Avoiding Summer Algae Blooms in Your Tropical Saltwater Aquarium

A couple weeks ago, I wrote a blog entry about using a chiller to keep your tank’s temperature stable. Stability is, of course, absolutely essential to your system’s health. Even with a chiller, however, it is not uncommon for aquarists to see some additional algae growth during the summer months. Why is this? In many cases it has to do with a slight, but sustained, increase in system temperature throughout the summer months. It may also have to do with longer daylight hours or even direct sunlight hitting the tank (something that usually should be avoided). Of course summer vacations, additional yard work and days at the beach may also cut into some aquarists’ regular aquarium maintenance. Whatever the reason, if you have additional algae growth during the summer months, here are a few simple ways to address it.

Run Your Aquarium Chiller on a Controller

If you have an aquarium chiller, run it on a controller that also controls your heaters, fans and other system components. With a quality chiller, accurate temperature probes and a robust controller, you should be able to maintain less than one degree of temperature fluctuation in a 24-hour period. Using a controller, you can keep your tank at a consistent temperature year-round.

Condition the Air in Your Home

This is not my solution of choice, as I live in Southern California and have no air conditioning in my home, but many people can reduce summer algae blooms by controlling the ambient temperature in their houses (or at least in the room where the aquarium resides). If you live in a place that is very hot, this may be essential, unless you are prepared to run a very beefy and reliable (read expensive) chilling system. Keeping the room temperature stable can go a long way toward keeping the aquarium temperature stable during the summer months.

Protect Your Aquarium from Direct Sunlight

If direct sunlight is hitting your tank during the day, consider closing the curtains or shades at the time when the sun is at the right angle to reach the tank. Direct sunlight can cause algae blooms almost right before your eyes, and simply covering the window can make all the difference. In general, an aquarium should ideally be situated in a location where it is not exposed to direct sunlight, but if yours is, consider shielding it from the light.

Bolster Your Clean-Up Crew

While I am not a fan of “throwing animals at problems”, I do prefer to take care of issues in my aquarium with animals whenever possible. Summer algae blooms may remind you that it is time to bolster your clean-up crew. I am not suggesting you add a mess of algae-grazing animals to deal with a summer algae-bloom (you don’t want to have to feed them algae after the bloom is gone, now do you?), but strategically assessing your clean-up crew’s population is something all aquarists should do at least once a year. Perhaps a summer algae bloom will remind you that it’s time to add a few new algae-grazing snails or some reef-compatible hermit crabs.

Keep it Cool, But Keep it Stable

Following these simple suggestions should keep your tank stable and reduce summer algae blooms. Have a great summer!

    

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