i don't have any algae right now, but in the future i know this may become a problem, so what's the best way to sort it?

chemicals?
certain types of fish to eat the algae?
magnetic scraper?


thanks

Hi, and !
Algae is a natural food source for goldfish, and I would leave a certain amount of it in the tank. I usualyl only clean the front and sides of the tank with an algae scraper or a rough aquarium sponge, and the rest I leave alone. The algae harbors good nitrifying bacteria, in addition to the filter, and I like the green carpet on the bottom and back of the tank.
I would avoid putting any kind of chemicals in the tank, even when they promise to take care of the algae. Most of them only take care of the algae that is free floating in your tank, thats when your water is green.
As for algae eating fish, most of them do more harm than good. They will eat off the slime coat of the goldfish, and leave them prone to parasite attacks....
I hope that helps a bit...

thanks for your reply, i think i'll get a magnetic scraper. And i'll worry about the green water when it happens! lol

I completely agree with Ranchugirl about algae, it is a sign of a healthy tank--it is a good thing, even though it looks bad to us. I do scrape off the inside of the front (so I can see my fish ). I use a rough scouring thing that is just for the fish tank.

I leave the algae on the back wall of the tank, and I clean it off the sides and front. In my larger tanks, I keep a bristlenosed catfish, who does an excellent job of cleaning algae. In my smaller tanks I keep a few ramshorn snails. They are great little algae eaters, too. The goldfish eat the ramshorn eggs, so they never multiply in those tanks.

i agree go with the bristlenose catfish, i have a few golden ones in my 55gl tank and they clean it crystal clear. Goodluck

I agree with the posts above.
But what about brown algea does that still harbor bacteria or is it just a menace?
should you let it stay in your tank or scrap it all off? is it bad for the tank or good like green algea?

i'm with ali waiting an answer on brown alge. i don't have much and easy to clean

Bruce, i posted a topic on that in the goldfish discussion. and got some answers