Anyone think Algae-eradicating chemicals are a good idea?

[Leopardess]

After a conversation with another member at a different forum...I'm curious.

I suggest that when someone has an algae problem, that they try to figure out WHY they are having it to begin with. I said its all about balance. Told him it may be too many phosphates, iron levels are too high, nitrates too high, too much light, direct sun light, etc. I said that it is best to avoid chemicals whenever possible. Partly because they don't belong in a fish tank, and partly because they are more like a bandaid for the problem. If something is out of balance, the algae will probably just return. And who wants to always be spending money on products they don't need? Sure, if you've tried everything else, use them. But don't you guys think that you should try to isolate the source of the problem instead??

I was told that I wasn't offering any help and that I wasn't being realistic - and that water changes won't help anything at all ( like lowering levels of nitrates, silicates, phosphates, etc).

I'm looking for responses so that I can possibly share this thread with the person.

Do you automatically jump to chemical "cures" or attempt to use other means first?

 

[valerie]

I would never recommend adding algae killing chemicals to your tank, even if you think the problem is out of control.

I agree with you that if you dont' find the reason you are getting algae that it will jsut come back. I would suggest finding the reason(be it high nitrates,iron,phosphates,lighting ect.) correct it then manually remove the algae.Either by scrubbing decorations,bleaching, scrapping the glass.

I have gone through many algae outbreaks(especially BBA) and have always been able to get it under control by cleaning it off and keeping up with water changes.

 

[daveedka]

I am in full agreement with comments made so far. Under no circumstances would I add chemicals to clear up Algea. This is absolutely a band aid and not a cure. Some algea is always present in a healthy tank, but excessive algea is the sign of a problem. As was said already the problem needs to be found and corrected, not hidden temporarily. A full blown green water bloom can usually be eradicated by blocking out the light for a few days or filtering with a very fine cartridge, or a diatom filter. but if the source of the problem isn't found it will just come right back when the lights are turned on. Water changes will not help an algea bloom, but will help decrease the water situation that led up to it. chemicals will kill the algea temporarily but will also require a lot of water changes because the dead/decomposing algea will lead to repeats. If this person is dealing with a full blown green water situation, I would reccomend daily water changes and keeping the tank in total darkness untill the water clears up water changes without blocking the light will not help as the algea will continue to bloom and grow. Then I would do significant testing and bring the nutrient levels back into control. I'm not an expert, but fought my share of algea wars when I first started out. The only way to win is to control your water parrameters, and remove the situation that allowed the algea to take control in the first place.

 

[Leopardess]

Thank you both. That's exactly what I was thinking

Anyone else got something to share?

 

[Bustedthumb]

I agree with all the answers so far. Finding the source of the problem(s) is really the only logical thing to do. Anything else is a 'bandaid'. Personally, I try to keep enough algea eating fish and bottom feeders in all tanks...just to help keep things clean. Like someone already said...it's a balance. I have found my bamboo shrimp to be worth his weight in gold. Not so much for algea, but for the filter feeding aspect. In some tanks it's hard to keep algea eaters from becoming prey. But some issues with algea is from too much light. So cut that down first. Once the lights go out, the 'cleaning crew' gets busy while the predators are catching some Z's. As long as there is sufficient hiding places for the wee ones (oto's and the like) I don't have problems.

 

[OrionGirl]

Yep, I agree, and that's the philoshophy shared by most people here. There are a lot of people who want instant 'fixes', even if they are only temporary, and way too many LFS happy to provide people with a long and expensive list of curatives. I like the KISS strategy--Keep It Simple, Stupid!. Unfortunately, simple isn't often the easy route, and many people don't want to solution that increases their work. I won't fight with someone who advocates lots of chemicals, and IMO, your best response to their attacks is a simple "YMMV".

 

[Locust]

I think people have a fairly schizophrenic view of chemical usage. After all, CO2 and plant fertilizers are both added chemicals and they're right after WPG on the list of recommendations for a planted aquarium. Add to that meds, water conditioners, stress coats, cycling products, specialty substrates, and everything else that goes in your aquarium that isn't entirely inert and any prohibitions on the grounds of something being a 'chemical' sounds rather arbitrary.

That said, I agree with you on algae fixes. IMHO, algae fixes aren't a poor choice because they're chemicals but rather because they are generally less effective then the other alternatives.

 

[JesseJ]

I don't really have much to add to this other then the fact that I've tried a lot of different ways to clear algae and I found that the chemical solutions don't usually work. The only permanent solution I've found is to add live plants and outcompete the algae for nutrients.

 

[Leopardess]

Thanks guys. Looking for some more replies too

 

[DEmigh]

I share the general abhorence of "chemical" solutions, but make a distinction between chemicals that are outright toxic (i.e. algicides) and chemicals that create a clumping effect. There are some water clearing additives on the market that are more mechanical than chemical in their effect. These chemicals promote aggregation of small particles into larger groups that can be more effectively removed by a filter. I always follow treatment with these agents by a large water change and a filter media scrubbing/replacement.

My personal experience with green water blooms is that, while they are unsightly, the fish don't seem stressed at all. I counsel patience.

Hope this helps...