There is a really simple method of controlling algae in an aquaponics system, shade any open water from the sun. additional benefits of a cover over the fish tank can include keeping leaves and other debris out of the fish tank and depending on cover design, it can also keep fish in the tank if they try to jump out and keep children and pets. The algae that occur in most aquaponic systems and cause the most problems are green algae. if you’ve ever kept a fish tank, a pool, or really anything having to do with water, you’ve seen green algae.. Avoid algae in aquaponics green or the walls and bottom of your fish tank full of algae. again this is not a real problem for your fish even if the algae will make the o2 concentration.
My tank is glass so algae is an issue because it gets a lot of sunlight coming through. i have one big gibbyceps catfish in my tank and it does an excellent job of controlling the algae by constantly rasping it from the tank walls.. They are capable of consuming large quantities of algae. plecos' also consume anything that is left on the floor of the fish tank such as uneaten fish food and solid material that may settle in the corners of the tank or around structures such as the submersible pump.. These apple/mystery snails do a really great job at cleaning up algae and and long hair algae! i used to have so much growing in this tank in my aquaponics tank but now that the snails are there 0.