How To Clean Algae From Fish Tank

Eric is an aquarium enthusiast with over two decades of experience caring for a wide array of tropical fish.

A little algae can make aquarium decorations look more realistic, but when it gets out of control you need to find a way to rid your fish tank of this green menace.

Algae Run Amok!

How can you get rid of algae growth when it overtakes your freshwater tank, or at least control it before the fish start to suffer? That green gunky stuff covers aquarium decorations, climbs the glass of the tank, and sometimes even grows on the aquarium inhabitants themselves.

Algae growth is a natural occurrence in a freshwater tank, but it can be a nightmare if left unchecked. Fortunately, if your fish tank is permeated with algae, there are solutions. You can drastically limit the level of growth in your tank by practicing the correct tank management habits.

A little algae buildup on rocks and driftwood isn't a bad thing. It makes your tank look more natural. But when you wake up one morning and the glass has turned green it's probably time to take action. You've got some work ahead of you, but the good news is that, once you take a few steps in the right direction, controlling algae gets easy.

Don't resort to chemicals to deal with algae in your tank. There are better, natural ways to tackle the problem.

What Is Algae?

Algae is a broad term used to classify a wide range of plant-like organisms. There are a few types of algae you may encounter in your freshwater aquarium, but green and brown are the most common. Both are a result of normal processes in your tank, and no cause for alarm.

Common Types of Aquarium Algae

Brown algae are easily dislodged from surfaces with a quick wipe.
Green algae are a little tougher to get rid of and need to be scraped away.

Like plants, algae contain chlorophyll and create their own food through photosynthesis. Therefore, the same circumstances that help a plant to grow help algae grow. This is important to know when trying to get rid of algae in a fish tank.

It should also be noted that the word algae is actually a plural term. The single form would be an alga. But if you have only one alga in your tank you probably don't have much of a problem, and you wouldn't be reading this!

6 Ways to Control Algae in Your Aquarium

Here are some of the things you can do to reduce and manage algae in your freshwater aquarium.

Stock algae-eating fish
Avoid overfeeding
Keep up with water change and tank maintenance
Manage artificial light in your aquarium
Avoid direct sunlight
Utilize live plants

The rest of this article covers each of those steps in-depth.

The little oto is a great option for helping to clean up algae in your fish tank.

Aleksandr Skopenko [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Aquarium Algae Eaters

The first step some aquarium owners take when they realize they have an algae issue is to go out and purchase algae-eating fish. They toss the fish in the tank and wait for them to clean everything up. Eventually, they realize the fish aren't getting the job done, but it's not because they are lazy or on a diet.

Fish and critters can only do so much when it comes to controlling algae. They don't hurt anything, and in tanks where there is minimal algae growth they may prevent it from getting worse, but if your situation is out of control they probably can't save you.

Be aware that most species of plecostomus, the fish most people turn to for eliminating algae, can grow a couple of feet long. They are very large aquarium fish and way too big for most tanks. Consider a rubber-nose pleco instead, as they only grow to a few inches. All plecos can be tough on live plants.

The Chinese Algae Eater is another fish you may consider, but they can become aggressive as they get older.

For most aquariums, the little otocinclus is a good choice. They're tiny, schooling catfish about an inch in length that will descend on your algae like a little army. They should be kept in schools of at least six.

Other critters like Apple Snails will eat some algae too, but may also wreak havoc on any live plants you have in your tank.

Does Overfeeding Fish Cause Algae Growth?

If you're letting your fish stuff themselves to the gills and watching a lot of excess food fall to the floor of the tank or get sucked up by the filter, you are creating two great food sources for algae: fish waste, and waste from decaying fish food. Like plants, algae will thrive on these things.

Learn to gauge how much your fish will eat in a few minutes, and don't give them so much food that it's floating to the bottom of the tank. Consider putting them on a feed/fast schedule where they do not eat one or more days a week. Don't think of this as cruel: It's very hard to starve a fish, and by limiting waste in their tank you are creating a healthier environment for them.

More Reasons Not to Overfeed Your Fish

Frequent Water Changes and Tank Maintenance

Along the same line of reasoning as limiting feeding, you need to make sure you are performing the necessary tank maintenance to keep algae under control. A good routine to get into is performing a weekly water change of about 30% and a more thorough cleaning monthly.

