Is Algae Good to Have in an Aquarium?

In many instances, algae can be very important for the health of a fish tank. It’s a key functioning part of any aquarium. Algae can influence several important ecological factors as well, ultimately serving more of a good purpose than bad. The staff at Aquatic Warehouse, a trusted aquarium supplier, is here to break it down for you.

Algae significantly plays a role in an aquatic system’s carbon and nutrient cycling. Think of algae as plants in your fish tank. It takes up the bottom of the food chain just like other plants do. Algae even pumps oxygen into the surrounding air. More than 70 percent of the planet’s oxygen is produced in the ocean, and algae plays a big part in this. It also converts light into energy, which allows it to then transform carbon dioxide into cellular matter, reducing the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Algae also produces dissolved oxygen for the aquarium, which greatly benefits the fish.

Now that you understand how algae works on a macro level, let’s take a deeper look at how it works in an aquatic system. Algae basically pulls nutrients out of whatever is in the surrounding water, and it plays a positive role in nitrogen cycling. Nitrogen compounds such as nitrite and ammonia are unhealthy for marine pets. Within a fish tank, nitrogen can exist in several chemical forms that are then transformed through biochemical reactions. Nitrogen is a very important element for creating protein and amino acid compounds. Cellular tissue is made in significant part from oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. More often than not, the main source of nitrogen in a tank comes from fish food. 

Here we’ll touch on the importance of a refugium in a saltwater reef tank. The refugium harnesses the power of algae (a macro algae) to take up large amounts of nutrients to reduce the amount of waste or nutrients in the reef tank.

Some smaller sources of algae are dead plants and other kinds of waste. The nutrients leftover in the animals’ waste is then released as ammonia, which can be deadly for fish. This ammonia is then converted into nitrite, which is even more dangerous for fish than ammonia. Fortunately, the nitrite is changed into nitrate through a bacteria-driven process. However, nitrate is great for plants and algae. The cycle starts and ends in a living organism.

Algae is incredibly important for your aquarium or even your pond. It stabilizes the levels of the various forms of nitrogen present with an aquatic system. Algae also pumps out oxygen. Upon death, nitrogen is released from algae and the cycle repeats. Now, you don’t want too much algae. It’s also key to limit the amount present in your aquarium or pond. You can reduce algae by limiting the factors that release it into the aquatic system, including uneaten fish food, plant litter, and waste. Remember, a fish aquarium is delicate, and algae plays a crucial role in its ecological balance. A little bit of algae isn’t a bad thing. You just need to control it.

There are a variety of steps that need to be taken to control algae and other factors that affect the health of an aquatic environment such as an aquarium. At Aquatic Warehouse, we have everything you need, from filters and beneficial bacteria to lighting and aquarium controllers. Check out the wide array of products offered on our website, and if you have any questions, please feel free to call one of our knowledgeable representatives at 858-467-9297.