Uh oh- blue green algae in my Betta tank!?

Blue Green Algae isn't actually an algae, it's a photosynthesizing bacteria, cyanobacteria. It's slimy and smells nasty(which you should have noticed when you pulled out the plastic plant). We have a lot of phosphorus in the water where I live so I'm constantly battling it. What I use are aponogeton bulbs to out compete it for the nutrients it uses. Aponogeton bulbs grow really fast, so they use up nutrients fast, even faster than the cyanobacteria. They are available at Petco and even WalMart. Any time I notice any cyanobacteria starting in any of my tanks I'll throw a few bulbs in to take care of it.

Aponogeton bulbs can be re-used, too. Once they flower and die back, throw them in a baggie and put them in the back of your refrigerator for a couple of months. If they got enough light and nutrients, after 2 to 3 months they're ready to go again.

EDIT: The only snails I have ever even heard of eating BGA were nerite snails. Most algae eating snails won't touch it because it isn't truly algae.

Algae is grown by light. My filter for my 10 gallon has the same thing. It's basically grown with: bacteria, warmth, light. Does the tank have sunlight directed on it alot? It isn't harmful but I know it can look kind of gross (and slimy). Also remember the live plant could have brought it with it. You don't want to boil the fake plants or cleanse them with tap water. You also don't want to go with an algae killer. What you CAN do is what I did...

With the betta, get a snail. Like my apple snail :) he cleans every inch lol.

are not getting A PLECOSTOMUS. helpful, there are some smaller sorts accessible, even if the traditional pleco grows to 18" in length and is in simple terms appropriate for extraordinarily large aquariums. maximum plecos also tend to be slackers contained in the algae-eating branch and could no longer extremely make a substantial dent on your algae problem, besides. usually, you should under no circumstances upload fish for your tank in simple terms to take care of an issue. lots of the concepts have already lined the important issues: decrease the quantity of light (quite organic mild), decrease the quantity of nutrition extra to the tank and upload speedy-growing stay plant life to compete for food. i will upload that you'll be able to easily decrease the quantity of food accessible contained in the first position by technique of appearing water transformations more beneficial oftentimes.

Snails are amazing little cleaners haha mystery snails are cool. They will suck the whole tank clean and even clean the bettas poo and leftover food. Theyre like aqua goats :D

you may have to buy a new tank