Algaecide : About Algae Control Products Like Algaefix

If you've reached this page, it probably meant you were directed here from elsewhere or you got here because of a google search on "algaefix". Perhaps you're looking to purchase this product or maybe you just want some general information on it. Well this post doesn't promote algaefix in fact i'll flat out tell you not to use this along with any other type of algaecide for your aquarium or pond.

But first, lets talk about the product. Algaefix is a liquid algae killer that was designed for freshwater aquariums and ponds in mind. There is also "algaefix marine" which was developed for saltwater tanks as well. Algae fix claims to effectively deal with phytoplankton (green water) and filamentous algae in ponds, tanks, water fountains and any body of freshwater that has an algae problem. I also claims to be safe for your fishes and plants.

Such products are not new. On the market there are many other brands including algone, algaequel by amquel and many others. Do they work? Yes they do. So whats my beef with such products? I have 3 points of contention with such products and i'll go through them one by one.

My first problem with algae fix is something that is printed on the side of the bottle. It reads ,"Do NOT use AlgaeFix with crustaceans, including crabs, shrimp, freshwater shrimp and freshwater lobsters". So its not safe with crustaceans huh? Well what else isn't safe with crustaceans that is also used to control algae? Copper Sulfate, a deadly algaecide. I'm not saying this product does have copper for sure but i seems like there's some amount of it involved. I do not condone the use of copper algaecide simply because it is very toxic and a danger to the environment. Algaecide destroys the microfauna that is part of the ponds ecosystem.

My second problem with this product stems from various reports on the internet by users of algaefix. There have been reports of fish dying in large numbers after a few days of use. These aren't isolated cases, just do a quick google on "algaefix fish dying" or something and see for yourself.

My last point of contention with algaefix has to do with the fact that it is not a permanent solution. The algae will come back simply because algaefix did not address the root cause of the nuisance algae bloom in the first place. Algae blooms happen because of elevated nutrient levels.

If you're still interested in purchasing algae fix then hey, i can't stop you, knock yourself out on the stuff. But if you're looking for a long-term solution to a long-term algae problem then check out my guide on algae control.

Queen Angelfish

The queen angelfish (Holacanthus Ciliaris) is one of most popular angelfish in the marine aquarium hobby. They are normally found in the Caribbean Sea and around Brazil.

Juvenile queen angels look quite different than adult specimens do. Juveniles are streaked with blue and yellow throughout their bodies while adults sport a brilliant iridescent yellow and blue.

Young queen angels assume an interesting role in their natural habitats. They take on the role of a "cleaner", where they pick parasites off other fish.

Known to be a bully in captivity, two specimens should never be housed together. While it is mainly peaceful with other species of fish, they are usually hostile towards conspecifics. It also a very large angelfish, reaching a foot and a half in the wild.

An aquarium no smaller than 150 gallons should be used to house a queen angelfish. As with all larger marine fish, the bigger the tank, the better. The queen angelfish is not reef safe, they can consume corals. Although some hobbyists have kept them in reef aquariums with minimal damage to their corals, queen angelfish are better suited to large, fish-only aquariums.

They feed on tunicates,sponges, corals, algae and plankton in the wild. Offer them a good variety of foods from sheets of nori/seaweed to meaty foods like krill or mysis shrimp. Angel Formula by Ocean Nutrition coms highly recommended as it was developed for the species.

Raw nori is a good choice if available. Get a clip for your nori and stick it on the side of the aquarium glass.

Brine Shrimp - Brine Shrimp In The Aquarium Hobby

Brine shrimp (artemia, seamonkeys) are a hugely popular fish food in both freshwater and marine aquarium hobbies. So popular that almost all of the top fish food manufacturers have at least a single brine shrimp product in their line up.

Brine shrimp have been around since the time dinosaurs roamed the earth. And they haven't changed very much for millions of years, a true testament to the survivability of this little crustacean.

They are found inland, living in any body of salty water such as salt lakes. There are not many predators that can live in such waters thereby enabling brine shrimp to increase their populations rapidly. The two biggest predators they face are birds and .........us. Even despite the fact that manufacturers normally add vitamins to them before packaging. There are far superior foods on the market that are just as cheap, mysis shrimp for example.

Despite their wide use as fish food, adult brine shrimp are actually nutritionally poor as they offer little else besides roughage (fiber). Some companies offer enriched brine shrimp which are only marginally better.

Baby brine shrimp on the other hand, are nutritious as long as their yolk sacs are still in place. Within 12 hours of hatching their yolk sac reserves are used up thereby dropping their nutritional value to those of adults.

In the aquaculture industry, baby brine shrimp see widespread use as larvae feed for a variety of shrimp and fish species such as the peppermint cleaner shrimp (Lysmata Debelius) and the ever popular Percula Clownfish (amphiprion Percula). They can even offered as a treat to corals.

There are many foods on the market that are superior nutritionally. Mysis Shrimp and Krill are just two instances of those types of food. While krill may be more expensive than brine shrimp, mysis shrimp is normally just as cheap (depending on brand).

If you insist on feeding your livestock frozen adult brine shrimp, always choose enriched types like the spirulina enriched brine shrimp by the Japanese manufacturer, Hikari.