Does salt act as a natural algaecide?

[BassetsForBrown]

Hi,
Before I start, I'll clarify that I'm already aware of the fact that preventing algae long term requires addressing the underlying cause of the algae - light, overfeeding, ect.

That said, would adding any salts (sodium chloride w/o the caking agent, or epsom salt) have any algaecidal effect on the aquarium?

Thanks

 

[DDM4v5]

I would say no. I add aquarium salt after every water change and I still get a lot of algae.

 

[Frank Castle]

No. Choose your lighting carefully and if you choose to utilize the benefits of giving your fish natural sunlight, be prepared to scrub algae weekly.

Scrub-a-dub-dub lol Even algaecides still require scrubbing after it kills the algae - making it useless

Sorry dude, it's a dirty job keeping animals. Get used to getting your hands dirty

 

[ragin_cajun]

Saltwater tanks get algae, too. Nasty algae outbreaks.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

I hate algae I get the brown algae crap all over my tank. I need to do something about this sick and tired of cleaning my tank so often. A 200 gallon tank is a pain to clean all the back area sides and overflow boxes. Even with a magnet float scrubber it takes me 40 minutes

 

[ehh]

Saltwater tanks get algae, too. Nasty algae outbreaks.

This is what I was thinking.
Just keep up with tank maintenance and don't leave the the lights on 18 hours a day and you'll be fine. One of my tanks is near a window and it barely grows algae.

 

[krichardson]

I hate algae I get the brown algae crap all over my tank. I need to do something about this sick and tired of cleaning my tank so often. A 200 gallon tank is a pain to clean all the back area sides and overflow boxes. Even with a magnet float scrubber it takes me 40 minutes

Ease back on your lighting schedule.

 

[xraycer]

Personally, I like algae. As long as its not on the front or side tank panels....and its not the green water scenario

 

[Ihsnshaik]

Been doing this for months with minimal light. Same problem even though I clean it regularly. I didn't have the lights on for a month and it was the same issue. Not as bad but still there. I now turn it on for maybe 4-6 hours the whole day on a timer. The room isn't dark so you can still see the fish.

I had an outbreak of it the first time and it was insane and never got it out completely. It's not my lights I think because this tank has been running like this for 5 years without any issues. Its not bad right now you but I would like to have a pristine tank.

I did notice that I do get some natural light from my window but its barely any hitting the tank but was fine for 5 years. I don't do large water changes on this tank I usually do 20 percent every week or so.

 

[duanes]

Some times even a little natural light can cause lots of algae. I had a tank near a window with only a couple hours of northern exposure, indirect light, and it was filled with brown algae.
It was great when the pair spawned as constant grazing for the fry, but unsightly.

There are many species of algae, some need lots of light, some need very little.
I had a text book called Algae of the Great Lakes, and in those lakes are hundreds of species (enough to fill a textbook), some that live 50 ft below the surface, where little light hits.
Adding salt could "temporarily" give a set back to the species of algae you have, but even they would quickly adapt, and come back with a vengeance.