How to control Algae in Aquariums

Here is about one year old aquarium garden with dwarf guppies, snails, different aquatic and land plants.

 I don't change water, and I don't use man made filters in my aquariums.

 And yet, the aquarium looks great!

Clean of common green algae. 

Of course, spores of common green algae and adult green algae are present in all healthy aquariums with no exceptions. 

Common green algae is a fundamental part of the environment that no aquarium can exist without. 

It is the excessive amount of algae known as algae bloom that turns water green that we want to avoid.

 I use land plants growing with their roots in water, aquatic plants and snails, or whatever other aquatic critters feed on algae to control algae growth in my aquariums. 

Plants compete directly with algae by feeding on the same nutrients dissolved in the water.

 Snails and other critters feeding on algae help in this matter too. 

Old wilting aquatic plants should be removed from aquariums before they become food for algae and to make space for new plants to grow. 

It is the simplest and most effective way of preventing algae blooms in aquariums. 

Remove old and wilting parts of aquatic plants as necessary. 

I do it every month or so. 

Use plants and snails caught on cuttings of plants to make fish food flakes. 

That is how we achieve sustainability in aquariums ;) 

Keep only healthy green plants in aquariums.

 That is how I keep my aquariums clean of green algae all year around. 

I actually prefer to call them aquarium gardens because that is what they are :)

Fast growing land plants growing with roots in water seem to be more effective than aquatic plants in removing waste dissolved in water. 

They certainly do not contribute to the waste in my aquarium gardens the way overfeeding and wilting aquatic plants do.

 Have fun and happy aquarium gardens :)