Tools for algae control

Method 1: the "Tom Barr 3-day blackout" technique:

• Large water change before blackout
• Cover all 5 sides, darken room if possible. Make sure there's no light in the tank.
• Filter & Heaters ON, CO2 OFF.
• No feeding or fert dosing during blackout.

After the blackout:

• Large water change
• Dose with fertilizers: NO3, K, traces, Ca, Mg, P if necessary
• Temporarily plant a few more stem plants if possible.

Method 2: use a UV sterilizer

I haven't tried this personally.

Method 3: get your aquarium stable

The earlier methods just get rid of the algae temporarily. If you want to get rid of algae for good, you have to get the aquarium stable. More on this later.

Black brush algae (BBA)

This is algae that looks like little tufts of grey or black hair. Common in tanks with inadequate CO₂ levels, or tanks with slow-growing plants. You can often increase plant growth by increasing the amount of nitrate in your tank.

Planting tips

• Do not "top" stem plants but rather uproot them and replant the tops with the new young growth which has not had time to get any algal film growing on it. (T. Barr)