How To PREVENT Algae In Your Aquarium

[@KGTropicals]

We're doing a buy 1 plant get 1 plant 50% off June 22-24 2024 to celebrate Johns 50th birthday! Lisa is officially married to an old man!! keepfishkeeping.com/collections/live-aquarium-plants

[@Kia-i6g]

Happy birthday 🎉

[@mansingw]

Happy Birthday John🎉

[@gigi3242]

Happy Birthday John

[@curtiscrump7153]

Ordered and Happy Birthday my fellow 50s guy.. Remember AARP and odd tests are needed now.

[@bigeazy02]

Happy Born Day, Brotha... May u have many more to come.

[@JoshV74656]

Great video. Pro Tip: If you don't have plants add plants, KG topicals will send you beginner friendly ones that will work with most fish and setups. If you have plants and still get more algae than you are comfortable with, add more plants.

[@Jennifer-nz2ss]

Agreed! Plants help me out 💯 and they look great

[@erickborling1302]

I strongly encourage you to get some plants from your nearby natural waterways. They're already used to your PH, they're free, and frankly if there's bugs and other stuff hitchiking -- that's even better. You might even decide to get native nanofish if they are available. Or in the SE now we got tropical aquarium fish invaders... THAT YOU CAN CATCH with a small bucket even.

[@Lumpydog]

In an unplanted aquarium, controlled algae is one of the most helpful things you can have. Allow algae to grow on something in the aquarium and it will help keep it off the glass.

[@erickborling1302]

Great idea. Where I live we got invasive water hyacinth -- sometimes you can grab one, float it for a while, and it's like a sponge for excess nutrients then you can discard the hyacinth. Plus the water hyacinth will come with hitchikers, the most beneficial of which are the microscopic ones native to the plant, and fish have lots of fun poking around the unsightly roots.

[@curtiscrump7153]

Good reminder. I need to dial back how long my lights are one. With the algae crew , scrapper, and water changes this should help get it under control.

[@turtleanton6539]

Indeed🎉

[@phalbaby16]

I'm glad you presented this video. I found it out on my own. My 5 gallon biorb caused algae because of the light. I keep the light off and the algae went away. Now my biorb looks crystal clean. I just use my desktop light that doesn't cause algae.

[@PediatricsVolunteer]

This guy's been helping me on this 9 year aquarium journey. He strikes again, algae bad.

[@mitchelpinion1852]

Every situation is a little different. I am retired and I have my lights on two aquariums set to come on at 10:00 am and go off at 9:00 pm. I probably overfeed. Still I have no significant algae problem. In my case I have lots of plants (some of which were bought form you), plenty of biological filtration, snails, a bushy nosed pleco in one aquarium and lots of shrimp in the other. The aquariums are moderately stocked with community fish. I got here by adjusting things over a period of years. I also don't count on things staying the same. Future adjustments will probably be needed. In any case I enjoy your channel. Keep the information flowing.

[@HapiPETSWM]

This is a great video! I got lots of fish to take care of those heavy loads but for sure knowing that lights and over feeding is big contributor to algae is worth knowing! Especially black hair algae that grows because of too much nutrients! It could take a life time to learn that so passing it along is worth knowing easy! Loved this video! Stay happy and healthy my friends!

[@turtleanton6539]

Indeed🎉

[@jporterz2873]

My non planted 29 gallon tank had a nasty algae bloom. It wasn't on the glass and decor and gravel, but in the water. I bought a internal UV filter. One week later and it is SUPER clear! I did also use some filter floss (poly fill) and SeaChem Clarity to help.

[@mauricematla8379]

That is not solving the problem though.

[@dorianthegrey2685]

A trick I figured out to help reduce direct sunlight into my aquarium, because curtains alone wasn't cutting it, was to take a thick piece of poster paper and cut it to the same size as my aquarium before taping it to the back with some packing tape. Is it glamorous or high end? Not really, but it works and it was like $1.30 in materials. Plus no one looks at the back anyway so all anyone really sees is a clean white backdrop contrasting against my green plants and red critters (red halfmoon betta with a magenta iridescence, reddish ramshorn snails, and cherry shrimp). It also made it easier to tell how dark the water was getting from the tannin levels!

