Filamentous algae: stages of development, reproduction, how to remove from the aquarium?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

Filamentous algae, having barely appeared in the aquarium, begin to grow rapidly, braiding plants and stones with thin threads. In a matter of days, thread can completely fill a room pond. Growing, algae release a large amount of waste into the water, interfere with the growth of plants, become a web in which fish fry can become entangled or particles of food can get stuck. All this becomes the reason for the activation of the processes of decay. If no action is taken and the problem starts, green filamentous algae can lead to the death of the entire ecosystem.

How are algae different from plants?

All representatives of the plant kingdom in terms of biology are divided into higher and lower. Plants, including aquarium ones, are quite complex creatures that have various departments in their structure: root system, leaves, stem, shoots, flowers and fruits.

Examples of quite unpretentious careaquarium plants can serve as duckweed, limnobium, elodea, vallisneria, hornwort. These inhabitants of the indoor pond carry out photosynthesis, during which they remove carbon dioxide and release oxygen, absorb phosphates, nitrites and nitrates, cleaning the aquarium, are indicators of the state of the ecosystem and additional food for its inhabitants.

Algae are representatives of lower plants, protozoa. Their structure is much more primitive than representatives of the higher group (flowering or seed plants) - algae do not have organs, they consist of one or more types of cells in which complex biochemical processes occur. Algae are divided into unicellular and multicellular. The main feature that distinguishes lower plants is reproduction by spores.

The variety of algae is conventionally divided into sections. The simplest of them are blue-green algae, while the rest of the members of the group are more complex. In aquariums, you can find brown, green, diatom and red algae. In winter, brown algae are a frequent "guest" of domestic water bodies, devoid of sufficient natural light, and an increased content of organic substances in aquarium water often leads to the activation of blue-green representatives of the group.

Why does algae appear in the aquarium?

Filamentous algae in the aquarium grow actively and rapidly occupy almost the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe home reservoir under the following conditions:

• increased water hardness;
• not enough aquarium plants;
• irregular water changes;
• poor cleaning, which causes the accumulation of nitrates necessary for the growth and development of the thread;
• insufficient oxygen supply;
• Lighting too bright: Threading is more likely to occur if artificial lighting is used for more than eight hours a day or the aquarium is exposed to direct sunlight.

Beginner aquarists are faced with thread in cases where higher plants have not yet had time to take root in the ecosystem and there is an overabundance of trace elements necessary for the active development of protozoa. Sometimes you can bring green algae along with new aquarium plants.

Why is algae dangerous?

Active reproduction of filamentous algae leads to the fact that organisms fill the entire space in the aquarium in just a few days. They combine into bundles, entangle plants, hindering their growth and development, clog filters and other equipment, and attach to snags. Toxic substances released by filamentous algae in large quantities have a detrimental effect on the inhabitants of the aquarium. In the algae threads themselves, fry and small fish can get tangled, food residues and other organic substances get stuck.

What does algae look like?

Green filamentous algae is one of the groups that often cause unnecessary trouble for aquarists. One of the signs of active reproduction of green algae inin a domestic pond is a visible clouding and greening of the water. Outwardly, the thread looks like thin green threads. The algae is slimy, soft to the touch; when removed from the water, it immediately loses its shape and sags. The development of filamentous algae occurs due to the absorption of nutrients dissolved in water and the process of photosynthesis.

Why is threadbait "taking territory" so fast?

Filamentous algae grow rapidly under favorable conditions. The method of reproduction contributes to the rapid spread of thread in an artificial reservoir: the algae breaks up into separate sections, each of which forms a new thread. Filamentous algae also reproduce by spores. In the latter case, spores with flagella attach to the ground and germinate.

What are the types of algae (filamentous)?

Two varieties of filamentous algae can be present in an aquarium: directly green threads, freely floating in the water, and shorter ones, as a rule, accumulating on the glass surface and plant planes. Different types of green algae have different "preferences" in habitat and nutrition, so the methods of dealing with them differ.

Filamentous algae include:

1. Spirogyra. The algae looks like long bright green "strands" that stray into peculiar nests. The threads are soft, easy to knead with your fingers. Most often, spirogyra settles near young plants, and a surge in algae activity is facilitated by an excess of nutrients andillumination.
2. Thread. This species combines many very similar algae. Long threads are attached to old driftwood or rocks in well-lit areas, the color can vary from dark or light green to grayish or black.
3. "Fluff". At an early stage in the development of filamentous algae, the "fluff" covers the leaves and stems of plants. The appearance of such an algae indicates a lack of nutrition in the aquarium and the poverty of the soil substrate.
4. Chlorella and Chlamydomonas. The simplest algae are part of the natural life process in natural waters, while in an aquarium they can become a real disaster. Chlorella and chlamydomonas are exactly those single-celled organisms that cause the water to “bloom”.
5. Ulotrix. The filamentous algae ulotrix forms balls that are interconnected. Algae covers the well-lit walls and substrate of the aquarium.

