I want to grow algae

So long story, but I want to be able to 'feed' a 5 gallon desktop to be housed with snails (at work). I'm at a high school and need to have them fed for 1-2 week holiday breaks as bringing them home is not easy. Like most, I have not had success with those block feeders or timers.

My thoughts are to have old decor growing algae in an old tank and put it in with the snails for breaks. The water wouldn't get messed up and the snails should be okay with that diet short term (I would feed veggies and other foods when at work of course).

How would I set up the water to grow algae without fish?

Any thoughts on snagging some algae already growing in a stream and using it as food?

 

What kind of snails? Most can just get by with the bio-film on the glass and other surfaces. If you needed to grow algae, just keep your lights on for at least 10+ hrs. You could also leave an algae wafer before you leave.

 

Mysteries. They gobble up those algae wafers overnight!

 

I don't find that my mystery snails eat algae. They seem to like the food I give my fish as well as veggies like zucchinI and unsalted canned green beans the best.

If you're going to be away 1-2 weeks, I'd just leave an algae wafer or two and don't worry about it. I was gone for a week and didn't leave them anything to eat and they were fine when I got back.

 

Also they're omnivores so they need some fish or shrimp they shouldn't live off of algae even if they could

 

Why don't you just make them a separate tank at home and scoop them up and bring them home in a Tupperware container?

 

Yes I would feed them other foods while at work and the algae only diet is just for holidays. I would bring back and forth in the past, but my spare tanks at home keep turning into used tanks....lol.

 

Maybe do algae and do an automatic fish feeder with goldfish flakes?