the risk of an invasion of black algae. You can therefore just clean the residues stuck to the substrates using a suitable cleaner (siphon).
In other cases, the growth of black algae in aquariums is caused by the lack of a CO2 system . However, this is very beneficial for a good balance. This lack of carbon dioxide allows the algae to take all the carbon necessary for their survival and more quickly than slow-growing plants.
They are also able to dissociate carbon from the hydrogen carbonate ion which will increase the pH considerably. This is a whole process that helps the algae to strengthen their cell walls, making them more resistant.
An aquarium with water that is not very soft will irreversibly attract black algae. You can therefore check the condition of your water using the JBL drop tests, KH and GH. Both tests are equally important: they have the same qualities for accurately determining the condition of your water.
Depending on your preferences and context, there are several ways to get rid of black algae. Before it gets to that point, it is even possible to prevent their appearance by adopting regular maintenance habits. That said, you can opt for anti-algae treatments or choose to eradicate them naturally.
Here are some products that work very well to limit algae:
Algae proliferation also depends on your feeding habits for the aquarium inhabitants. If you are used to using liquid fertilizer, you should stop temporarily or reduce the dose significantly. It is also important to avoid overfeeding by reducing the amount of food.
It is important to carry out regular and thorough cleaning of your aquarium system. This maintenance work takes into account the weekly water change, to avoid the accumulation of dirt.
It is also necessary to include cleaning the substrates and filtrations, brushing the decor, as well as cleaning the windows. Of course, the bottom of the device must be cleaned using a siphon. Be sure to remove all the leaves that have served as prey for the algae.
Some of our customers have managed to eliminate cyanobacteria by completely plunging the aquarium into darkness for 4 to 5 days. This helps to stop the growth of photosynthetic algae. There are natural solutions such as adding herbivorous fish or snails that will help limit the progression of bacteria.
We recommend the preventive and curative use of aquarium bacteria. The most powerful are the bactocool bacteria developed by the University of Ghent . These bacteria will help limit the development of algae in the aquarium.
In the case of an invasion by black algae, it is recommended to use treatments based on hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) or glutaraldehyde . However, only use this treatment when natural solutions do not work, therefore as a last resort.
Effective solutions to limit algae in aquariums:
The dose used should be as high as low (3%) to avoid harming your plants and animals. After this treatment, it is possible that some plants may temporarily change color. They should normally gradually return to their natural appearance, since this is a completely normal phenomenon.
The only freshwater aquarium fish that can eat black algae is the crossocheilus oblongus . However, it is large, which does not necessarily make it easy to place it in all aquariums. It can only fit in a 200 liter tank, or even larger!
There are also Amano shrimps, which play a great role in eliminating this type of algae. However, make sure that the calcium concentration does not exceed the average, otherwise even these animals will not be able to do anything about it.
All aquariums contain algae, although not all of it is visible. But when these pests grow to the point of impacting the well-being of your plants and animals, you need to get rid of them.
One of the most effective solutions is the use of bacteria that will compete with cyano and black and blue algae. These bacteria will compete with the algae.
One of the safest ways is prevention. The more you adopt the right behaviors from the beginning, the more you will protect your tank. But black algae are difficult to eliminate; so, you can use chemical treatments to remove them. It is also possible that the algae will not disappear completely after the process, but at least, you would have succeeded in slowing down its growth.
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