Top 5 Tips for Beating ALGAE in Your Fish Tank!

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‎ Here I break it down in 5 easy steps on how to win the war on algae in your fish tank.
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On the Aquarium Co-Op aquarium channel we focus on freshwater fish, tropical fish, aquatic plants and in general all freshwater aquariums. Our goal is to help take your pet fish and graduate you to an aquarium hobbyist. Aquarium fish in general we find are a great way to learn about ecosystems. Your fish aquarium will reconnect you with nature. If you'd like to take it to the next level, subscribe to aquariumcoop and check out our weekly videos.
Cory is employed by Aquarium Co-Op LLC. He also owns Aquarium Co-Op LLC. Therefore technically all content is sponsored by Aquarium Co-Op
0:00 - Intro
0:17 - Test your water
1:16 - Add a clean up crew to your aquarium
2:00 - Improve your flow
3:11 - Tune your lighting
4:58 - Grow some plants
#Algae #Fishtank #Aquarium

[@AquariumCoop]

Here is the video series I made for Plants 101. Covers fertilizers, algaes, co2, deficiences etc. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5zWeKyFbL6Vq6M

[@chasesantos2920]

I need your help Cory!!! I need to identify a Cichlid I have

[@corrosive72]

whats a good algae eating snail??

[@charleslittle458]

Out compete it? Slash make it grow somewhere else intentionally ? Always a viable option in my opinion.

[@PhilMargolies]

@@chasesantos2920 Post a pic on the fb group facebook.com/groups/AquariumGroupSupport/

[@sinverrette9803]

Does a black glass aquarium reduce algae. Mt tank is literally by the window with no choice. My algae is black..my levels are always great..

[@littlebuddy4321]

My main goal in life is to impress Amazon employees with my fish tank

[@JC-vi7gg]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@allanhanan]

Noise

[@munterboy9298]

Whenever I see a nice tank I always check it out then tell the owner. "yo nice tank".

[@jigokutsuushin]

I have a (non-planted) tank with a couple of full grown bichirs in there and a delivery man went: omg is that a crocodile? 😂 He must've seen them surface to breathe air haha

[@pheonix4252]

🤣 🤣 🤣

[@daniellem1978]

I friggin LOVE your channel! Since I've started looking into getting myself a tropical fish tank, I've watched so many of your videos and you have so much helpful information AND you explain things in such a way that it's easy to understand. Thank you SO much! xx

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

Great info. Thanks for all that you do Aquarium Co-op!

[@TwinkieMayne]

i literally asked you about my brown diatom issue the other day and now you make this vid. i love you more and more everyday!

[@rjriz1758]

Cory seems to be back in the groove. I appreciate the video!

[@monsterfishkeeper82]

They are hard working fishes

[@OMCbuilt]

Old video but Cory is known to groove.

[@byronvollman6805]

LOL I was just talking to a coworker this morning about this. Thank you Co-op ! 😀👍

[@lordlard2833]

This is exactly what I needed today. Thanks!

[@bbq9469]

Thanks was the light for me. First time having a light with a real tank. Very helpful 👍.

[@DougForne]

Rocking it again thanks , just ordered some more plants from you today. 🍀🍀🙏😎🥇🥇🥇🥇👍

[@mariaz9538]

Thank you for the great tips and really thank you for all you do for the hobby 💕👍

[@LindaLights]

Thank you so much for your great information. Very helpful for my 10 gallon tank!

[@sparky81181]

I've got black beard algea growing at the top of my tank on the wood. I thought about getting rid of it but it catches debris and my platty fry can grab a little snack every once in a while.

[@shubunkin.goldfishtank]

Awesome video! thanks for the tips!

[@jvaquatics8957]

First! And I’ve been looking for this video for a while. My tanks have a bunch of algae. Working on fixing the problem. Thanks for the info!👍🏻

[@BigDsmoke]

Great info & video thanks!! I been trying some different plants in different tanks & substrates etc & just waiting for a couple plants to come back in yo place my next order.

[@fanaticatheist]

BIG FAN - Learning a lot ! *THANK YOU*

[@MrSpamfriedrice]

Hey Cory I just got my water sprites super fast. Thank you!

[@timrussell89]

Another great video, thanks for the content

[@shanes.5392]

Good info. I didn’t know about the blue light, but I have two Bristlenose that need some algae in my 75. Thanks again!

[@oliverince342]

Thankyou, I will try this😁

[@gillart99]

Thanks! I got a new bright LED light for my 125G and have been battling algae ever since. I had never battled it before with my older lights. I’ll cut the hours significantly via timers to see if that helps.

[@chococan83]

Wow so informative you're like our corydoras cleaning up our bits and pieces problems 😉 .. thanks a ton 😁

[@mikeamann5548]

thanks for the videos, your my new pastime. im a oldtimer who recently got back into the hobby. i forgot about this hobby being a bottomless pitt$$$$ thanks for helping with that cory and crew Hartford, Wisconsin

[@vinniejudilla3921]

Great tips Cory👍👍👍

[@ohrats731]

I always have a thin dusting of algae on my plants and the glass 🤷‍♀️ I really wanted to upgrade to the fluval plant 3.0 light but this week has been full of vet bills, and it’s only Tuesday.... suddenly the light on my tank doesn’t seem so important lol

[@alis49281]

And what if a thin layer of biofilm and algae is normal...? Look at any water in nature....

[@rawegg8880]

@@alis49281 It's not normal in a tank

[@alis49281]

@@rawegg8880 if there is nothing in the tank that eats biofilm, such as snail, then it is absolutely normal that stones and older plant leaves are covered with it. Any river stream and even the cleanest lakes have a biofilm.

[@sshep86]

@ Raw Egg It really is. I have yet to see any bodies tank with zero algae. Its a single celled and extremely simple plant that will grow in the most hostile and ideal environments. I mean unless you only keep bleach in your fish tank, you will have some level and some type of algae.

[@KGcichlids]

Snails, I’ll tell you Hwhat. Cory 2019

[@TRUENLIVING7]

You just solved all my problems thanks 💯

[@amandawitherspoon3988]

I made the mistake of using API algae treatment. It said that it was safe to use with fish in the tank. I was very careful to measure the right amount. It killed 5 of my cory catfish.

[@CombustingFrog]

Oh no I just put in some

[@sunnycal2293]

Great information.

[@RogueAquariums]

Well done video Cory 👍

[@beastly_brisket_man6249]

You’re awesome. Thank you.

[@kerrypitt9789]

Hey Cory. My growing fishroom has a double edged sword that is working pretty well, though it is a bit of a hmmmm I want to say crap shoot but I am getting it figured out. My room is a subterranean basement. It is totally finished, but no natural light. So I bought plants that were "easy," or did not need the sun in the same room. So I almost aspire to have Algea, just so I know I have enough light. Bentley Pascoe has been helpful and do far my plants are growing well, with no Algea!! I put one of those tabs on the glass and my Mystery snails do Mach 3 to get there. Hoping I can keep this balance. As usual thanks Cory.

[@Bearskimethod]

Light intensity adjustment and placos work for me,. Flow in major I may need to increase the flow in some areas in my piranha tank.. 🤔

[@marianne3024]

Thank you for talking about the blue lights at night I have purple moonlight LEDs because my fish just had their fry hatch and I was helping them “see” what they were doing because it’s their first clutch. Tank is also a month old so I guess two things kind of added to the algae bloom on the glass. Also the tank is in a sunny room but not in indirect light so I’m assuming it’s getting some UV bouncing off the carpet into the tank.

[@kellysuzanne976]

I use to keep snails and they never did much for my algae problem. Otto's though destroyed all the brown in my tank.

[@Sathish_12]

He is spot on regarding the amazon and neighbours

[@scapesessions9069]

Great tips for handling algae

[@psychoseth7928]

Love the vids

[@WiglyWorm]

I have snails and live plants and amano and cherry shrimp, but still algae on my glass... I have a fluval aquasky that I've been keeping on blue all night. I'll change that habit tonight and see if it has any effect. Thanks!

[@polybotes927]

Got a new tank, and made the mistake of adding fish too early (all of my fish have survived and seem happy so i feel accomplished) so after battling ammonia and changung water every day, sometimes 2x a day, it finally stabalized. Not ling after tho i started getting alot of algea lol a bunch of little 2 inch fish takes more maintenance then a dog or cat

[@melchbox6571]

What do you recommend as far as liquid fertilizer and liquid CO2? I use both as recommended on the bottles but not sure if I should be adjusting to compensate for the algae/plant ratio.

[@t.c.baquariumfish3423]

Like ure channel keep up the good work 😎👍👊

[@thalla-mariechoxi9074]

Big algae problem in my tank so helpful

[@Erdemm]

ALMOST 300K SUBS CORY ❤️

[@GrowYourHomesteadWithAngie]

Ha too much light! I have a tank that’s part of a indoor garden system and my entire dining room is the sun on 10 with so many other indoor gardens 😂 I wish it was big enough for all this other fun stuff. Never thought I would want to have fish :) this little tank got me hooked!

[@Ressurrectinn]

Nearly 300k subs Cory! Wish I could sub twice your content is so helpful!

[@sawyergrove8081]

Yes

[@leo2o915]

Just ordered my fluval 3.0 from you guys what’s the best setting for it ? And you think a Siamese algae eater be safe with shrimp and guppies and Corydoras and a few snails ?

[@worddunlap]

I like some types of algae and grow them intentionally. That said you don't always get what you want but at times you get what you need. I couldn't keep Otocinclus without it.

[@Danielle-zv2so]

Thanks🙇🏻‍♂️🙇🏻‍♂️🙇🏻‍♂️

[@thumperboyad1031]

I have two 55 gallon tanks, different brands, same lighting, same filter and filter media, same brand of decor etc. The one in our living room which is exposed to more light has very little algae. The one in my man cave however which has no windows and sees less light is just coated in algae. I don't get it, it grows so incredibly fast and they are both the exact same right down to the substrate except for the tank itself. Is it possible that the tank could be promoting algae growth? I've never heard of such a thing myself but I am stumped.

[@eileenbowers6750]

Hi! I'm dealing with brown diatoms in my single betta tank , with bubbler , filter, and heater plus led light.

[@gwendolynamy7462]

Hey so ive got a 20 gallon tall, and i have 3 mollies, 3 white clouds, a bristlenose pleco, and a pea puffer. Im kinda itching to add something new. Is there anything I can add? Any advice is nice.

[@brandyswett5245]

Hey Cory! Great video! 2 questions..1) I have algea on my plants in my 75g. I have cut back my lights a few weeks ago ..now about 12 hours. I will cut back to 10. I have the fluval 3.0 I got from you. Love it. Do you have a recommendation for what to set each Spectrum for? I have snails, Otis, plecos, and guppies and swords and rams and cory cats in this tank. 2) Isn't some algea a good thing? Just as long as your glass isn't covered on 4 sides and your water green? When I look at a tank if I see some algea I don't think it's always bad....but should I?

[@AquariumCoop]

I like to see very minimal amounts of algae. As for spectrum of plants, I'd eliminate the blue. The rest you can tune to what you like to look at.

[@fredvandop8736]

Great talk, can u speak about wasting disease, do I need to take down the tank

[@SoTypicallyMeh]

Hey, Cory. Can you do a video on how to tell if something will be safe long-term (for fish, inverts, and plants) in a tank? Like, if I have a toy or something that's not specifically made to be aquarium décor, how do I know it won't leach anything into the water? Or are there things a home aquarist can do to make them safe?

[@AquariumCoop]

Pretty much only trial and error.

[@bradnasarzewski932]

I have 2 aqua clear filters one on each side of my aquarium. Plus my sponge filter and an air stone so I have plenty for flow. My lighting is not adjustable but it is an LED that sits on top. I can’t really do plants because it’s an African cichlid tank. But you mentioned snails. I’m thinking they may turn into fish food or maybe not. What is your suggestion? I am using algefix from API at the moment

[@averyshawn6453]

Almost to 300k!!!!! 🎉

[@meghan6552]

Love your videos. My African clawed frogs are so dirty. I am battling algae after allowing too much indoor and natural light while away. Will they eat snails?

[@mellewedin8221]

It seems to just be improving my algae issue. I didn't have a issue till I bought plants from local pet store.

[@Delaro83]

Hello there! I really like your videos and it’s helpful too. In this case I’m would like to ask you to recommend to me some “cleaning crew” to my tank please. I must mention that I’ve a turtle as well. 30 gallon tank and unfortunately algae started to growing madly. Many thanks in advance

[@ThePondLife]

Very popular question. 😁❤ Keep the great content coming! You inspire me to keep my content going.

[@martha06]

Thank you I had an algae fish thing but it died to day (from old age) and he wasn’t doing a great job as he got older so my algae started to take over

[@crazyinkjets7005]

Do you clean your fuge macro algae? buying macroalgae from ebay for example Pom Pom, i got a make sure it doesn't have any type of diseases, any feedback how i can treat that planet should i coral dip it or?

[@Deadtree111]

man do I love seeing a video with no dislikes an a solid number of likes. You are so good not even the trolls can touch you. Love your vids bruv

[@NoName-it4uu]

Someone just have to disappoint you..Lol

[@msw4988]

Great

[@nathanbu543]

Time for 10 ten ways to get algae

[@joshwilson5375]

If you know how to get algae then you know to reduce it

[@anthonyragan2696]

Do you have a video specific to black brush algae?

[@beauburkhalter6602]

I wish you, Cory, would have done an unboxing of the fish you got from Peru! Or am I saying this too soon?

[@Lflower1Stars]

Know what you mean about tank having algae....I finally got plants that are growing without CO2 ...so I guess my tank is somewhat balance...which is hard to achieve....thanks for your vid...love them.

[@kiddovr3147]

I too have plants growing without using a CO2 Defuser. I have good circulating Oxygen and filtration, and I run an air stone that's all. and of course lighting.

[@giosasuman702]

I change the lighting hours from 12 to 8 hours and white algea started growing. I would gravel vac and placed my HOB on the side versus in the mid, to have a better water flow. The next day more white looking algea are on my plants and substrate. Please help

[@ioannisgeorgiou4347]

Where do you get those amazing stofft aquarium fish??

[@monsterfishkeeper82]

Cory fishes are the hard working fishes and is good to have in the aquarium

[@carlossalinas6234]

Are there certain color spectrums and intensities that attract algae? What ranges should I have green, red, and white light and what intensities that will be good for plants, but won’t promote algae growth?

[@varanidguy]

I seem to have cycled through a bunch of different kinds of algae. As soon as I fix one kind, another pops up. Right now it's a green soft algae, I believe green dust. Most accounts of it talk about it growin gon the glass, but this stuff is actually growing more on the plants than the glass, and it doesn't just wipe off as easily off plant leaves as it does glass. I'm almost ready to do a blackout...

[@supersixone7414]

I just started my 2nd tank using soil capped with Eco Complete. I wanted a capped substrate that wasn't going to raise my PH. On the petco ad it said it "will not raise PH", but when you get the bags it says may raise PH, a big WTF there. I have a 40gal breeder, 2 beamworks 6500k lights the one with the white and blue running on 6 hours for now with co2 and I am getting a lot of this dark green almost brown hair algae, I have a penn plex cascade 700 and a small aquaclear for extra filtration...I manually remove it and do big water changes and it grows back...............what am I doing wrong..............my bet is I messed up using soil and eco complete together

[@JulianGarcia-ez8rd]

Hello aquarium co-OP I was wondering I'm gonna set up a 16 gallon fluval flex I wanna see Carib Sea Eco Complete Planted Black Aquarium Substrate is it safe for bumblebee gobies and corydoras please help me

[@johnny1upz]

This is litterally what i needed... lets hope the tips work...

[@johnny1upz]

Question... if i dont have a top on my tank will the snails... try too leave??? or will the stay in the water without problems?

[@MadCheshireHat]

@@johnny1upz my two nerite snails escaped... Fortunately I was able to find them before they died, not sure how long they were out. One got pretty far before curling back into its shell; found it on the shelf below the tank! That one had been out for many hours at least.

[@johnny1upz]

@@MadCheshireHat ohh i hope if i get a few for my 125G they dont

[@jonathaniriqui]

johnny1upz they usually only try to leave when the water quality is bad

[@MadCheshireHat]

@@jonathaniriqui well, that wasn't my case. I've read about a lot of people having escaped snails as well, but I don't know their particulars.

[@jacobfawley3336]

I can't say that I agree with "plants can't see" blue light. Blue light is what chlorophyll 'a' absorbs. Chlorophyll 'a' is the primary chlorophyll found in plants. It is also in algae. I do agree, however, that having lights on all night isn't a good idea.

[@luigigreen9823]

How in the hell did Cory know I am currently battling algae in my first ever planted tank? Cause he's right!!

[@tomle2553]

I have a 5gal Betta fish tank.. few small plants but I can't get rid of green hair like algae. Maybe I need to clean more often. I need some snails I think as well.

[@BenOchart]

I harness the positive attributes of algae using an algae Scrubber. I still use a pleco in each tank.

[@luigigreen9823]

I have river rocks blasted with light in the middle of my 6 foot 125 gallon cichlid tank and it harvests really good algae I like to think it helps with the nitrites!

[@BenOchart]

@@luigigreen9823 It does. Consumes nitrates, CO2 and releases O2. Natures filter

[@JRayne1986]

lol, im watching this on christmas! he knows me too well, haha

[@FishForThought]

When the thumbnail so HD you think it's an upload from Shwiskey

[@DEmersonJMFM]

Been through the brown algae phase, now with the green algae. Considering snails but concerns with how many they may turn into.

[@alis49281]

Some species eat algae, but can't reproduce in an aquarium. But even if they can, the amount of food they find will limit their numbers. Limit the food they can get and they will grow slow, reproduce less whenever they reach the limit.

[@roberth3793]

Get olive nerite snails. They can't reproduce unless the water is brackish (salty). You will be amazed at how quickly they will clean a tank.

[@Subaru544]

ive been battling annoying algae growth in my tank for about the last year or so which is also around the same time that i installed a nightime blue led strip that i would keep on all day and all night................ If that led strip is the cause of my problem i am going to loooose it lol. I would have never even thought twice about it affecting anything.

[@matharris100]

Green spot algae is the hardest to remove I have found . Tried the Credit card and does not touch it really don’t want to use razor blades any other ideas please .. have a albino bristle nose Placo and even he has given up on it as well . Tank is in indirect sun light . This is why I think I have it .. any help please mat uk 🇬🇧

[@Cory_Dora]

I have 0 phosphates in my tanks and I have BBA. I read too little or too much phosphates can cause it. Would actually supplying some phosphate help? And if so, where do I get it? I should add, these are shrimp/dwarf crayfish tanks so adding fish is not an option.

[@NoName-it4uu]

I have a hard water ..my best solution for hair algae is dosing h2o2 (safe for moss, shrimp and snails just don't overdose) no need for a blackout..then for the other types of algae, scraping/wiping then a water change is usually the best way. I use algae eaters for prevention rather than solution, after all waste is usually the cause of algae. I also use immersed or floating plants since they absorb alot of excess nutrients faster and can be easily controlled

[@Hrazoart]

Will a bubble wall increase ph?

[@MeisjeLief88]

I had to place a plastic bottle over my airpump cuz i have a betta and the flow was too rough for him so now i barely have any flow so the side away from the filter is entirely covered in algae and it grows so damn fast.. mm i might put in an airstone on that side temporarily

[@zaydenl.1449]

What cleanup crew with goldfish?

[@normanrobitaille8520]

Hi Corey I started using your fertilizer a few weeks ago I does twice a week every time I check my nitrates they’re always zero should I add more fertilizer

[@sugarbabie1681]

I had the same issue mine is a shrimp only tank so i emailed them and apparently your not supposed to add more. However my plants have grown since that email so it does work even if it cant be read.

[@ladyt1866]

whats your opinion on high phosphate out of tap and using sand substrate.I love the look of sand but am hesitant on using it . I live in florida so also silicates is a common thing in our tap as well.

[@AquariumCoop]

I'd just us a fertilizer lower in phosphate if I had that tapwater. I personally wouldn't use the sand as it's bad for plants.

[@ladyt1866]

Aquarium Co-Op thanks . And yes I’m leaning to not using it , but it’s so aesthetically pleasing.

[@EliteEgoist]

A bit off topic but dies anybody know who wrote the atlas of livebearers that is on corys shelf ?

[@alvin5399]

See i am begging. I have my filter on the far right of my 5 gallon tank and right in front of the filter is a big pile of alge. I clean the tank once a week and that doesnt do anything. It builds up on the plants, rocks,on the filter itself and the glass. I have 2 cory cats in there, I dont think they eat alge i know there part of a clean up crew but as far as I know I dont know how to get less alge i will be getting a snail or 2 this week i will clean it today any suggestions

[@bhrameshvaria]

I intentionally keep a thin layer of green algae on all sides of my 7.5 gallon betta planted tank and only scrub off the front viewing panel. It's not all that bad to have algae.

[@deerhunter5783]

I got a Oscar fish and I’m afraid I’f I add shrimp, snails, or any kind of fish that my Oscar fish will kill it, what would u recommend. Also I heard that Oscar’s will rip plants out.

[@martinmercerjr8615]

I can I used shrimp and snails with cichlid convicts