Promoting algae growth

[rrkss]

On the day that someone can look into a tank, see a type of algae, test some water and then describe exactly what steps to take in order to get rid of the algae - AND - have that treatment regimen show a distinctive and measurable success rate, I will start to believe that we actually do know how to fix algae. Until that day, everything is just an attempt at a ballpark hypothesis with a hope it will prove to work. And it is just too hit and miss to get any better than that.

Actually it is rather easy to use algae to let you know what your tank needs. For example if you start to see cyanobacteria also known as BGA, you need to increase nitrates. If you see green spot algae, the culprit is low phosphates. Green water is some problem with Ammonium in the water (like a dirty substrate full of rotting material).