Don't cringe! There are easy ways to change the water in your tank that will only take you a few minutes, and it's time well spent. All tanks accumulate waste chemicals, and by replacing a percentage of the water once a week you are diluting the amount of pollution. This means healthier water for the fish and less "alga food" in the water.

Monthly, you need to roll up your sleeves and vacuum the substrate, clean off the decorations, clean the filter and scrape the algae off the glass. There is no substitute for this work, and it is vital for making sure you have a clean, healthy tank, that is as algae-free as possible.

Aquarium Lights and Algae

If you have a planted aquarium, you need to be sure you have your lights on a good 12 hours a day. But if you have plastic plants, controlling the amount of time you have the lights on is a great way to control algae growth. Remember that algae create their own food via photosynthesis. This means they need light to thrive, just like a plant. If you limit the light, they can't be as prolific.

Of course, fish need a day/night cycle to be healthy, just like people do. But in the wild most tropical fish don't have a massive light blaring down on them as they do in your tank. The dim light of daytime is a rough approximation of what they would experience in their rivers and lakes back home.

Really, the aquarium light is for you, not them. It lets you see your pretty fish, and that's nice, but when nobody is home you can keep the light off in the tank and algae won't have a chance to thrive.

Avoid Natural Sunlight

If you have a large tank and you've already made the mistake of placing it in direct sunlight there is probably nothing you can do at this point. But if you have a tank you can move, or if you haven't set it up yet, consider placing it somewhere that the sun won't be hitting it during part of the day.

It is easy to see why this is important: Like plants, algae will grow like crazy given a good amount of sunlight. Following the steps above and not providing the necessary food helps reduce the chances of this, but why help the algae at all?

Direct sunlight isn't the best thing for your fish, either. The bright light, along with the increased temperatures in the tank, can cause them undue stress which may erode their health. It's better for fish, tank, and owner to avoid the sun if possible.

Common aquarium plants will out-compete algae for food sources.

Tsunamicarlos [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Do Live Aquarium Plants Reduce Algae?

Growing natural plants in your tank can go a long way when it comes to limiting algae growth. One reason is obvious: The plants and the algae are competing for the same food sources.

Where fish waste is bad if you want to stop algae growth, it's good (to a certain level) if you want to grow live plants. Healthy plants will do a better job of nutrient uptake, and the algae will struggle.

Some say certain plants give off natural substances that prevent algae growth. This makes sense, as algae can accumulate on plants too, which of course is not good for the plant.

Planted aquariums still need maintenance, but when done right they can be perfect little ecosystems that meet the needs of fish and plants alike. When the balance is right, algae growth will be minimal.

How to Handle an Algae Bloom

If your tank water is cloudy and green all of a sudden, you are in the midst of an algae bloom! Algae live in the water, not just on surfaces, so a sudden change in any of the parameters that allow them to thrive can cause a sudden burst of algae growth. This sounds a lot worse than it is, and generally, the solution is simple.

First off, if you've had an algae bloom something has gone awry with the control methods listed above. Usually, it's because of a sudden spike of waste chemicals in the water. You need to figure out why that happened. Did you over-feed? Did you introduce new fish? Have you missed a few water changes?

The remedy is simply to perform a water change and introduce fresh, clean water, thus taking away some of the nutrients the algae is feeding off. You may wish to perform an extra water change for the week, spaced a couple of days apart. Then, get back to your usual algae maintenance routine.

Living With Algae

The purpose of this article was to help deal with algae in as simple terms as possible. However, anyone who is serious about aquarium care should consider investing in a water-testing kit and discovering more about the nitrogen cycle and chemicals in their tank. Learn to monitor the level of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites in your aquarium and you have a better chance of keeping your water parameters under control.

Most people are probably happy with keeping their tank looking clean, and getting rid of as much of that brownish, greenish gunky stuff as they can. The bad news is that algae are never going to go away completely. New spores will come every time you introduce a new fish or plant into your tank, and they can even float in on the air. It's best to think of the alga as just another organism in your fish tank.