[@TruthLivesNow]

John, you mentioned Fluval, and I wanted to share my experience with Fluval. I just moved, and put up a Fluval Flex 9 in April, I also have a 15 and have not set that up yet. I only put a nice Betta and 5 Black Skirts in the Flex 9, and the algae grew like crazy the first 2 weeks. I cleaned up the tank. What I did was change the lighting from white light to yellow and sometimes orange, and the algae went away, and the plants are growing perfectly. Just interesting to me! I don't use the storm...LOL!...I don't want my fish to get epilepsy!

[@Monkey_pops_balloons]

"fish dont care abt the lights" last night I was just hanging out in my room with the aquarium late on. This was from 11pm-3am and my catfish only moved once for a few seconds. note i was sitting on my bed so it wasn't vibrations interfering. but as soon as I turned the light off and took out my phone flashlight, my catfish turned on cruise control and was steadily swimming around and looking for food. With most fish ive kept, I agree that fish don't care. but specifically bullhead catfish do seem to care a little. other catfish ive kept, don't really care too much! Overall, great video John!

[@_DROM_]

I think he meant more for 'sun baking" to get that vitamin D 😂or that they don't like those high beams blasting in their faces. But they do like the feeling the lights give of day/night, specially if they are night crawlers, like my mystery snail or your fish. My guppies couldn't care less, really, but they live in a jungle. My betta, thou, as soon as it's lights out, he gets in his cave and snores till morning (I'm assuming he does, because I'm a light sleeper and get up about 3-4x every night and there he is, passed out in the cave. First night I thought he was dead).

[@erickborling1302]

All fish are unemployed, and glad to be so. Hence they will rest whenever they're not searching for snacks or a mate.

[@lexxwhite747]

Timers are key for the lights in my opinion. We have every tank light on a timer for the benefit of our plants, and some of the tanks even have sides blacked out if they're facing a window or one of our lights for our houseplants. It's taken a while to get the routine down, but 9 tanks relatively algae-free is worth the 2 hours a week of maintenance and work.

[@plushpossum]

OMG!!! You inserted a clip from “The ‘Burbs”!!!! One of my all time favorites!!! And one of the best clips!!! 😂❤😂❤😊😊😊

[@jamiehancock9357]

I hope you've had a happy Father's Day and Birthday also! I'm right behind you 49 on the 20th 😅 thank you for all your videos with insightful and interesting content!!!

[@drewsta005]

Thank you for this video!! I needed it. My 55 is suffering with black hair and green algae! This was great!!

[@Starship007]

Maintenance like water changes help with algae control. Sump socks are easier to clean more often vs taking apart canister filters. With sump socks you can remove excess food before it starts to decompose in 2-3 days. Poor canister filter maintenance always food to decompose adding to water quality issues. Eventhough food is not in your aquarium it’s still in the same water column but in the canister filter instead.

[@Starship007]

My tanks have ALGAE SCRUBBERS in my sump. It encourages growth there vs tank. I also use UV sterilizers to keep algae out of water column. Bulk reef supply performs many objective testing of things they sell. Scrubbers work. You can also DIY or buy a fancy manufactured one. Saltwater hobbyists seem to be more on the cutting edge of fish keeping. Love all the toys to help maintain the tank. Enjoying your tanks more vs actual maintenance

[@erickborling1302]

Too much money and tech involved in your approach. Being poor I have to use natural and freely available techniques (yeah I have to hoof it down to the ditch occasionally {plants} ), and light / food control.

[@Brensters63]

Oh you are soooo right about the light!

[@corkspa]

I am fighting Algae in 2 of my tanks now. The worst one, I am convinced the cheap flake food we were using tipped the scale and caused the bloom. I have tanks in more light that have less issues.

