Category: Marine Algae
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Bubble Algae: Removing the Bubbles From Your Tank
You walk past your tank and notice a pearly green sphere tucked among the live rock. It looks attractive, so you leave it alone. Then more appear. And MORE. Before you know it, you’re combatting dreaded bubble algae. As pretty as those colorful colonies may be, it doesn’t take much for them to overtake a…
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Growing Mangroves in Your Reef Tank
If you’ve ventured into a tropical region of the globe, odds are you’ve encountered mangroves along shorelines. These staples of the brackish water community are impossible to miss. And they’re important parts of the saltwater fish ecosystem. Plenty of species use them as nurseries – even some of the larger sharks out there. The various trees…
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Red Slime Algae Cyanobacteria
Red Slime Algae is the common name for an aquarium troublemaker otherwise known as red cyanobacteria. Since the term cyanobacteria sound like either a bizarre Crayola Crayon color or the bacterial strain in a Michael Crichton novel (how’s that for a dated reference), the more popular term red slime algae tend to fit quite well. It…
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How to get rid of green hair algae
If you’re having problems with green hair algae–you’re not alone. Many of us have struggled with this problem algae in our tanks. It can be a big pain because it can “take over your tank” in a short amount of time. So let’s dive a bit deeper into what causes the problem and how to get…
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23 Quick tips: controlling aquarium algae in a saltwater tank
Controlling aquarium algae in a saltwater tank can be so frustrating that it causes some people to shut down their tanks and quit the hobby completely. This article is intended to show you 23 relatively easy steps that can help you regain control of your tank. When reviewing this list, just keep in mind that…
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4 types of macroalgae that can help keep your phosphates and nitrates down
Here are 4 types of macroalgae that can help get your phosphates and nitrates down: Halimeda Halimeda is a macroalgae that you can actually use as a decorative plant. It is generally hardy in a saltwater tank, growing well under most aquarium conditions. It is relatively hungry for light (thriving under moderate to strong levels…
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Coralline algae–the algae you want in your tank
I don’t think the average aquarium owner thinks about algae as being a good thing—but there are algae, Coralline Algae, that are desirable, attractive and a hallmark of a healthy tank. Although the word coral is in coralline algae, they are certainly not corals. Coralline algae are macroalgae that has a calcified (stony) skeleton, similar in some…
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Phytoplankton Strains and Uses in a Saltwater Tank
Phytoplankton Strains and Uses in a Saltwater Tank What are Phytoplankton? Phytoplankton are teeny-tiny (microscopic) plant-like organisms. The name phytoplankton comes from the Greek for “plant drifters” because these photosynthetic creatures typically drift about in the ocean, absorbing sunlight and turning it into delicious sugars. In turn, filter feeding invertebrates, like the sponges, clams and corals in…