But, as we've seen, even though you won't get rid of algae completely you can control it if you get into the right aquarium care habits.

Algae Poll!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: Can I take decorations out of my fish tank to clean them?

Answer: Yes, you can and should remove decorations from your tank periodically to clean them of algae and other gunk. Even with algae-eating fish in your tank, you will find there are places they can't or won't clean. Aquarium owners must remove decorations and clean them by hand.

Additionally, uneaten food and other waste can get trapped in decorations where scavenger fish can't reach it. It is important to get rid of this junk, so it does not pollute the water.

However, never use detergent or any other household cleaners to clean decorations or anything else that will go inside your aquarium. Residue from these cleaners can be harmful to your fish, and may even kill them.

Instead, use hot water and old-fashioned elbow grease. If you need an abrasive substance, you can use aquarium salt, but be sure to rinse the decorations thoroughly before adding them back to the tank.

It should go without saying that this advice does not apply to live plants. Once rooted, they should not be moved. You can vacuum around them, but do your best not to disturb them while cleaning.

Question: The algae eater just eats at the surface and on the glass tank. How can I get it to clean the algae off the bubbler and the heater?

Answer: Algae-eating fish will only eat what they can, and what they want. It may not feel comfortable going near the bubbler or the heater for whatever reason. You also may have more algae in your tank than it can handle.

Even in the best of situations, algae eaters will not completely clean the tank. You will still have to roll up your sleeves and do regular cleaning on your own.

It's also a good idea to supplement the diets of algae-eating fish with algae wafers and veggies. This ensures they are getting the nutrition they need.

Bottom line: Algae eaters eat algae but, like you and I, they only eat what they want, when they want. The rest of the cleaning is up to you.

Jessy Messy on July 28, 2020:

Thank you so much for all this information! I was able to follow your suggestions and get rid of the algae with my snails!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on June 08, 2020:

@Ingrid - You might try introducing live plants if you don't already have them but the pleco (algae eater?) will be tough on them. How often do you clean the tank? Sometimes cleaning too often or too thoroughly can cause an algae bloom. The pleco or whatever algae eater you have is also not appropriate for a 10-gallon tank. You might consider rehoming it or returning it to the LFS, which would help cut down on the waste in your tank. Finally, I suggest getting a freshwater testing kit so you know exactly what is going on in your tank. Good luck!

Ingrid Kelshaw on June 07, 2020:

We have a 10 gallon tank and we have 1 algea eater and 2 mollies and 2 glow in the dark fish and 6 cat fish..but our probably is the water is green,is there anything we can do besides changing and cleaning the water?

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 20, 2020:

@David - If you supplement its natural algae diet with algae wafers you can be sure he is always getting enough to eat.

David Laughton on May 19, 2020:

I'm about to clean my fish tank that has an algae eater fish inside of it will that hurt my algae eater fish To clean the tank of all algae and if it does how do I feed him

Jessica on April 07, 2020:

This was so helpful I bought algae eating fish and my algae is gone!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on March 26, 2020:

@Rassberry: Thanks for the kind words! This article focuses on natural means of getting rid of algae, but there are products out there that may help to keep you water parameters in check. I don't know much about them because I've always tried to keep my aquariums as natural as possible but with a little research you may find something helpful. Good luck!

Rassberry23 on March 26, 2020:

My algae problem is out of control I have followed your advice now what else can be done? Your articles are fantastic

Camden on March 13, 2020:

Thanks I was having a algae problem

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on January 24, 2020:

@Jade - Most of my advice has been covered in this article. Have you tested the water? You said the tank is only a month old and that makes me wonder if it cycled properly or if it is possibly overstocked. Algae need food and light and somehow they are getting enough to thrive, even with the aquatic plants in there.

Jade on January 23, 2020:

I have a 10 gallon tank that's about a month old that keeps getting a very large amount of algae on the glass and the aquatic plants I have in their, I periodically scrub the worst of the algae off throughout the week and I also do a deep clean and water change once a week where i take out the decorations and scrub them, along with gently taking off some algae from the plants. The algae seems to be coming back worse and worse every time and i'm worried about the quality of life of my fish that are currently living in it. What could I do to help keep the algae to a very small amount?

