i have algae growing on my artificial plants what additive can i use i dont want to remove plants or fish?
Honestly the easiest answer is to remove them and scrub it by hand. The other alternative is to buy something to eat it. Most algae aren't likely to clean off you plants. This goes double if it's brush/bearded, or hair algae. A Oto, siamese algae eater, or mystery/apple snail is your best bet. These guys are great algae eaters. Pleco, and chinese algae eaters are omnivores and will prefer to scavenge food off the bottom.
Please don't use an additive. They are not a good move for the tank. Many cause far more problems than they solve. To get rid of the algae, first reduce the lighting on the tank. Only have the lights on when you are there and enjoying your fish and then only up to about 10 hours a day. If you keep them on less than that now, shorten it even more. Second, change more water and be sure to clean the grqavel well as you go. As a minimum change 25% of the water weekly. If you do that now, increase how much you change up to about 50%. Within a week or two you will see far less algea in the tank and within a month it may be completely gone. You can of course remove the plants and wash them then return them to the tank for faster results. MM
you shouldn't have to add anything to your tank to control algae take the plants out and rinse them in plain water, the algae should come off easily if theres alot of algae in your tank you might be leaving the light on too long do you turn the light off at night?
