How Does Algae Get In Your Aquarium

[Torrean]

I mean we start off with fairly sterile conditions. Where does it come from...is there algae floating in the air like the bacteria that runs our filters?

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

im sure it comes from bacteria the fish breath and the plants and stuff i really have no idea its just a guess

 

[Bloo]

Not sure - would imagine it's in the water already. And certain triggers and changes in the water chemistry will make it grow.
But absolutely nothing (even brand new) is even close to sterile.

 

[Torrean]

You know what I mean by fairly sterile. If you use fake plants and clean everything well I don't see what would introduce it. If it's in the water wouldn't chlorine chloramines other treatments take care of anything like that? How is algae propagated anyway. Is it like normal plants with polination and seeds and all that or are there spores like fungus and ferns. The only thing I can think of is that it's in the air.

 

[qwikimpss]

I would think that it gets there by spores in the air....but that's a good question, never thought about it before!

 

[pokagon55]

I mean we start off with fairly sterile conditions. Where does it come from...is there algae floating in the air like the bacteria that runs our filters?

http/www.madsci.org/posts/archives/may20...93168.Bt.r.html

It comes from the water and the fish we put in our tanks and the food that we feed the fishes and it feeds on the waste in our tanks and from the lights.

Read the link, it has good info.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

pretty sure algae is airborne, you can get algae growth on damp walls, in cellars and that sort of thing, it can live out of water so long as conditions are moist so therefore it must be able to live and travel in air, unless my grasp of science is rubbish which is completely possible!!

good question tho, got me thinking

 

[Torrean]

very good link. Thanks =)

 

[ramaseseniblikxviii]

certain types of algae are airborne spores,some of it gets into our fishes digestive tract at the lfs where the water is usually cycled around a lot of tanks so we dont notice it much
I will say tho, I have been trying to create a "pea soup" 10 liter tank for my daphnia culture and its not as easy as you would think!
Also I have read some where that waterborne algaes are the source of 75% of this planets oxygen
Ironic eh?