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on October 13, 2019:

@Anon - Your tank is overstocked, and the waste produced by your goldfish is likely contributing to the algae outbreaks. All if those fish require a much, much larger tank. I'd be thinking more like 55 gallons. Goldfish grow very large.

Anon on October 12, 2019:

My 6.5 gallon tank gets algae so quickly! I have a hillstream loach/butterfly pleco in there to help control it but it gets out of hand anyway. I have 2 goldfish in there as well. PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on September 23, 2019:

@Bonnie - If it is getting out of control you can gentry clean the plants by hand, being careful not to damage them.

Bonnie Harvey on September 22, 2019:

should I be cleaning off algae that occurs on leaves of plants in my aquarium?

Kynnedi on January 17, 2019:

This article is actually very helpful with my science project thanks :)

Michael on January 11, 2019:

Thanks for the article. As a new aquarium owner its hard to learn all the ins and outs of fish and aquarium care. I appreciate the advice and feel more comfortable about caring for my fish and tank. Keep up the good work.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on December 08, 2018:

@hiya - Have you tested your water parameters? It seems like your tank conditions are promoting extremely fast growth. Please review the issues I mentioned in this article and consider which may apply to your situation.

hiya on December 08, 2018:

I cleaned my tank from top to bottom on Sunday. By Wednesday it was almost completely green again. I feed my 3 fish twice a day but only small amounts. The filter works fine and I change it when I clean the tank. Why is it growing so fast and how can I at least prolong the cleanliness of my tank once I've cleaned it?

Moo moo on May 23, 2018:

Thanks this. Was super helpful this unlike a lot other websites this sounds like it's been written by a human rather than a robot

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on March 13, 2018:

Thanks Heidy! Glad to be helpful. Don't let that betta push you around!

Heidy on March 12, 2018:

Great article. Thank you! I've been doing it all wrong, so this is very helpful. I have a betta with an attitude and doesn't like to have the water changed.

Tom on February 14, 2018:

Do you love your hobby as I do then do the right things at the right time. Water changes I do a 25% water once 8 days.I'm real fussy with my tanks as they are more entertaining than most evenings on t/v. keep the pesky snails but keep them in check they do help snails on your glass means Algae. Vac the grass with water changes. Scrub rocks and wood if needed. Tank care Is just like house work dusting and vac. Dump any poor plants, clean the windows. Its all already been said in the topic so I must be right. Happy fish keeping folk

Iraj Gardner on December 02, 2017:

I have found that mollies make excellent algae cleaners. They don't get rid of it on glass but they're very good at picking it out of cracks and crevices on ornaments and fake plants. They're good for keeping algae under control if it's not out of hand.

I've tried mystery snails with overgrown algae and my verdict is "don't rely on them". They clean surprisingly little algae. Also, they're picky with water quality, especially hardness, and almost all that I've owned have suddenly died after a few months.

I don't like plecos, chinese algae eaters or anything with a sucker on its mouth. Every one that I've kept ended up going after my fish and eating holes in their sides. Once they start doing that they won't touch algae again. In general their reputation as algae eaters far exceeds their actual performance. They'd rather eat fish food or the fish themselves. Plecos also grow huge even in a small tank, and then nobody wants them. We had one in a 15 gal tank that grew longer than the tank in less than a year.

For algae, I just do what I've done since I had tanks as a child - when changing the water I take ornaments out and scrub them with a brush in a bucket of tank water. I like the floating magnets for the glass.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on October 23, 2017:

@Fish - Plants shouldn't cause algae to grow. If it is out of control you may have a bigger issue, but if you just have a little on the glass you can just get rid of it every few weeks with an algae scrubber.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on October 16, 2017:

@Jeez. Do you mean an algae scrubber? In my opinion they are the best and easiest way. There are chemicals you can use but I do not recommend it.

Jeez Louise on October 14, 2017:

anyway to do it without an algae pad?

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 21, 2017:

Thanks Maria! Good idea to wash your hands before handing your tank. Just make sure you rinse them thoroughly so you're not introducing detergent into the tank by accident. Good luck!

