• Skip to main content
AlgaeBarn

AlgaeBarn

Marine Aquariums Made Easy!

  • Sign In
  • Cart
    • Shop See All
      • Ultimate Packs See All
      • Ultimate Refugium Starter
      • Clam Keeper Kits
      • Ultimate Ecopack
      • Mandarin Feeder Kit
      • Hair Algae Killer Kit
      • See All Ultimate Packs
      • Live Foods See All
      • Copepods
        • Ecopods
        • 5280 Pods
        • Galaxy Pods
        • Poseidon's Feast
        • Tisbe Pods
        • Tig Pods
      • Food Combos
        • Ecopods & Phyto
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto
        • Poseidon's & Phyto
        • Tig Pods & Phyto
        • Tisbe Pods & Phyto
      • Phytoplankton
        • Oceanmagik
      • Brine Shrimp
        • Simple Brine
        • Nano Brine Shrimp
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Galaxy Pods 5 Species Copepod Blend

          Galaxy Pods

          $66 – $139
          Shop Now
        • Ecopods 4 Pack Special

          $99
          Shop Now
        • Galaxy Pods & Phyto Combo

          $80
          Shop Now
        • 5280 Pods

          $45
          Shop Now
      • Macroalgae See All
      • Clean Macro Series
        • Clean Chaeto
        • Clean Sea Lettuce
        • Clean Green Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Ogo
        • Clean Mocha Spike Sphere
        • Pom Pom
        • Red Ogo
        • Red Spike Sphere
        • Red Spaghetti
        • Red Mangrove
      • Premium Rare Macro
        • Leafy Ogo
        • Blue Hypnea
        • Dragon's Tongue
        • Thick Ogo
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Clean Chaeto

          $40 – $125
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Clean Sea Lettuce

          $30 – $95
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Ogo

          $30 – $80
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • Red Mangrove

          $13
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Fish See All
      • Gobies
        • Green Mandarin
        • Court Jester Goby
        • Watchman Goby
        • White Spotted Goby
      • AngelFish
        • Biota Coral Beauty
        • Maculosus Angel
        • Majestic Angel
        • Swallowtail Angel
      • Tangs
        • Yellow Tang
        • Blue Tang
      • More Species
        • Grammas
        • FileFish
        • Blennies
        • Damsel
        • ClownFish
        • RabbitFish
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Blue Mandarin

          BIOTA Green Mandarin

          $99
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Neon Goby

          $35
          Shop Now
        • Captive Bred Yellow Tangs by BIOTA

          BIOTA Yellow Tang

          $239
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • ORA Premium Picasso

          $145 – $300
          Shop Now
      • Captive Bred Invertebrates See All
      • Clams
        • Ora Derasa Clam
        • Squamosa Clam
        • Ora Gigas Clam
        • Ora Maxima Clam
        • Ora Hippopus Clam
      • Shrimp
        • Ora Peppermint Shrimp
        • Harlequin Shrimp
      • Snails
        • Cerith Snails
        • Trochus Snail
        • Nassarius Snails
      • Urchins
        • Ora Tuxedo Urchin
        • Ora Pincushion Urchin
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Animated gif of peppermint shrimp

          Peppermint Shrimp

          $49 – $119
          Shop Now
        • 10 Cerith Snails

          Cerith Snail

          $25 – $39
          Shop Now
        • pincushion urchin lytechinus variegatus reef safe and captive bred by ora for sale at algaebarn

          Pincushion Urchin

          $29 – $55
          Shop Now
        • Gold Maxima Clam Bed

          ORA Maxima Clam

          $80 – $150
          Shop Now
      • Corals See All
      • LPS Corals
        • Biota Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Pearl Bubble
        • ORA Marshall Island Goniopora
        • ORA Marshall Island Hammer
      • SPS Corals
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Imperial Acropora
        • ORA Turquoise Acropora
        • ORA Micronesian Yellow Porites
      • Soft Corals
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool
        • ORA Long Polyp Leather Coral
        • ORA Silver Xenia
        • ORA Pulsing Xenia
      • Frag Packs
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Biota Pearl Bubble Coral

          $65
          Shop Now
        • ORA Pearlberry Acropora

          $290
          Notify Me When in Stock
        • BIOTA White Polyp Toadstool

          $65
          Notify Me When in Stock
      • Additives & Bacteria See All
      • Live Cultures & Bacteria
        • Turbostart 900 Saltwater
        • Aquarium Cycle Kit
        • Coralline Algae
        • PNS Yellosno
        • PNS Probio™
      • Additives & Chemicals
        • Nitrocycle
        • Clarifier
        • Fritz A.C.C.R
        • Fritz RPM Salt
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • Aquarium Supplies See All
      • Fuge Lighting
        • AI Fuge 16HD Light
        • Kessil A360X Fuge Light
        • Kessil H160
        • Kessil H80
        • Chaetomax
      • Biomedia
        • Marinepure Gems
        • Marinepure Rocks
        • Marinepure Plate
        • Marinepure Cubes
        • Marinepure Spheres
      • Foods
        • Dragon Roe
        • Simple Brine
        • Can'O Cyclops
        • Benereef™
        • Fresco Cyclops
      • Rock & Sand
        • Dry Rock
        • Clam Rocks
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • Mandarin Feeder Kit by Algaebarn

          Mandarin Feeder Kit

          $66
          Shop Now
        • MarinePure 10 Cubes

          2″ Cubes

          $5 – $99
          Shop Now
        • Coralline Algae in a Bottle, In Pink or Purple!

