How to deal with moss that grows in the aquarium

Monday 27 June 2022

Aquarium is very popular for people in the world. There are so many people in this world who like aquariums, many make the aquarium as a display in their family room or living room. But you know, there are some problems when we have an aquarium.

One of the most common problems we encounter when starting an aquarium is the appearance of uninvited moss/algae. Moss not only destroys the aesthetic value but can also deplete the oxygen contained in the aquarium water. If there is no large oxygen supply, the moss will be very detrimental to the health of the fish in the aquarium. Despite the fact that moss growth cannot be stopped, at least we can control it so that it doesn't grow too fast.

There are 7 ways to control the growth of moss in the aquarium, as follows:

1. Don't feed the fish too much

The main cause that we often do not realize is feeding the fish too much. Fish food can increase the content of nutrients such as ammonia and phosphate where these contents are triggers for moss growth. The best way to prevent this from happening is to feed the fish in moderation 2-3 times a day.

2. Set the time on and off the lights

If we turn on the light for too long, it means we are helping to provide photosynthesis facilities for mosses, so the growth of moss will be very extreme. This is a big problem that hobbyists often go unnoticed. Therefore, give it time to turn on the lights and turn them off at the right time. For example the lights are turned on only 6-8 hours/day. This is beneficial not only to prevent moss, but can also help fish to breathe in the dark because just like humans, fish also need time to rest.

3. Regulate regular water changes

In the wild, rainwater and standing water naturally refresh water conditions by diluting and removing nitrates, which are known as moss fertilisers. In an aquarium, the purpose of water changes is to remove excess nutrients and replace depleted minerals. The ideal water change frequency is 10% every 1 week, but for an aquarium with only a small number of fish, 30% per month is sufficient. It also helps to suck up all the dirt that settles in the substrate area.

4. Avoid direct sunlight

When we look at fish ponds, we have already answered how moss can thrive in it. The development of moss in fish ponds can no longer be prevented. Sunlight is one of the causes that trigger the growth of moss in the aquarium. Therefore, keeping the aquarium outdoors and leaving it in direct sunlight is the worst idea because it requires extra care.

5. Planting water plants

Aquascape lovers can be proud because they always have plants in their aquarium. In fact, plants in the aquarium can provide additional oxygen for fish respiration and of course fish will like the presence of these plants. In addition to beautifying the decorations in the aquarium, it turns out that plants can inhibit the growth of moss.

The more plants in the aquarium, the harder it will be for moss to grow. The reason is that the nutrients in the water will be consumed by more aquatic plants so that the moss has difficulty getting a supply of nutrients.

6. Using a moss cleaning tool

The moss that usually sticks to the aquarium glass can certainly be an eyesore. If the glass has been attacked by mildew, the best way to kill it is to use a mag-float tool or a mildew magnet designed to remove mildew on aquarium glass. But if you don't have the money to buy it, you can use an ATM card or ID card or one that can be scratched on the glass but not with a tool that is too sharp because it can give scratches on the glass.

7. Raise an army of moss-eating or algae-eater fish

Fish are not just a pellet diet, some types of fish actually have a high appetite for moss. It is a very good idea to include algae eaters in your aquarium. In addition to cleaning the glass from moss, they will also eat algae on the substrate and the decorations inside. However, it should be noted, because of the many types of algae eaters, not all of them are effective at eating moss.

So that's how to prevent moss from growing in our aquarium, keep the beauty of your aquarium so that it can still spoil our eyes.