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It is a fact they say, that if you have an aquarium long enough, you will have to deal with an algae problem at some point. Not all of it is bad, but it will make the tank look ugly to view, and could overwhelm the other species in your aquarium tank.

There are different types of algae that can grow in there, and it is very beneficial to know them all, as not all of them are necessarily bad. The green hair-like looking growth that starts out as a small green slimy patch is one of the more common types, and as long as it is kept in check, means that you have succeeded in creating a healthy eco-system for your fish.

If you have a saltwater aquarium, you might run into red or brown algae. This usually occurs in new saltwater tanks and affects coral. The water quality of your tank is responsible for this problem.

Some other not so colorful looking algae problems are the diatom and cynobacteria. They diatoms are the hardest type to clean, as they have hard shells that look like dots, and they cling to the tank. Green algae tend to grow on them, so if not taken care of, you could have a double problem on your hands.

Cynobacteria is a very slimy looking type of algae that is very easy to clean and very difficult to get rid of completely. It grows fast, and returns even faster, so be worried and take action if you see this in your tank. Cleaning the corals in your tank is a good way of getting rid of this annoyance.

One of the biggest factors controlling the growth of algae in your aquarium is placement of the tank itself. If the tank is placed next to a window, direct sunlight could be a cause of your algae problem. Windows that have aquarium tanks near them need to have blinds put on them to diffuse the sunlight coming in. That along with regular cleaning will help control the problem.

A 'live' solution is to result to creatures that eat the algae, such as putting algae eating snails and fish in the tank as long as the aquarium does not get overpopulated. You must keep an eye on this so you don't substitute one problem for another and accidentally kill your fish. Limiting the amount of light your fish get is another one of these 'know what you are doing before you do it' kind of moves. Your fish do need the light so check with your pet shop pro before experimenting.

Other algae cleaning options are ultraviolet sterilizers and algae scrubbers, as well as equipment that does ozonation, resin exchange, reverse osmosis and distilling the tank water.

So in the end you probably will have an algae problem at some point so trying to prevent it would be a futile effort. Keep your tank clean and take care of the problem quickly to keep you and your fish happy.