[@zacharnold6350]

I love the way u do thing John an Lisa I've bought plants from you guys an those plants are doing the best in the tank u guy are the king an queen of the hobby I think keep up the good work an I look forward to whatever yall do next

[@erickborling1302]

Don't be afraid to experiment with seeing just how little you can feed your fish, especially if your tank has plankton. My 13 teensy nano-fish in a 5-gallon tank even eat baby bladder snails when the need to. Even so I always got a tolerable and stable amount of algae in there with no direct light or supplemental light, and feeding the fish once every 2.5 days.

[@markmurray3193]

I've got 2 Golden Plecos in a 10 gal with my handful of Golden Zebra Danios, they are big enough that the other fish won't bother them, and do an amazing job keeping the algae under control. I've had Corys and Octos, and the Danios would harrass them and make them hide, maybe it helps that the Plecos and Danios are the same colour. Planning on getting a second tank and moving one Pleco to that when they get larger and I think they should be able to maintain fine with less light, watching the food and reg maintenance.

[@noisyaquatics]

Absolutely valid points my man!! awesome video like always ❤️

[@maryglover8283]

Thank you.

[@tomaszjawskistudio]

I have 3 fish tanks and no algae at all. I have nerite snails in each tank, they are doing an amazing job, and I keep my light on from 1pm to 10 pm, thanks for your video , great info about lights

[@buddyrobocat3163]

Crazy how many times I’ve seen a post on Facebook with them asking why their algae is so bad. Someone asks how long their light is on, and they say “oh it’s always on 24hrs a day” 😩

[@erickborling1302]

It helps to have an ecosystem with plankton that you can find in mud puddles in town. SERIOUSLY!!!! I found three species of plankton by the curb. Plants, zooplankton, snails even bladder snails... makes a huge difference.

[@buddyrobocat3163]

@@erickborling1302 huh yeah I never really thought about stuff like that. I have a well planted tank with fairly deep substrate. I’d just be nervous about adding a parasite or something accidentally and it nuking my tank lol.

[@markbaumgardt2868]

Hey John I only have my light on my African tank about 4 hours when it goes on they know it's feeding time same thing with my Discus tank but that tank only has driftwood

[@AndNowThis..]

Good info. I have a 40 gallon with plants, it’s almost a year since I had it, I turn the lights on (full blast) at 7 am until 4 pm and then I turn the lights to red until 8 pm and then I turn the lights to blue until I go to bed around midnight. That’s 17 hours. I don’t have algae on anything except a few streaks of brown algae on the bottom of the glass where the substrate touches it. I don’t have green water. I don’t know if it’s because of the red and blue lights.

[@Jennifer-nz2ss]

Hey John, hummmmm I really need ALL OF THOSE CUTE,ADORABLE FROGGIES! Please send immediately!😊 oh just saw what I think are bumblebee gobies!? Send them along too!! Ok, I cannot watch anymore, I may have to get more fish. I can maybe put one in my bathtub!? Water changes would be quick I feel.😮

[@erickborling1302]

Living frogs? I just raised a few I found as tadpoles in the mud puddle. They're not relaxing as pets! They really want to be free!

[@JaymePaladino]

That's one way to do it! Nice video. ❤

[@darkstars-torpedoes-of-truth]

About a 10 on the tension scale there Rube, but seriously I have a plant 3.0 and after the initial hair algae outbreak, things have settled. I started with 75% illumination, then went down to 45 and now run 50%. Fluval has that sun up, sun down scale, so the main lighting is around 8 hours. It's just a matter of experimenting, but I understand how it can put beginners off, that's why watching videos like this is really helpful. Oh, a little hydrogen peroxide goes a long way, but I'm sure that you've mentioned this on other vids that I've missed.

[@scottgordin9709]

I put 5% window tint on the sides of all my tanks to help with sunlight, the backs are all painted black and I keep timers on all my big tanks set from 2pm to 8pm. Small tanks have no lights and I have absolutely no algae problems whatsoever

[@exhumed07]

I've never understood the concern about a little aglae. If you got water that looks like pea soup or hair algae covering everything than sure that's an issue. However a small amount on driftwood and rocks make a natural looking environment in my eyes. I've never been to a river, lake, or stream in my area that does not have algae.