What are the ways to deal with the thread?

There are several ways to fight the thread, it is better to approach the problem in a complex way. How to get rid of algae:

• using mechanical cleaning;
• creating unfavorable conditions for the growth and development of algae;
• biological and chemical methods.

How to mechanically remove algae?

Where to start to fight? The filamentous algae that may leave the artificial reservoir after mechanical cleaning are spirogyra and threadworm. In the fight against other organismsmechanical removal will only be the first step.

So, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the walls of the aquarium from greenish plaque. To simplify the procedure, there are many special devices: scrapers that work like a razor, graters with a magnet that allows you to control the process through the glass. However, in practice, it is easiest and most effective to clean the walls of the aquarium with an ordinary dishwashing sponge. By the way, soft sponges do not leave scratches, which are typical when using special scrapers.

Decorative elements, driftwood and stones are a little more difficult to clean from plaque. But even here there is a simple and reliable way - the old toothbrush proved to be the most effective tool. Stiff bristles and small size allow you to carefully process uneven surfaces. Along with mechanical cleaning, it is imperative to change the water in the aquarium.

What conditions are unfavorable for the thread?

The fight against filamentous algae also involves the creation of unfavorable conditions for their reproduction and development. So, it is necessary to reduce the brightness of the lighting, and if the aquarium is in direct sunlight, darken it with white paper or gauze. Algae will die under specially dimmed lighting. Three days is enough to get rid of the thread in this way.

Also, it may be worth increasing the number of aquarium plants. Living plants are necessary to maintain the harmonious life of an artificial reservoir, otherwise their place will be takenalgae. It is also important to provide good aeration - a sufficient supply of oxygen will allow the plants to thrive and inhibit algae growth.

Which aquarium inhabitants eat algae?

The inhabitants of the artificial reservoir will also help to fight the excess amount of filamentous algae. Some fish species feed on algae, controlling their spread. So, to normalize the ecosystem, sometimes it is enough to have a fish called Ancistrus vulgaris. The natural enemies of algae are also:

• daphnia crustaceans;
• mollies;
• barbs;
• shrimps;
• snails-coils;
• pecilia;
• guppies and other viviparous fish.

Which drugs inhibit the development of the thread?

It is not always possible to cope with the activation of algae growth exclusively by "natural" methods. In some cases, it is worth using chemicals that can be purchased at aquarium or zoological stores. From filamentous algae, the introduction of bicillin-5 and peniccilin into an artificial reservoir helps.

How to prevent algae?

To prevent the appearance of threadworm in an aquarium, you need to know not only what causes parasitic algae to appear, but also what conditions are needed for a normal life. Lighting is one of the important factors. Direct sunlight or just bright light contributes to the emergence and spread of algae, so the aquarium should not be left under a powerfullighting for a long time.

It is also believed that the high content of nitrates and phosphates causes the activation of the growth of this algae. Substances are part of fertilizers for aquarium plants, but you should not completely refuse additional feeding, since fertilizers are still necessary. So, plants need to be fertilized in a rationed way.

In order not to bring parasitic algae along with new plants, you need to control everything that is planned to be placed in an artificial pond. If any signs of threading are noticeable on new plants or decorative elements, you need to wait with the purchase.

When cleaning the aquarium, all plants should be thoroughly rinsed with water and cleaned. Soil should be treated in the same way. With regular cleaning of the soil, the risk of threading is significantly reduced. Potassium permanganate or hydrogen peroxide are good at preventing filaments. However, all of the above methods are of little help if the algae has already appeared in the aquarium. In such a case, you must first get rid of the parasite.

Why not completely remove algae?

Algae are full participants in biological processes, so the visible presence of filamentous in moderation will not harm the aquarium. On the contrary, filamentous green algae are able to absorb excess nutrients and decay products. Harm is caused by excessive growth of algae in an artificial reservoir. In addition, such a situation serves as a clear indicator that some kind of failure has occurred in a closed ecosystem. Perhaps the problem is not enoughaquarium plants or excessive lighting.