          Coralline Algae

          $22 – $44
          Shop Now
        • Ultimate Refugium Starter Pack

          $120 – $450
          Shop Now
      • CADE Aquariums See All
      • Reef Series
        • CADE REEF 500 S2
        • CADE REEF 600 S2
        • CADE REEF 900 S2
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2
        • CADE REEF 1500 S2
        • CADE REEF 1800 S2
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2
      • Frag Series
        • CADE Frag 600 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1200 S2/F
        • CADE Frag 1500 S2/F
      • Peninsula Series
        • CADE Peninsula 1200 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P
        • CADE Peninsula 1800 S2/P
      • Most Popular Products See All
        • CADE REEF 2100 S2

          $7,225
          Shop Now
        • CADE Peninsula 1500 S2/P

          $5,525
          Shop Now
        • CADE REEF 1200 S2

          $4,125
          Shop Now
        • CADE Frag 900 S2/F

          $3,275
          Shop Now
    • Contests Win Free Aquarium Supplies!
      No Purchase Necessary*
    • Top Deals Huge Savings!
    • AlgaeBarn Heroes Discount for Military,
      First Responders and more!
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shipping
You are here: Home / Phytoplankton / Using Phytoplankton to Control Bad Algae
Beautiful Zoanthid Polyps Growing side by side with algae

Using Phytoplankton to Control Bad Algae

by Sean Tadjeran

Despite their lush appearance, natural coral reefs are extremely nutrient-poor environments. Not likely to be able to grow too much bad algae. Corals everywhere should be just fine with that, since it means less pressure to compete for space with benthic (that is, growing on the sea floor) microalgae. Planktonic microalgae, on the other hand, are predictably delivered to the reef from adjacent, comparatively fertile open ocean waters each day via the tides. These algae—the phytoplankton—can serve as an excellent nutritional supplement for corals and other filter-feeding reef dwellers. Until these incoming phytoplankton are captured and consumed by the hungry corals, they scavenge whatever nutrients they can from the infertile reef waters, effectively competing with the resident benthic algae that the corals so hate. Though there’s usually not much of it to be found over a characteristically crystal-clear reef, corals can really benefit from the stuff.

Greener on the Other Side

Things tend to be a little different in many marine aquaria. Most notably, they are not nutrient-poor. Indeed, a good number of hobbyists struggle endlessly to maintain low dissolved nutrient levels. This is due to a few common missteps. The big one is, of course, overstocking (e.g. adding too many animals). The close second is overfeeding. Sometimes nutrient build-ups stem from single poor decisions made early on (e.g. going cheap instead of investing in dependable filtration devices). Sometimes they simply stem from chronically poor husbandry practice (e.g. not carrying out enough water changes). Lots of factors lead to the steady accumulation of nitrate, phosphate and silicate. But the result is pretty much always the same: algae plagues.

The Natural Solution?

There are just about as many solutions for algal fouling than there are causes of it. Some of the remedies are themselves potentially destructive (algicides, for example) and should thusly be avoided. UV or ozone sterilization techniques are a little better but nevertheless have their own drawbacks; they are indiscriminate, killing all passing microbes, both good and bad. That, and they don’t even address the core issue: nutrient level imbalances.

[Phyto]

A growing number of hobbyists are coming to recognize the benefits of biocontrol. This involves using certain types of organisms to control or eliminate other types of organisms. These creatures might exert their influence through a few different kinds of actions. This might include herbivory, where certain invertebrates (e.g. snails) are added for the primary purpose of consuming nuisance algae.

It might also include adding benevolent types of algae that compete with the bad. One example of this is the use of macroalgae in planted refugia. In theory, the macros steal nutrients from other, less desirable forms. The same sort of fierce nutrient competition can be established against undesirable algae with the use of live phytoplankton.

Good Algae vs Bad Algae

Some methods of benthic algae control just won’t cut it. For example, your trochus snails might avoid the dinoflagellates, which often produce noxious, bad-tasting compounds. In such a case you might be able to fight bad algae with a good algae.