[@JoshV74656]

Agreed, I don't like algae on the glass but that is easy to clean with your weekly maintenance. A little algae on rocks and plants looks natural and is helping to balance the tank water. I tend to think of "algae control" rather than "algae elimination".

[@exhumed07]

@@JoshV74656 exactly. Im experimenting with the father fish method in a 20 gallon right now with a whole food web. Algea is part of that web. I've got small amounts of green spot on some plants and a little blackbeard on the wood, however none of it is taking over and the plants are growing like crazy. Endlers and pygmy cories are thriving. It looks very natural as well. I've got a 55 with mbuna cichlids that has blackbeard on the large wood and white rocks. With the black sand it works in my opinion. But that's the great thing about this hobby. As long as the water is clean and fish are not stressed, you can do about anything you want and its not exactly wrong.

[@turtleanton6539]

Indeed

[@turtleanton6539]

​@@JoshV74656me2

[@angiebear8727]

Green hair algae is the bane of my existence. 😅

[@erickborling1302]

Shrimp, snails, reduce light, reduce food.

[@vituperation]

Same! If you ever figure it out, let me know 😅 I'm on the verge of quitting since I can't rein it in. It's growing wild and smothering my other plants. No tips about light (6hrs), food (I don't even add food to them), shrimp, or snails has helped. The only thing I haven't tried is spot treating with hydrogen peroxide or nuking it with some big box algae poison 😢

[@turtleanton6539]

Great content 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@bookmouse2719]

Planted aquariums are the best, and some critters are good at being the clean up crew.

[@jeaniesmith8679]

My tank is being taken over by what I think is called blackbeard algae. It's even growing on my live plants and on the filter. I can't seem to scrape it off the filter. I tried soaking things in bleach, but the stuff came back. What should I be doing? Would putting the fish in a new tank spread the algae there too?

[@gajananwasudevphadke2960]

Nice information

[@curtisbelcher5078]

Me and my wife received our planner we ordered from you and your wife and my wife kept your signature and it was kinda small and my postal worker left it in the bed of my truck

[@MrKutKuGaruga96]

Thanks I really appreciate this I'm already having a problem with different types of algae, I have a few plants species on my aquarium, I already lowered light intensity, it fixed it a little but now I think my main problem could be excessive food or maybe the goldfish are too dirty and I need to clean my tank more often

[@lruddy8820]

im having an issue with hair algae in one of my tanks but its because my val is so think and long it has greatly reduced the flow of water on that side of the tank and thats where im getting all the hair algae

[@englishtime5327]

Great video, but you could have mentioned an algae clean-up crew. Maybe another video.

[@cammiluna]

I have a planted tank in a small apartment that gets lots of sunshine through the windows. I work from home so the window's open most of the day. is the sun good enough for the plants or would I still need to keep a lamp on for 6-8 hours? As of the past several months, the algae has been coating the live plants! also, i maintain the tank once weekly because i have a big fish.

[@Billssock]

What would you say is the recommended intensity of light in a planted tank? Will the plants be okay with the lights a little dimmer? that's what I've always wondered.

[@aditarnita3853]

Salutare din România

[@TheWinger1008]

Wow how timely is this video? I was on the brink of completely shutting down my tank and giving it away. I love fish keeping but damn it's frustrating. According to this video I'm providing wayyyyyy to much light and food. Guess I'll give it a bit longer to see if I can get things under control. Great video.

[@peterwentworth9181]

I have a few snails in my aquarium. They work hard at eating algee and keeping the aquarium clear. 🐌🐌🐌

[@xFunkEx]

With a planted tank that I’m not comfortable vacuuming is it okay to just use my scraper to stir up the substrate and get the waste into the water column and let my filter do the rest? I’m having a bad algae problem and I have 2 snails but my danios don’t let shrimp live more than a few days so cleanup crew is minimal.

