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Here’s a complete guide to the most common types of algae in aquariums and how to remove or control them:

🟢 1. 

Green Spot Algae (GSA)

Appearance: Hard green dots on glass, rocks, or slow-growing plants

Cause: Low phosphate, high light

Removal:

• Scrape glass with a razor blade or algae scraper
• Dose phosphates (PO₄) if levels are too low
• Reduce lighting duration/intensity

🌿 2. 

Green Hair Algae

Appearance: Long, thin green strands—soft and stringy

Cause: Excess nutrients (nitrates, phosphates) + high light

Removal:

• Manually remove with tweezers or toothbrush
• Add algae eaters: Amano shrimp, Siamese algae eaters, nerite snails
• Improve water circulation
• Dose liquid carbon (e.g., Seachem Excel)

🧵 3. 

Thread Algae

Appearance: Long, wispy strands, similar to hair algae

Cause: Imbalance of light, CO₂, and nutrients

Removal:

• Same steps as green hair algae
• Balance CO₂ levels and fertilization

💀 4. 

Black Beard Algae (BBA)

Appearance: Black/gray tufts on edges of plants, decor, or filters

Cause: Unstable CO₂, organic buildup

Removal:

• Spot-treat with liquid carbon (Excel) using a syringe
• Add Siamese algae eaters
• Improve CO₂ stability and reduce organics
• Cut affected leaves

🌫️ 5. 

Blue-Green Algae (BGA / Cyanobacteria)

Appearance: Slimy, blue-green sheets—smells bad

Cause: Poor water flow, high organics, low nitrates

Removal:

• Manual removal with siphon
• Increase nitrate levels (yes, add nitrate!)
• Improve circulation
• Blackout tank for 3–4 days
• Optional: Erythromycin (antibiotic treatment)

🍝 6. 

Staghorn Algae

Appearance: Grey-black branching tufts like deer antlers

Cause: CO₂ fluctuations, excess iron

Removal:

• Spot treat with liquid carbon
• Prune affected leaves
• Stabilize CO₂

🧽 7. 

Brown Algae (Diatoms)

Appearance: Dusty brown coating on glass, decor, plants

Cause: New tanks, high silicates, low light

Removal:

• Wipe off easily
• Add nerite snails or otocinclus
• Usually goes away on its own in mature tanks

🔵 8. 

Green Water (Algae Bloom)

Appearance: Cloudy green water

Cause: Excess light + nutrients (esp. ammonia)

Removal:

• UV sterilizer (best fix)
• Frequent water changes + reduce feeding
• Blackout for 3–5 days
• Add fast-growing plants to outcompete algae

💡 General Algae Prevention Tips

• Maintain a balance between light, CO₂, and nutrients (the “triangle”)
• Regular water changes (25–50% weekly)
• Do not overfeed
• Use a timer to limit lighting (6–8 hrs/day for low-tech tanks)
• Add a cleanup crew:
  
• Nerite snails, Amano shrimp, Siamese algae eaters, otocinclus