How To Grow Algae

[SherriSixxx]

Sorry am sure this has been asked before, but I would like to grow some algae for my pleco, as there is none left in my tank. How do I do that?
Thanks in advance

 

[Fella]

I don't know if there is a professional way to grow algae, but for the hillstream loaches in the goldie tank I leave one of the sides unscraped, and the light is on for 12 hours a day.

I guess go to the planted forum and do all the opposites of what is recommended for getting rid of it!

 

[Durbkat]

You don't need to grow algae for your pleco to eat your supposed to get sinking algae wafers for them to eat. Because the good thing about plecos is that they keep it away so you don't have to see it. What size tank is he in and what kind of pleco is he?

 

[@ombomb]

Well the best thing to do would be to feed it algae wafers / sinking tablets really.

If you want to grow your own, have a small tank in direct sunlight with a ceramic pot or something similar that you can move between tanks. Algae thrives on high nitrate levels so either using the water you remove from the plec tank at water change or using an additive would speed the process up.

 

[SherriSixxx]

Thanks for replies! I have a common pleco, about 4 inches long. He eats one HIKARI algae wafer a day, but apart from that, he mostly hides. When I still had algae in the tank, he loved it! He was very lively, and I would like to see him like that again, as he so obviously enjoys eating the real algae. And I enjoy watching him swimming around more

 

[Durbkat]

How big is the tank he is in? Also common plecos are nocturnal so thats maybe why you don't see him during the day. Mine is the same way at night he comes out and starts doing aerobic tricks like turning upside down to suck on some of my fake plants.

 

[rdd1952]

As I always tell people who want algae, be careful what you wish for because you might get it. If you try to grow algae, you might end up with a type that plecos won't eat (the dreaded blue green algea for instance). Buy algae wafers, it's much easier.

 

[Durbkat]

Yes I agree with rdd1952 because why take the chance of getting beard algae or something that plecos can't eat and then you have a ugly problem on your hands. So it is much easier and cheaper just to buy sinking algae wafers.

 

[@ombomb]

What's wrong with the small algae tank idea?

Assuming you have a tank you can use I've heard it works well.

 

[Durbkat]

Nothings wrong with it but whats the point on waiting for at least two days for it to start to grow then by the time its covered after like a week it only feeds the pleco for one meal then you have to do it all over again. It's less of a hassel to just drop a wafer down into the tank and enjoy.

 

[@ombomb]

Since as he has asked for a way to grow it, is already feeding wafers and has stated that he would like to see his plec out and about more, I assume the "hassle" of moving a ceramic pot or two from one tank to another isn't going to be that big a problem.

 

[Durbkat]

Well the pleco must be some what new because I forgot to mention that he does come out during the day and their is no algae anywhere in sight.

 

[sinistral]

@ombomb's idea does work. If you have a small tank (5.5gallons, for instance), you can place a number of smooth, largish rocks in it, place the whole thing in the sun, and then rotate rocks in and out of your main aquarium. If you stagger the rocks correctly you can put a new one inside your main aquarium every day, or every few days, depending on how many rocks you have. You could also use small ceramics as @ombomb noted, pieces of immersible wood, etc.

Mostly what you'll get is regular green algae that a pleco will eat. If you get other types of algae, you simply have to wash the tank out or bleach it, clean the substrates off, and then start over.

Depending on the size of the substrates, the pleco will enjoy a small snack or a larger meal. I don't know for certain if they will enjoy the live algae more or less (I suspect they do), but if it gives the owner pleasure to see the pleco out and about and eating real algae, then what's the harm in that?

 

[SherriSixxx]

THanks for replies!! Yes, it gives me pleasure to see my pleco out and about more, and I love watching him eat real algae, he loves it! I don't have another tank, but will try to use a big glass bowl, and will put some stones in it. Do I need to add any chemicals for the algae to start growing?Or maybe some ammonium? Or does it just start?

 

[@ombomb]

Best thing to do would be to try and find some Potassium Nitrate from a garden supplier and add it to the tank (with no fish in!) until you get the Nitrate reading upto 40ppm+. Add an air stone for some water movement and that level of Nitrate / direct sunlight should mean you've got enough algae for an army of plecs in no time!

If you can't find the Potassium Nitrate, you could always just use the old plec water when you do a water change, should have plenty of Nitrate in it.