How to Prevent and Treat Spot Algae?

Green spot algae are a kind of algae that are often seen in home freshwater fish tanks.

Some green algae in your tank are okay, but too much need to be controlled and stopped from spreading.

What Are Spot Algae?

Spot algae are bright green circles that stick to glass and other hard surfaces.

They mainly occur when there’s too much light or nutrients.

When you see green spot algae on your aquarium plants, it usually means there’s not enough phosphates.

But if you see them on the glass and not on the plants, just clean the glass. You’re doing a good job.

3 Ways to Prevent Spot Algae

To stop spot algae from growing, you should:

1. Change the water regularly: This keeps the water fresh and prevents any build-up of nutrients which can cause algae growth.
2. Clean the aquarium regularly: This helps to remove any algae that may have started to grow on the surfaces of the aquarium.
3. Don’t overfeed the fish: Overfeeding can lead to excess food in the water, which can encourage algae growth.

Remember, taking care of algae as soon as you see them is the key in preventing bigger issues.

2 Treatments for Spot Algae

To treat spot algae, you can use two methods:

1. Tank treatment, and
2. Spot treatment.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

Tank Treatment

For tank treatment, increase the dose of phosphate in your fertilizer regime, following the Estimative Index (EI) method. EI is a simple way to give nutrients to your aquarium plants.

It works by adding a slight excess of nutrients to the aquarium during the week, then changing about half the water at the end of the week.

This provides a nutrient-rich environment for your plants. The beauty of this method is that it doesn’t require nutrient measurement or test kits.

Spot Treatment

For spot treatment, first turn off your filter. Then, use one of three options:

1. Apply a phosphate solution directly to the affected area.
2. Dissolve dry KH2PO4 in aquarium water and apply it to the spot.
3. Use a Fleet enema solution, applying 0.3 milliliters for every 10 gallons of water.

After applying the treatment, wait five minutes, then turn your filter back on.

If the algae returns quickly, you may need to increase the amount of phosphates in your dosing regimen.

If you’re using the enema solution and don’t have a regular fertilizer plan, be sure to change half the water every third day to prevent phosphate levels from getting too high.

Be aware that the enema treatment can deplete nitrates, which can cause problems for certain plants like the Java fern.

If you have a lot of fish in your tank, this can help balance out the nitrate levels.