{"id":144707,"date":"2020-05-01T16:10:02","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T14:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/groene-puntalg-aquarium\/"},"modified":"2025-01-26T09:57:13","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T08:57:13","slug":"green-spot-algae-aquarium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/blog\/algae\/green-spot-algae-aquarium\/","title":{"rendered":"Green spot algae in your aquarium? This step-by-step guide will help you get rid of them"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Algae in your aquarium can be a real pain. Some types, like <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/blog\/algae\/fight-prevent-thread-algae\/\">thread algae<\/a>, are super common, while others, like green spot algae, show up less often but are just as annoying. In fact, if you&#8217;ve ever dealt with green spot algae in an aquarium, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s incredibly stubborn, especially when it clings to your aquarium glass!<\/p>\n<p>This guide makes green spot algae removal from your aquarium a breeze. What will you learn in this article?<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\">\n<ul class=\"toc_list\">\n<li><a href=\"#wat-is\">What are green spot algae &amp; what do they look like?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#soorten\">Two types of green spot algae aquarium: hard &amp; soft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#oorzaak\">What are green spot algae causes?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#voorkomen\">Preventing green spot algae in your aquarium<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#verwijderen\">Green spot algae treatment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#vissen\">Fish that eat green spot algae<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#conclusie\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><a name=\"wat-is\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>What are green spot algae &amp; what do they look like?<\/h2>\n<p>Green spot algae are a type of green algae. They appear as small green spots about 3 to 5 mm wide. These little green spot algae love older plant leaves and your aquarium glass. Because they are closely related to regular aquarium plants, green spot algae removal is not easy without hurting your plants. That\u2019s why you\u2019ll need this step-by-step guide!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_99929\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-99929\" style=\"width: 720px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-99929\" src=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/groene-puntalg-aquarium.jpg\" alt=\"green spot algae aquarium\" width=\"720\" height=\"444\" srcset=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/groene-puntalg-aquarium.jpg 720w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/groene-puntalg-aquarium-470x290.jpg 470w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/groene-puntalg-aquarium-300x185.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-99929\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This snail enjoys munching on green spot algae. Source: Fisharoma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a name=\"soorten\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Two types of green spot algae: hard &amp; soft<\/h2>\n<p>Believe it or not, there are two types of these pesky green spots: hard green spot algae and soft green spot algae. And to make it even trickier, they look exactly the same! So how do you tell which one you\u2019re dealing with? By touching them! Here are the main differences:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Soft green spot algae:<\/strong> Easy to remove. This type is often called &#8220;Green Dust Algae&#8221; (GDA) because it looks like dust in your tank. It\u2019s most often found on plant leaves.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hard green spot algae:<\/strong> Tough to get rid of. Get ready to scrub like crazy! Hard green spot algae, or &#8220;Green Spot Algae&#8221; (GSA), are those stubborn algae that stick firmly to your tank walls.<\/p>\n<p>The good news? My guide for green spot algae removal works for both types. But first, let\u2019s figure out the green spot algae causes&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/product\/all-in-one\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-137890\" src=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL.jpg\" alt=\"A good plant fertilizer contributes to green spot algae treatment\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-380x380.jpg 380w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-170x170.jpg 170w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/All-in-One-_EI_-NL-80x80.jpg 80w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"oorzaak\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>What are green spot algae causes in the aquarium?<\/h2>\n<p>Green spot algae usually point to a nutrient deficiency. Here are the main causes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lack of nutrients, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/product\/kaliumfosfaat-kh2po4\/\">phosphate<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Insufficient CO2<\/li>\n<li>Poor <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/blog\/opstart-onderhoud\/stromingsrichting-watercirculatie-aquarium\/\">water circulation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Often, it\u2019s a mix of these three issues. If you combine low phosphate levels and CO2 shortages with poor water flow\u2014so the few nutrients can\u2019t even reach your plants\u2014it\u2019s a recipe for trouble. Or in this case, green spot algae in your aquarium.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4199\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4199\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4199\" src=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium.jpg\" alt=\"Good water circulation helps prevent green spot algae aquarium\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium.jpg 800w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-470x313.jpg 470w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-50x33.jpg 50w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-125x83.jpg 125w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-75x50.jpg 75w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/stromingsrichting-circulatie-aquarium-110x73.jpg 110w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4199\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Good water circulation helps prevent green spot algae. Source: Aqua Essentials<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a name=\"voorkomen\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How to prevent green spot algae in your aquarium?<\/h2>\n<p>Prevention is key with green spot algae. You can avoid them by being proactive:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Check your water flow and add nutrients. Follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/blog\/aquarium-plants\/estimative-index\/\">Estimative Index<\/a> and slightly overdose to avoid deficiencies. Want a hassle-free solution? Go for my <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/product\/all-in-one\/\">All-in-One<\/a> fertilizer. Just add it weekly, and your plants get all the nutrients they need! For better water circulation, I recommend using a filter that cycles 5\u201310 times your tank\u2019s volume per hour.