This happens through two means. One is direct, while the other is rather indirect. The most direct way in which phyto competes with other algae is as described above—scrambling to mop up nutrients. This makes a lot of sense once one understands the concept of nutrient limitation. There is always some “limiting nutrient” for a plant’s continued growth. Limiting nutrients are generally in very short supply. Once that nutrient is depleted from the environment, all plant growth ceases, regardless of how abundant the other essential nutrients may be.

So, think of it this way. Suppose you have an issue with one of those nasty brown diatoms that form films over the tank panels. All diatoms require silicate to build their frustule (shell), right? Well, then maybe you could add a live phyto product that includes a planktonic diatom (e.g. Thalassiosira). So long as the lighting over your tank is bright enough to support photosynthesis, the phyto will live and grow and reproduce. As they do, they will sequester lots of silicate. Sure, the phyto will eventually (quickly!) be eaten by corals, clams, sponges and so on. That’s okay! As long as you stubbornly keep adding phyto, the silicate levels will drop to a point that the bad diatom can no longer survive!

One other, more indirect, way in which phyto can reduce nuisance algae is by promoting large copepod populations. Most copepods undergo a pelagic (that is, open water) larval stage. During this time, phytoplankton is the young animal’s chief food source. In fact, it is often phyto density that limits the number of pods that can live in a given aquarium system.

When a quality live product such as Poseidon’s Feast is generously provided, larval copepods thrive. This, eventually, means more adult copepods! In the case of harpacticoid copepods (e.g. Tisbe), adults live a benthic lifestyle. And what do adult harpacticoids eat while they’re crawling around on the glass and rock and sand? Benthic algae!

Go Green to Handle Bad Algae

Sure, there are many means of eliminating bad algae, including your own hands. However, relying on a natural method such as phyto dosing can be whole lot easier. Plus, your phytoplanktivorous filter-feeders will never be happier! Even more, because phyto boosts pod populations, your zooplanktivores will appreciate it just as much! With just a little splash of green now and again, your tank might be healthier and look considerably more vibrant than ever before.

[Phyto]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scott Williamson says

    March 2, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    I’ve been plagued with hair algae for months and months and months. I’m dosing the tank now with the published gradually increasing bi-daily doses of Oceanmagik . Today is one month and I’ve just moved into the highest dose (11 ml / 10 gal). I have been pulling clumps of algae off the rock easily today and noticed some rock has turned black with dead algae. Not sure how much to dose though after the algae is gone. This method works and my corals are feasting like pigs! Thx for the great solution !

    Reply
  2. Danny DJ says

    June 3, 2019 at 4:57 pm

    Like the term algae vs algae, it’s logical I guess. Great article. Thank’s.

    Reply
  3. Angela Revell says

    August 7, 2019 at 9:59 pm

    I have seen a difference

    Reply
  4. Eric says

    February 20, 2021 at 1:35 am

    Between H202 dosing, manually pulling, scraping, filter socks and p04 removers, I’m winning the battle against hair algae. I also increased the leds time on my chaeto reactor along with weekly water changes. Then it dawn on me after reading your article, I’ve also been dosing phytoplankton.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

Are you in the research and comparison stage of choosing a new system? Has your reef outgrown it's current home? If you’re just in the market to for a

Read More about CADE Aquariums: Reef vs. Peninsula

A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Reef fish, whether they are predators or grazers, play a huge part in maintaining the balance of the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs that are healthy

Read More about A Beginner’s Guide: How Reef Fish Balance the Ecosystem

Calcium Supplementation

Stony corals can use elements in the water to build their skeletons. It is a fantastic process that develops exciting structures. However, in an aquarium,

Read More about Calcium Supplementation

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Browse the AlgaeLab by Category

  • Advanced Education
  • Beginners Education
  • CADE Aquariums
  • Captive Bred Fish
  • Clean Up Crew
  • Company News
  • Copepods
  • Corals
  • Freshwater
  • Freshwater Aquariums
  • Intermediate Education
  • Invertebrates
  • Live foods
  • Macroalgae
  • Our Oceans
  • Phytoplankton
  • Product Info
  • Refugium Education
  • Rock and Substrate
  • Saltwater Aquariums
  • Wholesale

Company

  • About Us
  • The AlgaeLab Blog
  • Our Team
  • Careers
  • FAQ

Get in Touch

  • Contact Us
  • AOA Claim Form
  • Press Inquiries
  • Call Us: 772-444-7637

Policies

  • Legendary AOA Guarantee
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Other

  • Store Locator
  • Wholesale & B2B inquired
  • Business Location

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Join our mission to build a more sustainable aquarium hobby, one tank at a time!

Copyright 2023, AlgaeBarn LLC - Live Copepods and Phytoplankton

0

Your Cart is Empty

adroll_adv_id = "RWFLKG57L5GR7KGYSOEUOK"; adroll_pix_id = "CH2QRUFHXZELLLCMHAB5GI"; adroll_version = "2.0"; adroll_current_page = "other"; adroll_currency = "USD"; adroll_language = "en_US";