I have a fair amount of green algae, to the point where its getting a bit gross. Is there any safe way of getting rid of it short of hauling every rock, plant, etc. out and scrubbing them?

I've heard that algae eaters can co-exist with goldfish and I tried it, but the algae eater died and I've been afraid to try it again.

If it is the type of algae that fastens onto the rocks and plants and glass, you need to use a little elbow grease to be rid of it.

If it is free floating algae - turning the water green- you can get a UV lamp.

Reducing nitrates (algae food) and reducing light (stimulates algae) will go a long way to controling algae. But any healthy tank will always have some.

I wipe and rub the glass clean on every water change. I let the algae grow green and thick on the bare bottom of my tank and in some tanks, the back wall. The rest is not difficult to keep off the glass as long as I keep on it.

Every few weeks, I will take out the large rocks that I have and give them a brush with a brush I use only in tanks. Plants can be wiped. Plastic plants can be soaked in a beach solution if you wish.

Also, don't use a chemical to get rid of it. Some people have (myself included) and it has worked, but they can have ill effects for the fish.

The chemicals that are used in the water to eliminate algae are herbacides. It is a fine line between using enough poison to kill the algae and not too much, such that you injure or kill the fish.

Herbicides also do not work with the type of algae that fastens on the wall or ornaments or rocks. It really only works for the free floating algae - the kind that turns the water green....

Thanks so much! Guess I was hoping for a magic solution, but it sounds like I really do need to just haul stuff out and clean them (it IS the kind that sticks to rocks and plants).