[@Elizabethwaiting]

My philosophy If you tank is perfect for algae, it’s perfect for more plants. Put more plants in the tank, algae will take a back seat. Just follow your tanks lead and add more plants.

[@LembergTB]

I just got a UV light that goes on top of my FX4 filter. My lights are on the whole day, and thankfully, I have no algae. I don't know if it's the UV light doing the trick or something else.

[@mariebeckett3751]

@KGTropicals I have an Albino Oscar that I’ve had going on 2 years and out of nowhere, algae started to grow on him about 2 months ago! I do a 25% water change every 2 weeks and a complete clean every 4 weeks. He doesn’t eat much so I don’t have a nutrient issue and I don’t turn the light on at all. The only thing is my aquarium sits to the side of my living window but there’s no direct sun coming in through it. What could cause the algae to grow on him after having him all this time and it just started? I’ve had other Oscars but never had this issue.

[@neilt1524]

I've always wondered what KG is in KGTropicals. Does Kevin Garnett own this channel?

[@kim-is9tq]

Enjoying all of your videos. Thank you. Question. I have a 30 gallon tank, and a pleco.. I would like to have an Oscar and an Angel fish.. Can all 3 live together in peace? Thanks for any and all advice you're willing to give!

[@stewartfooter3580]

Love the clip from the burbs 😂

[@gigi3242]

Black Beard Algae: Anyone have answers for that? Other than removing the fish and burying the entire tank far, far out in the backyard? Picked it up a couple of years ago on a plant I bought (Not from John and Lisa), and have been fighting it ever since. It is "under control", meaning my entire tank is not covered in it, but, I have to remove decorations and bleach them, and remove plants that become infected with it, and replace them. It is horrid, and I'd really like it completely gone. Has anyone beaten it? Please tell me your secret. My lighting is on a timer, I don't overfeed my fishies, I water change/do maintenance once a week. And, every day I stare into my tank, looking for the signs, because I know it's in there, waiting to attack. Thanks all. Have an awesome week.

[@qweed54]

The internet says that seachem flourish excel gets rid of it but I’ve been battling it with that for months now lol let me know if you find anything

[@DeeGee-mv6eq]

Hydrogen peroxide…. 3%… worked like a charm for me!

[@gigi3242]

@@DeeGee-mv6eq Directly into the tank with the lights off? How much per a twenty gallon tank? One application? or multiple times? How often? Sorry for so many questions, but if it actually works, Awesome! I found that answer on yt somewhere, and tried it, and the BB just laughed at me. Thinking I must not have had the dosage correct. Thank you for your response.

[@JoshV74656]

If you get it under control try adding some True Siamese algae eaters if your stocking list allows. Or a handful of Amano shrimp if you don't have things that will eat them.

[@JoshV74656]

@@gigi3242 Buce plants has a pretty good article on BBA that may help you, they talk about the hydrogen peroxide and how to apply it. Also stocking options. Give it a google.

[@Starship007]

There are many cleanup crews to help with Algae like snails, catfish and other bottom dwellers. They need food and poop also. An aquarium ecosystem needs a balance. Too much light, too much food, too many fish, aquarium location, poor maintenance, etc., all are fighting to cause climate change in your aquarium. If your tank more on the warm side during the summer that encourages algae. Might consider an aquarium chiller to help the ecosystem fight in your glass box. Remember no matter how many water changes, your tank is more polluted than what occurs in nature.

[@Sec_coach]

Algae is hard since it can come in different forms Even Cyanobacteria can be mistaken for algae That stuff is hard to eliminate

[@bigeazy02]

@KGTropicals Love ur knowledge, brother. ??Q: Just bought 3 African Cichlids (maybe Mbuna). 2 of the 3 move fast, eat well and swim well but the 3rd doesn't eat and sits under the filter. Bought three days ago. I feel itz in shock frm the pet store trip. Any ideas/ suggestions??

[@kevinfallick7690]

Any algae eating fish in my tank die. Siamese, Mollys, Panda Garra. Longest one to survive was about a month(Siamese). I have a lot of algae. Tank is near a glass door. Basic Test kit shows everything is in proper limits. Any suggestions?

