Samurai_fish

So I was wondering about how to start algae rocks growing. I know you take some rocks, aquarium safe that is, and put them in a container with some tank water and set them on the window in the sun. Is this all that's required? Do I need to keep a lid on them and is there a rough estimate as to how long it will take for the algae to grow?

Angela_96

My cichlid tank has a ton of algae on the rocks and all I have done is left the rocks alone when it comes to just removing them w/ care when I vaccum tanks, and I just only clean the front of the tank and sides leaving the algae on the back walls, of coarse my mbuna love algae in their diet. The rocks have been in that tank though for months on end I couldn't tell you how long its took for that to happen. (I can post pick when I am off these night shifts and have the time at home to get some good closeups of the algae covered rocks) The rocks in my avatar are the ones that are now green

gremlin

I have two waterfalls into my pond. The fish do not have access to the rocks in the waterfalls, so they grow algae quite nicely. In the summer when it is warm, I have a nice crop of algae about once a week on the rocks. I rotate putting them down in the pond for a night to be cleaned off. With the number of rocks I have, they grow enough algae between trips to the pond to be a decent night's meal. As the weather cools off, the algae does not grow nearly as fast. It could take a month or more to grow the same amount of algae as less than a week in the summer. Keeping your rocks in a warm sunny location and changing the water every couple of days would be best. You should get a nice crop of algae that way.

MrsM3197

Hey Samurai,
This is what I did. I borrowed the idea from somebody off this site, I just can't remember who right now...I've slept since then. Hold back a bucket of water from your next water change. Drop in a few palm size rocks that you have cleaned and scrubbed completely and rinsed in declorinated water. I chose some old lava rocks I had collected years ago because of their rough texture figuring the algae would cling better. Set the bucket of water and rocks in a warm sunny place. As the water evaporates replace with declorinated water (AWAYS declorinate, clorine will kill your algae). After about a week I noticed some algae growth, but then I broke down and got a small jar of algae from a friends catfish tank and dumped that into my bucket of rocks. The algae starter took off quickly. I've kept mine outside all summer, uncovered. Trying to think of a place I'll be able to keep it over the winter months.

Samurai_fish

Awesome, ya I currently have some aquarium safe stones in a small tupperware container filled with tank water sitting in a window facing towards the east.

Barbrella

Algae needs something to feed on, so try putting a pinch of fish flakes in the jar!