About This Service
Algae Treatment and Removal
Algae is the most common problem in fishkeeping and the most misunderstood. Most people try to scrape it off the glass and call it done. The algae comes back within days, often thicker than before, because nothing that caused it has changed. Scraping the glass does not fix an algae problem. Understanding why it is growing and changing the conditions that allow it to grow is the only thing that actually works. There are many different types of algae and each one tells you something different about the tank. Brown algae on the glass of a new tank is usually diatoms, common in the early weeks and often self-limiting. Green spot algae on the glass is a sign of low phosphate or inconsistent CO2. Hair algae and filamentous algae point to excess nutrients and often too much light. Black beard algae is one of the most stubborn and is typically caused by fluctuating CO2 levels in a planted tank. Blue green algae, which is actually a cyanobacteria rather than a true algae, spreads rapidly and has a distinctive unpleasant smell that most fish keepers recognise immediately. AquariumCraft provides a specialist algae treatment and removal service across North West London. We identify the type of algae correctly, remove what is present and put a plan in place to address the underlying cause. We do not sell you a bottle of algae killer and leave. We fix the actual problem. We work with all tank types. Freshwater tropical tanks, planted aquascapes, cold water setups, reef and marine tanks. Algae behaves differently in each environment and the approach to treating it is different too. If you have an algae problem in Harrow, Wembley, Barnet, Finchley, Brent or anywhere across North West London, get in touch. One visit from someone who knows what they are looking at will tell you more than months of searching online.
What Is Included on Every Visit
On-site identification of the algae type present in the tank
Full water parameter test to identify the underlying cause
Assessment of lighting schedule, intensity and spectrum
Nutrient level analysis including nitrate and phosphate readings
Physical removal of algae from glass, substrate, décor and equipment
Treatment application where appropriate and safe for the livestock present
Filter inspection to assess its contribution to the nutrient load
Review of feeding routine and stocking levels as contributing factors
Lighting adjustment recommendations or implementation where applicable
CO2 assessment for planted tanks where relevant
Written treatment plan and follow-up recommendations left after the visit
Follow-up visit available to assess whether the treatment has held
Who This Service Is For
This service works well for a wide range of fish keepers across North West London.
Planted Tank Owners
Hair algae and black beard algae in a planted aquascape are a clear sign the balance of light, CO2 and nutrients is off. We identify which and address it properly.
Reef Keepers
Nuisance algae on coral and rock in a saltwater tank can become serious quickly. We approach reef algae with the additional care that saltwater systems demand.
Repeated Algae Sufferers
You have tried shop treatments and the algae keeps coming back. That is because the cause has not been addressed. We find it and fix it rather than treating the symptom repeatedly.
Sudden Outbreak Owners
Your tank looked fine last month and now it is covered in algae. A rapid change usually has a specific trigger. We identify it on the visit and deal with it.
How It Works
Get in Touch and Describe the Algae
Describe the algae you are seeing. Colour, texture, where it is growing in the tank and how quickly it came back after you last removed it. A photograph is helpful but not essential. We ask about the tank size, lighting setup, filtration and whether you dose fertiliser or CO2.
We Assess Everything
We test the water in full, look at the lighting duration and intensity, check the filter and examine where and how the algae is growing. Different algae types grow in different places and in different patterns. This gives us a clear picture of the underlying cause before we treat anything.
We Remove the Algae
We remove the algae that is present as thoroughly as possible during the visit. For some types, particularly black beard algae on décor and plants, removal can be done manually or with a targeted treatment. For cyanobacteria a different approach is needed and we will explain what that involves before we begin.
You Get a Written Plan
We leave you with a written plan covering what type of algae was present, what we believe caused it, what we did during the visit and what changes we recommend to prevent it returning. We give you specific, actionable recommendations rather than general advice.
Transparent Pricing
Simple, Fixed Pricing. No Hidden Charges.
Algae treatment and removal visits start from £55 for smaller tanks. Larger tanks, reef systems, tanks with severe or multiple algae types present and visits requiring extended treatment or multiple follow-up assessments are priced individually. A follow-up visit to assess whether the treatment has held and to make any further adjustments is charged at a reduced rate for customers who have already had an initial treatment visit. We give you an exact price after a brief conversation about the tank and the algae problem. There are no hidden charges and no products sold to you at inflated prices during the visit.
Get Your FREE QuoteFrom
£55
Per Visit
No call-out fees
No hidden charges
Discount for regular scheduled visits
Larger tanks and marine systems quoted individually
Fixed price agreed before every visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does algae keep coming back after I remove it?
Because removing algae physically does not change the conditions that caused it to grow. Algae needs light and nutrients to grow. If both are available in excess relative to what the plants or bacteria in the tank can use, algae will grow. Wiping the glass removes what is visible but leaves the nutrient load and the lighting conditions unchanged. Within days the algae grows back because nothing has changed. The fix is identifying which nutrient is in excess, or whether the lighting duration or intensity is too high, and addressing that directly. Scraping is part of the treatment but it is never the whole solution.
What is the brown algae covering my new tank?
Brown algae in a new tank is almost always diatoms. They are extremely common in the first 4 to 8 weeks of a tank's life and are caused by the presence of silicates in tap water combined with the unstable conditions in a tank that is still establishing its biological filter. In most cases diatoms resolve on their own as the tank matures and the silicate levels are consumed. They are not harmful to fish and can be wiped from the glass easily. If brown algae is persisting beyond the first couple of months in an established tank, it is more likely to be a different type and warrants a closer look at the water parameters.
What is blue green algae and why does it smell?
Blue green algae is not actually a true algae. It is a cyanobacteria, a photosynthetic bacterium that forms a slimy coating over surfaces in the tank and produces a distinctive musty or earthy smell. It tends to grow in areas of low flow and is typically triggered by low nitrate levels combined with excess phosphate, which is an unusual combination that catches many fish keepers off guard. It spreads quickly and can cover substrate, plants and equipment within days if not addressed. Treatment involves improving flow in affected areas, adjusting the nutrient balance and in persistent cases a targeted antibiotic treatment. We handle the full process and advise on preventing it returning.
Can you treat black beard algae without removing the affected plants?
In many cases yes. Black beard algae, also called BBA, attaches firmly to plant leaves, wood and hardscape and is one of the more stubborn algae types to deal with. On hardscape and décor that can be removed from the tank, a targeted spot treatment with diluted hydrogen peroxide is highly effective. On live plants still in the tank the approach depends on the severity and the sensitivity of the plant species involved. We assess what is present and use the most effective method that is safe for the livestock and plants in your specific tank. We do not recommend a single blanket treatment for every situation.
Will algae treatment harm my fish or invertebrates?
The treatment we use depends on what is in the tank. Some algae treatments that are effective against certain algae types are harmful to invertebrates, scaleless fish or sensitive species. We check what livestock is present before applying anything and choose the approach accordingly. Where a chemical treatment would pose a risk to the livestock, we use physical removal methods and address the underlying water chemistry instead. We never apply a product to a tank without checking first that it is appropriate for everything living in it.