cg49me

If I wanted to seed a tank with some algae, what's a good way to get it to grow?

I've read in a couple places that you can put some rocks in a jar or see-through container (tank if you've got one), fill it with water, place it next to a window, then just add fish food and wait. Does that actually work, and if so, how long until I've got a decent crop? The object is to have something to feed my amano shrimp and BN plecos.

agabr123

putting it near a window and making sure it gets lots and lots of light is the best thing to do IMO. other than that i'm no plant expert so i really don't know. i will say though that the tank i have with the most algae has driftwood, live plants, and sand, nothing fake at all, maybe that kick-starts it?

tinah

cerianthus

Clear plastic/glass jar filled with vacuumed water from the tank by the widow with most afternoon sun should do. If decided to use Agae Food by Fritz, do not mix with metasilicate. Brown diatom is not what your trying to produce. Add could of rubble or stone so you can move it back and foth as needed.

Algae you may get in the jar may/may not be relished by your fish/shrimp.
If successful, can set up few to ensure continuous free supply of food for them but with change of water with water from tank from time to time.

I have few cooking s/w microfauna by the window to make sure i have food for baby Seahorses when they are born.