How to Get Rid of Aquarium Algae
Algae is a symptom of light + nutrients out of balance.
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Cut the fuel
Algae feeds on light and nutrients. Reduce your photoperiod to 6–8 hours on a timer, keep the tank out of direct sun, and don't overfeed — uneaten food and fish waste drive nitrates and phosphates that algae thrives on.
Add cleanup help
An algae crew makes a real dent: nerite snails for film and hair algae, amano shrimp, otocinclus, or a bristlenose pleco. They won't fix the root cause, but they keep things in check while you rebalance.
Stay consistent with water changes
Weekly 25–30% water changes export the nutrients algae needs. In a planted tank, healthy fast-growing plants outcompete algae for those same nutrients — sometimes adding more plants is the fix.
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FAQ
Why does my tank keep getting algae?
Almost always too much light (long photoperiod or sunlight) plus excess nutrients from overfeeding or skipped water changes. Fix those two and most algae fades.