How do I engourage the growth of algae?

[SimonA]

Ok for some people this may sound like a stupid question but my oto's seem to hate the algae waffers I put in the tank and much prefere the real stuff so I can I encourage algae growth?

 

[Tednol]

get a bucket with water in.
Put some rocks, slate etc in, do the viniger test and leave it out in the sun so they get a good coat of algae and put them in.
theres also cucumber, lettuce, spinach etc, they'll love that

 

[MAM]

keep the lights on for extended periods of time, let the tank get some direct sunlight. both of these will encourage algae growth.

 

[SimonA]

get a bucket with water in.
Put some rocks, slate etc in, do the viniger test and leave it out in the sun so they get a good coat of algae and put them in.
theres also cucumber, lettuce, spinach etc, they'll love that

How long would they need to be in the sun for?

 

[clutterydrawer]

I feel like I'm always answering this lately but you could try growing some on pebbles by putting the pebbles in a jar of tank water in a really sunny windowsill.

 

[Tednol]

about,
a couple of days,
in the meentime put some cucumber in.
They say keep the lights on but thats not a good idea as it will harm your fish and the algae growth might be the gree spoted stuff on the glass which is a hell of a job to get off.
I have a fountain in my garden so every now and then i put the pebbles that are full of algae into the tank,
they clean them i put them back and put some more in

 

[SimonA]

There is a forest near where I live and on some of the trees there is like parts where the bark in falling off and it has got loads of algae on it would it be safe for the tank.

 

[TorPeteO]

Sorry Tednol, but what is

the viniger test

?

 

[Tednol]

where you put viniger on rocks to see if they can go in the aquarium?
if it bubbles then it cant

 

[TorPeteO]

Ahhh, to test whether or not the pH is suitable, I getcha. Thanks.

 

[SimonA]

No it is to see if it will disolve in the water as some rocks do.

 

[lizard]

Try wishing there wasn't any....seems to work for most everyone here

Helpful, aren't I?

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[Phantom Thief]

There is a forest near where I live and on some of the trees there is like parts where the bark in falling off and it has got loads of algae on it would it be safe for the tank.

I wouldnt risk it

P.T.

 

[Blusypder]

try to slow down ur tank. no fast moving water and that will help. but ur best bet would be to put it in a bucket out side.