Algae Control in the Aquarium

I reccomend two diffent methods of aquatic algae control:

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide, a commonly availble chemical, consists usually of 3% H₂O₂, essentially water (H₂O) with one extra hydrogen crammed in. This arangement is unstable, and will come apart into H₂O and a single oxygen atom. This single oxygen atom is highly reactive, and kills the vulnerable algae on contact. Adding one fluid once (six teaspoons, two tablespoons) to every 10 gallons of water in a tank will do a good deal of damage to all the algae in the tank. It may take a few doses to kill off all the algae in a tank, and you need not wait more than an hour between applicatons. Using the same amount to spot-treat clusters of algae is even more effective: Just draw the normal dosage into a syringe and squirt it directly onto any clusters of algae. You need not change any water after application, as the hydrogen peroxide simply decays into water and one oxygen. The one oxygen, if it hasn't been used up destroying algae, will eventually bind with another free oxygen atom to make the mostly-inert O₂, (two oxygens bonded together) the same oxygen you and your fish breathe. The bi-proucts are therefore only beneficial. The dosage I have described I know from experience to be safe on java moss. I HAVE NOT TESTED THIS ON ANY OTHER SPECIES. You would be well advised to remove at least some of each species of plant before trying this.

Straw

Straw is merely an indirect and time-graduated method of introducing peroxides into a tank. As straw decays, chemicals into the water that eventually react into peroxides, much like hyrdrogen peroxide in that they contain the essential extra oxygen atom, which is thrown off and is highly reactive all alone. Thus, by adding straw to a tank, you're bascially setting up a slow trickle of free oxygen atoms, which continually supresses algae populations. Administration of straw is very simple, just tuck some into the filter where it will be submerged, and add the same amount every 6 months or so. A good rule of thumb is to use one inch of straw for every gallon your tank holds. Barely straw is best, and wheat straw works pretty well too. Alfalfa may work as well. This method is absolutely safe on plants.


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