Opinions of algae?

[eon aquatics]

Does anyone else on this forum like algae?
As far as i know it is natural although it might not look nice in a display tank.

Aquarium Algae - Uninvited Guest to Your Aquarium? | FishKeepUP

How to get rid of algae naturally? How to control algae in freshwater aquariums? Is algae beneficial for my aquarium? How mutch algae is fine?

fishkeepup.com

"Algae have chlorophyll and use photosynthesis, like plants."

 

[Deadeye]

It depends on where it’s growing and what kind.
Diatoms on the glass or really any algae covering everything to the point of harming it (like plants) or simply looking unsightly has to go, but small patches or stuff growing on driftwood + rocks in a natural looking way can stay.
I have a mat of cyano over my planted tank, it doesn’t harm anything and provides safe areas for inverts to breed, so it’s fine. When the rest of the tank gets it though, I remove - that stuff is nasty.

 

[Hendre]

It's tricky to get nice-looking algae that doesn't take over a tank. It's opportunistic and will spread rapidly if given nice conditions. Stanzzzz7 had some lovely algae in one of his tanks

 

[esoxlucius]

I've always had some form of algae eater in my tanks to combat it. But just very recently when I set up my hex tank I didn't add anything to combat it, and after a while the green algae was rampant, which I didn't mind.

It give the tank a natural look and if it got too much I'd take some out and give it to my GG in my other tank, but best of all I have a constant reading of 0ppm nitrate!

In short, it can look unsightly, depending on what kind it is or how vigorous it grows, but I think there are more pros than cons with algae.

 

[aussieman57]

I like green algae in my tanks. I let it grow on my back and side walls of tank along with rocks & driftwood. Let me digress...I enjoy breeding fish and like to make a natural as possible habitat for them. Fry love to graze in the algae for those little critters and it helps to control nitrates in a tank without plants.

 

[Kelly_Aquatics]

When I had my tanks I only really cleaned the front panel. I don’t have a problem with it as long as it doesn’t block my view or look unpleasant.

 

[Deadeye]

I’ll tag Jexnell
He managed to actually make bba look nice!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

As long as the algae isn’t Cyanobacteria or diatoms, I let it grow. I like hair algae in my outside tank. I will remove about half of it every month to let the Anacharis have more space.

 

[duanes]

I also like it on all sides, except the front glass.
I encourage it in sumps, as a way to help consume nitrate (and other deleterious nutrients), and (especially with hair algae) when it gets overwhelming, feed it to vegetarian, and omnivorous fish.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/i97/dstuer/Paratilapia/bocourti/.highres/7725629c-7c9a-4148-bb51-443a51eaaa1a_zps3a3e340e.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds

 

[tlindsey]

breeding fish and like to make a natural as possible habitat for them. Fry love to graze in the algae for those little critters

Absolutely agree