<\/li>\n<li>Carefully increase CO2 levels in your tank. This is crucial but tricky\u2014too much CO2 can harm your fish, while too little leads to algae because your plants won\u2019t grow well. Proceed cautiously here.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<figure id=\"attachment_85039\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-85039\" style=\"width: 646px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-85039\" src=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium.png\" alt=\"CO2 set aquarium\" width=\"646\" height=\"415\" srcset=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium.png 1620w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium-470x302.png 470w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium-1024x657.png 1024w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium-768x493.png 768w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/CO2-set-aquarium-1536x986.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-85039\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A good CO2 system for your aquarium can be a real game-changer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>No CO2 system? Dim your tank\u2019s lighting<\/strong> using floating plants or a dimmer. Less light slows plant growth, reducing CO2 demand and minimizing algae growth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Investing in a CO2 system is the best upgrade for a planted tank, especially for high-light or specialized plants. Check out my guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/blog\/co2-bemesting\/co2-set-aquarium-kopen\/\">buying a CO2 system<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ready to get started? Let\u2019s dive into the green spot algae removal process!<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"verwijderen\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>How to remove green spot algae from your aquarium?<\/h2>\n<p>Green spot algae removal isn\u2019t fun, but staring at a tank full of green spots isn\u2019t great either. So roll up your sleeves and get to work:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Wet some filter wool in aquarium water.<\/li>\n<li>Scrub the glass of your tank with it. Be patient; this takes time.<\/li>\n<li>Test with a clean piece of filter wool. The surface should feel smooth and easy to glide over.<\/li>\n<li>Use an old toothbrush for tight corners or decorations.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/blog\/aquariumplanten\/aquariumplanten-snoeien\/\">Trim plants<\/a> if needed and remove algae-covered leaves.<\/li>\n<li>Do a thorough <a href=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/blog\/startup-maintenance\/aquarium-water-changes-tips\/\">water change<\/a> to wash away all traces of algae.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Yes, it\u2019s a tedious task, but it\u2019s worth it.<\/strong> You\u2019ll end up with a sparkling clean tank, fresh minerals in the water, and fast-growing plants. For extra help, add fish that eat green spot algae!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_99932\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-99932\" style=\"width: 782px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-99932\" src=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/tandenborstel-puntalg.jpg\" alt=\"Toothbrush being used for green spot algae removal\" width=\"782\" height=\"483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/tandenborstel-puntalg.jpg 801w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/tandenborstel-puntalg-470x290.jpg 470w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/tandenborstel-puntalg-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/tandenborstel-puntalg-768x475.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-99932\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A toothbrush is a handy tool for green spot algae removal. Source: Pinterest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a name=\"vissen\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Fish that eat green spot algae<\/h2>\n<p>Fish that eat green spot algae are awesome\u2014they bring life to your tank and help keep it clean. Here are two great options:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Siamese algae eater (Crossocheilus oblongus)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>This hardworking fish loves algae. Keep in mind that they do best in groups, so get about five of them. Make sure they\u2019re compatible with your current fish!<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Neritina sp. Zebra snails<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>These stunning golden snails with black stripes are quick (for snails!) and love green spot algae. Honestly, they\u2019re worth having even if you don\u2019t have algae\u2014they\u2019re just so pretty. Plus, they\u2019re excellent at preventing green spot algae from coming back.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_99934\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-99934\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-99934\" src=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Neritina-Zebra-slak.png\" alt=\"Neritina Zebra snail, a beautiful alternative to fish that eat green spot algae\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Neritina-Zebra-slak.png 600w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Neritina-Zebra-slak-500x375.png 500w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Neritina-Zebra-slak-470x353.png 470w, https:\/\/planted-box.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Neritina-Zebra-slak-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-99934\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This beautiful snail is excellent for green spot algae removal! Source: ePond<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a name=\"conclusie\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>Green spot algae treatment is all about being systematic. Ideally, you\u2019d prevent it by maintaining good water flow, providing enough phosphate, and ensuring proper CO2 levels. Add snails or fish that eat green spot algae, and you should no longer see green algae spots on your aquarium glass.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don\u2019t get discouraged!<\/strong> If it\u2019s not working, feel free to ask me for advice. I\u2019m happy to help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Algae in your aquarium can be a real pain. Some types, like thread algae, are super common, while others, like green spot algae, show up less often but are just as annoying. In fact, if you&#8217;ve ever dealt &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":129007,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"bwfblock_default_font":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2398,2400],"tags":[2593],"class_list":["post-144707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-algae","category-algae-guides-strategies","tag-algenbestrijding-preventie-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=144707"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":144712,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144707\/revisions\/144712"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/129007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planted-box.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}