I need help, um, growing algae, lol!

[kyryah]

Yeah, I mean that too. I really want to get a nice thick algae mat in my BW tank. It isn't happening on it's own.

I do have some hair algae in another tank. Do you think it would survive the move to brackish?

Any tips? LOL, this is about the most backwards post ever.

Kristina

[petluvr]

I can send you some clado ;)

[FastFly67]

Another member and I had an idea about growing algae on rocks. Get on of those under the bed rubbermaid type containers, fill it with a single layer of rocks, some water, throw on the lid and set it out on the deck or backyard for as much sun light as possible. Haven't actually implemented this idea but in theory I think it would work. You can just keep rotating out rocks.

[kyryah]

That is a good idea FF! I thought about doing the whole spirulina/gelatin paste on the rocks, but I really want real algae, lol

petluvr, I actually have some clado in there - Marimo balls. Everyone tells me that having them will cause a clado outbreak, so where the heck is it?

Kristina

[SubRosa]

Increase the photoperiod to 18 hrs. It will grow.

[Wycco]

Increase the photoperiod to 18 hrs. It will grow.

Out of curiosity- any reason not 24 hours? Does algae need a dark-period?

[SubRosa]

Not really, I just tend to think in 12/12 or 18/6 photoperiods due to herpetological and horticultural standards.

[coach_z]

http://blogs.thatpetplace.com/thatfishblog/2009/02/06/algae-and-plants-for-brackish-water-aquariums/

best i can find is to grow a marine 'algae' Caulerpa. it appears that some call it a seaweed and some call it an algae due to its composition...?

[petluvr]

I am convinced some marimo balls caused an outbreak of clado in one of my 29's. I got the outbreak after removing them and running them under some water while squishing them out to remove all the built up gunk.

[kyryah]

Increase the photoperiod to 18 hrs. It will grow.

Photoperiod has been at 18 hours for several months ;)

Where's my algae? LOL.

Kristina

[kyryah]

I am convinced some marimo balls caused an outbreak of clado in one of my 29's. I got the outbreak after removing them and running them under some water while squishing them out to remove all the built up gunk.

I have marimo balls in 4 or 5 of my tanks, and have never had a problem. I even have a clado covered log in my daughter's community tank, and there is no clado anywhere but on the log.

Kristina

[petluvr]

WOW lucky you :)

[FastFly67]

Can someone post a picture of this infamous clado? I think I might have it in my tank.

[kyryah]

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8176/frentewildreamqt1.jpg

Hmmmm, maybe what I need to do is flatten some of these marimo balls out into a mat! I actually really like how that looks, and that is what I am going for!

Kristina

[kyryah]

http://zaku.ovh.org/nano%20zaka2.jpg

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w68/MonicaKrzysztof/Galezatka-1.jpg

Yup, I think that is what I am going to do. I shall sacrifice my marimo balls, lol.

Kristina

[sushiray]

anything to do with phosphate levels?

not sure how to grow an algae mat so lush.

but I didn't seem to have a prob growing brown algae/diatom bloom!! gee how simple?!

[kyryah]

LOL, I do have diatoms in the tank, but no nice green stuff like that. I don't overly discourage the brownstuff because a lot of my critters eat it, I just keep it from getting problematic by wiping it off my glass and plants.

Kristina

[bazil323]

For whoever asked about not being 24 hours, fish do need a period of darkness, and plants do their growing during the dark period, from what I've read.

Just out of curiosity, what is in the tank, how big is it, and what's your wattage and K rating of lights?

I had tons of algae growing in my 1.006-1.008 brackish tank when I had the corner just getting a few hours of late afternoon sunlight with no artificial lights on top. I had 1 figure 8 puffer, a handful of mollies (3 adult females and some babies of various sizes), and 8 bumblebee gobies. My water has at least 20 ppm nitrates straight out of the tap, and it's a miracle if I can get it below 40 even with deNitrate added to the filter. It's a 44g corner tank, btw.

[kyryah]

30 gal, with Sailfins and a couple bbgs and two young dragon gobies. (currently in the process of an upgrade.) Lighting is plane Jane aquarium florescent.

I think I am going to try growing some stuff outside and slowly raising the salinity on it. I want the new tank to have a good carpet when I move the kids over.

Kristina

[coach_z]

if you want a carpet you can go for java moss, microsword or glosso....apparently all brackish adaptable according to plantgeek.net

[kyryah]

I don't mean a carpet on the substrate, I am talking about the rocks and wood. My fish for the most part graze on algae. Microsword, glosso and java moss is not what I want. It doesn't fit the purpose.

Kristina

[swany]

Was that a picture of your tank? I have a few theories. First, sailfins eat algae, second the plants you have in there are growing extremely well, thus outcompete the algae, making it impossible to grow, third, the light bulb you are using is less intense than needed for proper algae growth (it is too dark).

Could be one or all three. Adding phosphates would be a mistake because it encourages green water. I would suggest not adding any trace elements or ferts to help your existing plants grow. I found in my tank when I dosed trace and Excel, the algae would die. Just do the opposite.

Good luck,
Swany.

[kyryah]

Not a pic of my tank ;) And yes, I know that Sailfins eat algae, hence me wanting some :)

I have a tub sitting out side in the sun right now that has a rock that I tied clado to, a log, a rock with some hair algae, and a rock with some Java moss. We shall see how it does!

Kristina

[bazil323]

Sounds like your best bet. I'd guess that the sailfins are eating the algae before it gets a good hold.