Spirogyra

Question
Not sure you can help on this problem but you're the only
one who can take questions right now. I have about 8 small
fish in a 29 gallon tank with some java moss and java
fern(Tropical Tank), now the spirogyra (at least I think it
is) is back, I thought it was gone after I reduced the
lighting/feeding and cleaned the tank of the algae for
months. Well at least it was under control, Now it is back
with vengeance haha, I haven't seen anything on how to kill
that type of algae without harming my fish or the plants,
Although I'm starting to think that tearing down and
starting over would be easier, I just hate the sight of
this algae. Maybe there are some fish that would be able to
eat the algae as their main source of food? or maybe taking
out the fish and killing everything in there would be a
better way, either way some incite from you would be very
helpful in this situation.

Answer
Hi Kevin,
  I think if you want to keep fish you have to get used to the sight of algae.  Algae is a normal part of every aquatic system and in the wild, it is everywhere.  For my tanks, I clean it off the front glass but typically leave it most everywhere else.  It is not harmful to the fish at all, in fact, many fish eat it.  I do not recommend using any chemical which claims to kill or remove algae.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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