Maria Murray on July 19, 2017:

I am a " Newcomer " with Fish Tanks.

Thank you very much for all the Advice 's.

It sure will help me to keep my Fish healthy and happy. I also wash my hands before I have to get into my Tank.

Thanks again,

Sincerely,

Maria Murray.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on May 27, 2017:

@Carla: Could it be bubbles at the water surface? Bettas create bubble nests and it can sometimes look like a film on top of the water.

Carla Foster on May 26, 2017:

I'm cleaning my Betta fish weekly. There is always this white cloudy substance in the tank. When I clean my fish tank I always put in water conditioning and water clarifier. I don't over feed my betta. Help what am I doing wrong.

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on January 28, 2017:

@ Whodoo: I would not use any type of chemical solution to clean algae. You need to clean it with old-fashioned elbow grease. If you need a coarse medium for scrubbing you can use some aquarium salt, but make sure you rinse everything thoroughly before putting it back in the tank.

Whodoo on January 26, 2017:

K, what is a good method for killing the spores/etc that won't kill other things in the tank?

I am going to break down the tank, wash and clean the live plants and other objects, and ideally soak them briefly in something that will kill the algae but not harm the plants, esp. "post facto", by contaminating the water even after rinsed off.

The problem is I have a blue-green algae that seems to laugh at all other efforts to constrain it. I want to do as much as possible to make sure none is restored to the tank when I re-build it.

Will a brief dip in alcohol+water and then peroxide+water kill any algae attached to the plants and other surfaces (not doing anything to the fish) and allow the plants to survive?

nathan6790 on August 08, 2016:

I got a purple uv tube bulb above my tank aswell as normal white tube light 120 litre jewel with 2 plecs 11 zebra obliquidens (victoriana cichlids) no plants just sand and rocks and I've never had a problem with algae but you can also get a uv sterliser which is like a filter but as water passes thru it. It makes the algae build up so the filter can actually pick it up instead of building up around your tank therefore solving your algae problem yeah you still have to do water changes and all other stuff mentioned above but a uv bulb or uv sterliser will help big time with little work needed

Guest on May 02, 2016:

Actually,indirect sunlight is okay

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on October 17, 2015:

Thanks for the kind feedback, everyone! I really appreciate your comments.

Elsie Hagley from New Zealand on October 16, 2015:

Congratulations for HOTD.

I used to have goldfish, but it became a big job to keep their container clean, so I gave them away.

I like fish very much and enjoy watching them swimming about, I found it very relaxing.

You have done a great job writing this article. Thanks.

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on October 16, 2015:

Definitely a great tutorial on algae control for fish tanks...I do not have one at present but my daughter does so I will be sharing this with her.

Congrats on HOTD...definitely deserving of the recognition.

Angels are on the way to you this evening ps

RTalloni on October 16, 2015:

Meant to say congrats on your Hub of the Day award for this well done post!

Pollyanna Jones from United Kingdom on October 16, 2015:

Thanks for this useful article! We only have a small 25l tank, and have 3 x platys and a hillstream loach to nibble up algae. Whilst we have a plastic plant, we've added a massimo moss ball to help boost oxygen and compete with algae. Not sure whether this actually works or not though! We do get a bit of algae building up, but I am cleaning most of this off the glass once a week, and hoovering the poop out of the gravel at the same time, whilst doing a little water change. Still very new to the hobby, so articles like yours are so very helpful. Thank you for a brilliant Hub!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on October 16, 2015:

Thanks for the kind words Kristen and RTalloni! And thanks for HOTD, HP! :-)

RTalloni on October 16, 2015:

Nicely done! This would be a useful read for any tank owner/user, but it is so well done that children who are being introduced to this hobby would greatly benefit from reading or having it read to them.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on October 16, 2015:

Congrats Eric on HOTD for this fascinating hub. Nice work!

Eric Dockett (author) from USA on July 25, 2013:

Thanks Gypsy Willow. If you have a pleco I hope you have a big tank! :-)

Gypsy Willow from Lake Tahoe Nevada USA , Wales UK and Taupo New Zealand on July 24, 2013:

Useful tips for keeping the tank clear. I am watching the Plecostamus with interest!