[@kevinfallick7690]

Also golden algae eaters

[@Yourowner]

Like ive always heard Keep it simple

[@nathanwolber4503]

Brown, green, and hairy 😊

[@kallunsheppard2378]

Hey Algorithm! You didn't put this in my feed and I wanted it. Put that in your cyber pipe and smoke it. Seriously great video as usual I just had to hunt for it this week.

[@janetgritter5642]

You are awesome and I love you😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@lolavanenburg1647]

Can they see the pellet food I feed them😂daft question, but I’m serious.

[@gregorynull5630]

I feed my aquarium with light, my Oto's, endlers snails & cherry shrimp need algae, an aquarium without algae don't look natural, I have many low light plants mostly guppy grass, & java moss for my breeding endlers, & cherry shrimp babies to hide in until they get some size to them, I only clean the front glass on my aquarium so the rest of life in my aquarium can graze on the sides & back, It is a natural tank with only an under gravel filter & negatively charged kitty litter which completes the nitrogen cycle, & gasses off my nitrates into nitrogen gas, Every time I test my water I have 0/ ammonia 0/nitrates & 0/ nitrates, I do weekly water changes because of evaporation, so I keep my aquarium in balance, I do 6 hours of light a day, to keep the beard, & hair, algae in check, and pull out any hair algae when I do a water change, but there isn't much, I can move my light hours up or down depending on the season & the amount of ambient light there is available, summer takes less artificial light, & winter more. All in all, your advice is good for someone who wants a pristine tank, but a pristine tank is not what I am after, I try to mimic the look of small ponds & creeks, & add a lot of botanicals leaves, driftwood, seedpods to get a good layer of biofilm, which is the material shrimp need to produce healthy shells, but I started off wanting a pristine tank, but it looks artificial to me now.

[@AlinefromToulouse]

Everybody always talk about nitrate, but what about phosphate. In my tank there's always 0 nitrates in the water column, but way too much green hair algae.

[@Smokeybluetheraccoon]

Is algae bad for fish or plants or does it just look bad?

[@CrystalmarieGrz]

I would never use chemicals to kill algae not only because I have planted tanks but my fear is killing a bunch of algae at once and causing an ammonia spike. Is that fear completely unrealistic in a planted tank? Idk but I’m also not finding out. Also I miss Lisa.

[@putty8023]

9:10 What are those red fish???? 😮😮😮

[@sandanista2002]

4:27 Goodness me. What are those?

[@your_humble_investor]

You did not tell us what is algae and where it comes from? Poof, Algae appears like magic. I want to know the root cause???

[@quansingleton9097]

Yea I had got the pineapple 😂😂😂😂

[@zanaso4021]

if youre not first youre last

[@ilikeitblack]

First

[@lisaalison46]

Last

[@Feesh195]

Am i the only one who likes algae

[@wkunique]

aquarium behind your back? . so you are wrong. I have a natural Tanganyika aquarium, where I have strong lighting, a small number of plants and huge areas of green algae. it is thanks to this strong lighting for 16 hours, they take nutrients from the water turning them into food for the fish. the aquarium balances itself and not to the level of NO3, where you need to change the water, I do not change the water at all, and the aquarium looks like an African Aquarium and not like an artificial creation

[@MerkDolf]

👁 👍 😅 👌

[@vhwft]

Plenty of algae like low to no light conditions. Slightly misleading about the lights.

[@Webzcraft]

Algae is an important part if a closed ecosystem.. 😅😅 these people talk about climate changes 🙄

[@DirkDeadeye_]

If you can grow algae you can grow plants.

[@Sec_coach]

No Plants aren’t even aquatic they are adapted to be living in the water Algae on the other hand it’s much simpler life form and they are fully aquatic their requirements for living are much lower Plants often need dosing and co2 the algae need no supplementation

[@capndelirious]

Everyone who makes vidoes about getting rid of algae already have algae problem themselves to start with.