How do I get algae to grow in my aquarium?

[Honem]

So I have been having this problem ever since I first got my 1.5 gallon tank around 6 months ago. I just can't seem to grow algae. When I upgraded to my 5.5 gallon tank I expected there to be at least a few spots green on my plants or glass but there was nothing. I had a 25 watt plant light hanging about 5 inches from the surface that stayed on for 10-13 hours a day. The water temperature stayed at about 72 degrees and it wasn't cycled, yet the water parameters never fluctuated that much and ammonia was <0.25ppm. Then I upgraded to my 10 gallon which is now cycled and I still have the same 25 watt light that stays 5 inches from the surface. The temp is now 76 degrees Fahrenheit, more densly planted, same light schedule, and I still have no algae. I do still have my 5 gal set up with same lights and temp and it's now cycled. I want to grow some daphnia in both tanks along with algae for shrimp in 10 gal. I have searched everywhere yet I can find nothing on how to grow algae, only on how to get rid of it. Please help.

 

[!poogs!]

You serious?. Lol.

Put a small piece of algae wafer in to feed your shrimp.

But if really insist on growing algae, then do this:

Increase the wattage of your light, and the lighting interval.

Go buy some Seachem phosphorus and Seachem Nitrogen. Dose the tanks based on the volume of the water with no regard for what the actual phosphate and nitrate levels are in the tanks.

Use trace, iron, and advance if you really want to go over the top in feeding algae at your new nitrate and phosphate levels.

None of this will harm you fish or inverts, but you will wish you never asked me how to grow algae.

Why does this work? Because if you make the water nutrient rich, and the plants can’t absorb it all, the excess will be used to spike and algae growth and feed the algae. You will have green hair algae galore, maybe even some red stuff.

light imbalance + nutrient imbalance = algae.

I look forward to your post on how to get rid of algae.

 

[Honem]

You serious?. Lol.

Put a small piece of algae wafer in to feed your shrimp.

But if really insist on growing algae, then do this:

Increase the wattage of your light, and the lighting interval.

Go buy some Seachem phosphorus and Seachem Nitrogen. Dose the tanks based on the volume of the water with no regard for what the actual phosphate and nitrate levels are in the tanks.

Use trace, iron, and advance if you really want to go over the top in feeding algae at your new nitrate and phosphate levels.

None of this will harm you fish or inverts, but you will wish you never asked me how to grow algae.

Why does this work? Because if you make the water nutrient rich, and the plants can’t absorb it all, the excess will be used to spike and algae growth and feed the algae. You will have green hair algae galore, maybe even some red stuff.

light imbalance + nutrient imbalance = algae.

I look forward to your post on how to get rid of algae.

Thank you! I do have algae wafers but my shrimp don't go for anything I put in the tank, and I wanted to be positive that they weren't starving or something. I also want to grow algae for a separate tank that I want to grow daphnia in, so I wanted to know how to get it so I won't have to worry so much about overfeeding them and wiping out the entire colony.

 

[The2dCour]

Thank you! I do have algae wafers but my shrimp don't go for anything I put in the tank, and I wanted to be positive that they weren't starving or something. I also want to grow algae for a separate tank that I want to grow daphnia in, so I wanted to know how to get it so I won't have to worry so much about overfeeding them and wiping out the entire colony.

It is quite likely you are growing algae that the shrimps are already eating.

I'm in the same spot, growing out two 1 gallons of daphnia right now and culturing some green water. Put a bucket in the sun with miracle gro or your favorite fert cocktail, it will grow you some green water.

 

[Lebeeze]

I never thought i would see this question lol. Want to switch tanks with me??

 

[NanoFish4Life]

Thank you! I do have algae wafers but my shrimp don't go for anything I put in the tank, and I wanted to be positive that they weren't starving or something. I also want to grow algae for a separate tank that I want to grow daphnia in, so I wanted to know how to get it so I won't have to worry so much about overfeeding them and wiping out the entire colony.

You might try seaweed sheets I know people use them for plecos shrimp should eat them. My shrimp eat flake food and anything they can get but leaving lights on longer, brighter, or direct sunlight should all promote algae growth.

 

[!poogs!]

Thank you! I do have algae wafers but my shrimp don't go for anything I put in the tank, and I wanted to be positive that they weren't starving or something. I also want to grow algae for a separate tank that I want to grow daphnia in, so I wanted to know how to get it so I won't have to worry so much about overfeeding them and wiping out the entire colony.

Don‘t do it!!!!!

You will be ruining a good thing and the way back is worse than the way forward.
No one can predict where algae will grow. But I know for a fact it will grow where you don’t want it...on plant leaves and stems and destroy and starve out your plants that are doing well.

I have a 10 gallon shrimp tank and I thought I could dose a 10 gallon tank the same way I dose my 100 gallon + tanks By adjusting the doses, I was so wrong. Every aquarium eco system is unique. Every tank I own is dosed differently based on lighting, lighting intensity, lighting duration, and nutrients, how they are planted, aquarium height, so as not to grow algae. Every set up has unique demands. If you have a planted tank, and a small one at that, with no algae, you have accomplished something huge which shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Shrimp are small. They can only eat so much. They can’t eat algae at the rate it grows when it gets out of control. Shrimp don’t eat much so its hard to notice. Odds are you have some algae here in there and they are taking care of it for you.

Don’t ruin a good thing by thinking you need to grow algae, when you an buy shrimp food.

 

[The2dCour]

Just to be clear you want the algae for your daphnia right? You want the kind of algae thay is suspended in the water column known as 'green water'

 

[goldface]

If you have a shallow, clear pond or lake nearby, then you can look for some stones covered in a mat of hair algae. Give it a good rinse under a cold faucet, and add it to your tank.

