Algea

[zcfish]

How do I get some nice lush green algea on my rocks? Is this even possible? How much light for how long? Please be specific on your success story :becky:

[Buckcich]

Joe get a "spare" set of rocks, sit them in a tub of water, put them out in the yard in direct sunlight and Presto. With the additional benefit of also grow tasty microscopic morsels. Algae will even grow during the cold months (as long as the tub/container is not frozen). Run an airline if temps drop below freezing point to keep it from icing up.
Alternatively you can set the tub of rocks in the garage and run a clip on floodlight 24/7.
Hope it helps.:beerchug:

[zcfish]

Joe get a "spare" set of rocks, sit them in a tub of water, put them out in the yard in direct sunlight and Presto. With the additional benefit of also grow tasty microscopic morsels. Algae will even grow during the cold months (as long as the tub/container is not frozen). Run an airline if temps drop below freezing point to keep it from icing up.
Alternatively you can set the tub of rocks in the garage and run a clip on floodlight 24/7.
Hope it helps.:beerchug:

Thanks Paul. Have tried this before. Got some fuzzy light green algea growing. Great food for tropheus. I am looking for the hard and short stuff. Like the diatom algea growing on people's tanks but green.

[Afreakin]

Great advice. I wonder what happens when you place them in your tank and your nitrates are very low, would the algae survive?

[Buckcich]

Great advice. I wonder what happens when you place them in your tank and your nitrates are very low, would the algae survive?

You'll never know . It will be gone before it has a chance

[CrabbyMatty]

You'll never know . It will be gone before it has a chance

I know Joe has that gigantic killer Hap tank. If that's where he's thinking of placing them, those fish won't pay attention to rocks with green growth. They'll be holding up signs that say "Where's the beef?"

[cichfrk]

Joe get a "spare" set of rocks, sit them in a tub of water, put them out in the yard in direct sunlight and Presto. With the additional benefit of also grow tasty microscopic morsels. Algae will even grow during the cold months (as long as the tub/container is not frozen). Run an airline if temps drop below freezing point to keep it from icing up.
Alternatively you can set the tub of rocks in the garage and run a clip on floodlight 24/7.
Hope it helps.:beerchug:OR just set up another tank with your rocks near a window that gets a lot of sunlight. Plenty of light is the key so if possible, I'll use timers to set lights to be on at night. I'll also use the water from the established tank to complete the process and you'll have algae in no time. ABNs not allowed...:becky:

[zcfish]

http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/greek/articlesgreek/pic011ar.JPG

[Buckcich]

http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/greek/articlesgreek/pic011ar.JPG

Lakes/streams??? I don't know. I'll think TWICE about introducing any type of "live rock" from the wild. Perhaps it could be done with some quarantine, I just don't have the experience. There's the potential of introducing some crap that you don't want floating in your tank.
Can't you do without?

[joe_jaskot]

Most aquarists want to get rid of algae, not grow it. Algae needs excess nutrients and light to grow. Provide that and you will grow algae. Only problem is there are many different types of algae. You never know what you are going to get.

[DJRansome]

In my experience you get the green first and then it morphs into brush algae. Better to avoid it or rotate the rocks for a fresh green crop periodically.

Mbuna may like it, but haps mostly no. Although my P. marginatus and some of my Victorians do seem more vegetarian than most.

[Johnnyb76]

Most aquarists want to get rid of algae, not grow it. Algae needs excess nutrients and light to grow. Provide that and you will grow algae. Only problem is there are many different types of algae. You never know what you are going to get.

By just merely turning over the rocks, does that get rid of the algae w/ the help of a little scrape or just stop it from growing any further in your experience? :confused3:

[joe_jaskot]

By just merely turning over the rocks, does that get rid of the algae w/ the help of a little scrape or just stop it from growing any further in your experience? :confused3:

If you turn over the rock, the algae will no longer get any light and will die. You can also remove the rocks and clean them with a brush. You can also put the rocks in a bleach solution, and that will kill the algae.

[bassgenie]

OR just set up another tank with your rocks near a window that gets a lot of sunlight. Plenty of light is the key so if possible, I'll use timers to set lights to be on at night. I'll also use the water from the established tank to complete the process and you'll have algae in no time. ABNs not allowed...:becky:

+1 on the easy way

[zcfish]

In my experience you get the green first and then it morphs into brush algae. Better to avoid it or rotate the rocks for a fresh green crop periodically.

Mbuna may like it, but haps mostly no. Although my P. marginatus and some of my Victorians do seem more vegetarian than most.

My experience has been getting brown (diatom) first then maybe just a little green later.

I am running twin tube T5 NO right now on a 125g tank for 12 hours a day. Will see how that goes.

I only get the fuzzy light green colored algea with the "spare rock" under the sun method. By the way the picture I posted is an actual aquarium picture on the internet.

[cichfrk]

My experience has been getting brown (diatom) first then maybe just a little green later.

I am running twin tube T5 NO right now on a 125g tank for 12 hours a day. Will see how that goes.

I only get the fuzzy light green colored algea with the "spare rock" under the sun method. By the way the picture I posted is an actual aquarium picture on the internet.

Joe, let us know your progress. I've been wanting to do this too. Maybe, you can throw some cherry red shrimps or hatch some brine shrimps while growing some algae.:whistle: