My brother and i have been debating this. I like all the glass to be cleaned regularly to make sure nothing is growing one the glass. so this has sparked a debate about whether if algae grows on the back of the tank is good or bad. He argues that it is good and does not make a difference because algae occure naturally and in the wild. I believe that it may not be harmful is just an eye sore and i really would never want it on my tank. Could anyone tell me is it good or bad or really just doesnt matter.
ALGAE GROWING ON TANK BACK GOOD OR BAD
- Thread starter Troy1015
- Start date
Well it depends. Some algae can be the result of too many nitrates in your water - which is bad. As for algae growing on the actual glass and other decorations/rocks in the tank that is usually not a bad thing and can even be beneficial (depending on what you have in the tank). I have an african cichlid mbuna tank and the fish will graze lightly during the day, scraping the little bit of algae on the rocks in between feedings. This is natural behavior for them. As for carnivores, they will probably not eat the algae, but I can pretty much guarantee that there is/was at least some algae in any fish's (or other aquatic animal) natural habitat.
So, is it necessary - probably not. Is it bad, can be, but what you are describing is more just personal preference. Personally I keep the front of my tank clean and one side. The back and other side are not visible (due to walls) and therefore I let the algae grow. Granted it doesn't get very far because my cichlids and bristlenose pleco constantly eat it.
So, is it necessary - probably not. Is it bad, can be, but what you are describing is more just personal preference. Personally I keep the front of my tank clean and one side. The back and other side are not visible (due to walls) and therefore I let the algae grow. Granted it doesn't get very far because my cichlids and bristlenose pleco constantly eat it.
This is not about a planted tank...
Algae growth rate is the indication of water quality/bioload/filtration imbalances. Algae will naturally occur in a tank with good lighting and decent bioload but to the same note tanks that I have that are under filtered turn green in a weeks time were as a tank that is properly filtered and has more bioload identical light etc will not need to be cleaned for atleast a month. Look at the water surface, is their film? Test your water, look at your fishes breathing habits, are they labored? There are allot of tells if you don't have a testing kit on hand. Algae is not bad and is forming to compensate for care short comings. When you do it right algae should not be a problem (not that algae is even a real problem)
hope that helps.
Algae growth rate is the indication of water quality/bioload/filtration imbalances. Algae will naturally occur in a tank with good lighting and decent bioload but to the same note tanks that I have that are under filtered turn green in a weeks time were as a tank that is properly filtered and has more bioload identical light etc will not need to be cleaned for atleast a month. Look at the water surface, is their film? Test your water, look at your fishes breathing habits, are they labored? There are allot of tells if you don't have a testing kit on hand. Algae is not bad and is forming to compensate for care short comings. When you do it right algae should not be a problem (not that algae is even a real problem)
hope that helps.