 

[!poogs!]

If you have a shallow, clear pond or lake nearby, then you can look for some stones covered in a mat of hair algae. Give it a good rinse under a cold faucet, and add it to your tank.

To risky on what kind of parasites could be hitchhiking on them from other sources, and a cold water rinse is not enough.

 

[goldface]

To risky on what kind of parasites could be hitchhiking on them from other sources, and a cold water rinse is not enough.

I didn't suggest rinsing to sanitize. That wouldn't make any sense. I also wouldn't advise something I haven't done myself countless times. He/she can take my advice or leave it. Some algae on a rock is not likely not to kill anyone. Far more fish have died from improper care and overmedication than some wood or rocks collected outside.

 

[!poogs!]

I didn't suggest rinsing to sanitize. That wouldn't make any sense. I also wouldn't advise something I haven't done myself countless times. He/she can take my advice or leave it. Some algae on a rock is not likely not to kill anyone. Far more fish have died from improper care and overmedication than some wood or rocks collected outside.

You didn’t suggest sanitizing at all. To each their own, i just wouldn’t be comfortable giving that kind of advice.

 

[Pythia]

Try increasing the intensity of the lighting like the others said lol. Also, you might want to get a few nerite snails, in case the algae grows out of control like it did to me before. (I've only gotten the algae bloom under control recently)

 

[goldface]

You didn’t suggest sanitizing at all. To each their own, i just wouldn’t be comfortable giving that kind of advice.

You seem to have thought my suggestion of rinsing was to sanitize. I was making it clear it wasn't. It's to remove any collected dirt and debris.

A majority of my hardscape, substrate, and leaves I collect myself. The concern for contamination is overblown, in my opinion. I feel less comfortable about giving medical or medication advice and diagnosing sick fish; but I've done it, and countless others do it liberally and freely, which I think is more harmful.

Anyway, it was just a suggestion from the typical. But if the OP wants a quick jump to start his/her algae growth, there's no faster way.

 

[!poogs!]

You seem to have thought my suggestion of rinsing was to sanitize. I was making it clear it wasn't. It's to remove any collected dirt and debris.

A majority of my hardscape, substrate, and leaves I collect myself. The concern for contamination is overblown, in my opinion. I feel less comfortable about giving medical or medication advice and diagnosing sick fish; but I've done it, and countless others do it liberally and freely, which I think is more harmful.

Anyway, it was just a suggestion from the typical. But if the OP wants a quick jump to start his/her algae growth, there's no faster way.

I get ya. I’m not speaking out against you or other hobbyists that forage for plants, rocks, driftwood etc, to put in their aquarium. I think it’s a genre or style in the hobby, that works for and speaks to some but may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Generally, I find most people want ultra low risk conforming with classic aquarium keeping, very high reward, and very few problems. But, I have been amazed with what some have accomplished with some out of the box thinking and a little more risk.

Me personally, I cant stand when I have to fix a problem I have or I created. So I choose to be ultra low risk, and give ultra low risk advice.

 

[fishnovice33]

What kind of algae?

3 things - Simply lower the light or even better upgrade it. Then...add ferts. Don’t do water changes. You’ll have algae in no time.

Add some moss really close to the light, hair algae will easily appear. It really depends on what kind of algae you want. But the top three should get you algae. Trust me lol.

 

[Honem]

Try increasing the intensity of the lighting like the others said lol. Also, you might want to get a few nerite snails, in case the algae grows out of control like it did to me before. (I've only gotten the algae bloom under control recently)

Do you know if nerite snails are better at cleaning algae than Ramshorn snails? I already have two in my tank that hitchhiked on some of my plants a couple of months ago but I don't know if I would need the nerites if I've already got those guys in there. If so, how many could I put in there? It says about 5 gal per snail so I wouldn't be putting more than two.

 

[StarGirl]

You can put a stone in a jar with tank water and put it in a sunny window and you will get algae.

 

[Honem]

You can put a stone in a jar with tank water and put it in a sunny window and you will get algae.

I did this exact thing and I still didn't get anything for months lol. Trying it again today with more ferts!

 

[Mudminnow]

Just add tons of light, overfeed, and be lazy about your maintenance. You'll get algae.

 

[Cherryshrimp420]

Do you have a picture of the tank? What kind of lighting do you have? A densely enough planted tank will not have algae. The plants will completely outcompete them and prevent them from taking hold.

 

[Honem]

Do you have a picture of the tank? What kind of lighting do you have? A densely enough planted tank will not have algae. The plants will completely outcompete them and prevent them from taking hold.

Yes I do.

 

[Cherryshrimp420]

View attachment 756218
Yes I do.

Probably need to get stronger lighting or increase phosphate levels. What about you feeding the shrimp? Fish flakes have pretty high phosphorous content so most people never have trouble growing algae!

 

[Honem]

Probably need to get stronger lighting or increase phosphate levels. What about you feeding the shrimp? Fish flakes have pretty high phosphorous content so most people never have trouble growing algae!

I have never fed the shrimp but I do feed my neon tetras fish flakes and bloodworms, though I've only had them for about two weeks or so and only feed the fish flakes once a day. I'll think about adding some Seachem Phosphate though.

 

[Mudminnow]

I have never fed the shrimp but I do feed my neon tetras fish flakes and bloodworms, though I've only had them for about two weeks or so and only feed the fish flakes once a day. I'll think about adding some Seachem Phosphate though.

While others have related different experiences, I have not personally found high phosphate levels to grow algae. (I've had a few planted tanks with high phosphate and no algae issues.) Instead, I have found too much light, uncycled tanks, dirty tanks, and unhealthy plants to be the biggest contributors.