Is algaecide safe for my fish tank? How do I remove tank algae?

Yes, you can rinse filter media (the sponge) using tank water. This will preserve beneficial bacterial populations in the sponge. The plastic filter parts can be rinsed and scrubbed using tap water. Perform a partial water change, no more than 30% total volume, using conditioned water that is temperature matched. To limit algae overgrowth, do not overfeed, limit lighting to 8-10 hours daily and monitor water temp. If possible, turn up filter flow to get the water moving. Algae thrives in slow moving water. Do this only if your fish are not affected by stronger currents.

Brown algae overgrowth can be due to high nitrates, too much light or overfeeding. Use a liquid home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Most pet or fish stores will do this for free of for a small fee. If nitrates are over 40ppm, it can be decreased by performing partial water changes. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. You can also use a nitrate absorbing filter insert. The algae will need to be physically scrubbed from plants or rocks and can be scraped from glass. Rinse filter media using tank water NOT tap water. Limit light to 6 hours daily, 8 if you have live plants and do not over feed.

Check the water chemistry using a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20ppm or less. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Rinse the filter media in tank water, not tap water, and replace it. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. To limit algae growth, maintain pristine water quality via filtration and regular water changes. If possible, turn up filter flow to keep water moving. If this stresses the fish though, do not do it. Do not overfeed and remove any uneaten food promptly. Limit lighting to 8 hours daily and closely monitor water temperature as well. All these can promote algae overgrowth.

Algae is a constant in an aquarium. The smaller the tank the harder to keep it clean. Bleach will kill any fish you put in the tank after using it, and it will just come back anyway. Frequent partial water changes will help, but manually wiping the tank is the only way to keep it clean. An algae eater can help but usually not a good idea with a beta fish.

I would try to keep the algae to a minimum. Algae growth is caused by combination of too many nutritions (food left-overs) in the water, not enough current in the water and more than enough light. So you need to re-visit your husbandry to make sure everything is 100% correct. If the water current and lighting are correct then chances are you are over-feeding him. If you can reduce the left-overs you'll probably effectively remove the source of the algae growth. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

If you are getting hard water deposits, use a utility razor and gently scrape the deposit off the glass. When you're doing a water change, if the water level drops below the deposits, use a cloth dampened with plain vinegar and scrub. Be careful to not allow any vinegar into the water. Wipe it well with a clean cloth to remove any vinegar residue and refill. Ideally, the tank should be emptied, sprayed with vinegar, sit for 10-20 minutes then scrubbed or scraped.

Thanks for reaching out about Corn and including photos. It appears as if this is a type of algae. Try washing in hot water. Overgrowth of algae can potentially cause some problems and foul water quality. Algal overgrowths often associated with too much sunlight. Good luck.