Growing algae

Hi everyone,I am trying to grow some algae for my bristlenoses.I have collected rain water in a bucket and put some slate and some aquarium ornaments and pipes etc into it and left it out in the sun (although it is a bit cold out nowadays). It has been out about a week but no sign of anything growing yet,i wondered if anyone knew how long it takes or if it is too cold?

You pretty much need a food source for algae outside as well as inside in the tank. I use old tank water and bottom siphonings to feed algae when I'm growing it outside
Carol

Hi Carol and thankyou,i added fish flakes and lettuce in the beginning as I read this online.Do you think it is too cold outside and how long does it take? shall i bring it inside?

How cool is it? i would imagine as long as it's getting direct sun light and it's not freezing it would be ok just a little slower.
The lettuce and stuff will eventually work but I have better luck with used tank water and bottom siphonings.
Carol

O.K thankyou,how long does yours take to grow?

Takes about a month that's why I keep some stewing
carol

lol at stewing,thank you for your help

Great topic and info for anyone wanting to feed algae naturally

Adding the flake and lettuce at the start is like starting a tank cycle, water from your tank will already have a food source, nitrates, and speed the process up.

may sound a little gross but there is a great source of food for algae...Urine

Doug wrote:

may sound a little gross but there is a great source of food for algae...Urine

Although I've not tried it I've heard of that before. a very reputable person at loaches online uses this method. In fact here is his article that got me started growing algae outside many years ago (minus the urine )

http://forums.loaches.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=922&p=7788&hilit=soylent+green#p7788

Carol

Great read carol, thanks . Iv started growing algae too. Had a bucket outside with a rock in it for a week but not enough algae yet

This is an old pic of outsidegrown algae:) I usually have several rocks to trade out.



Carol

Wow, do you need to use an airstone for this? Or can you just let a bucket of water sit outside?
And how do you tell if you are growing the right algae

Hi,i do have household ammonia that i use for cycling tanks,I suppose this is the same thing so I am going to add some,thanks

I just used a bucket that I always have under the rainwater tank where the tap is. It was already full of algae so I figured if I put a rock in there it would get algae on it too. It's starting to grow algae on the rock so I'm guessing it worked. Tell u what my bn will be happy when it's ready

Yes i read if you add some algae or if there is some already present it will grow on what ever you add.I was thinking about getting a rock out of our local stream that has algae on it but i don't know if this may also have other things in it like microscopic baddies or creepy crawlies etc.What do you guys think about getting algae from local stream?

I wouldn't advise it. You don't know what else you mite be adding to your tank.

I've added driftwood with thick green algae and moss covering it before. The BNs stripped it back to clean wood overnight! However, ever since i've had snails like you wouldn't believe!

Bristlenoses wrote:

Yes i read if you add some algae or if there is some already present it will grow on what ever you add.I was thinking about getting a rock out of our local stream that has algae on it but i don't know if this may also have other things in it like microscopic baddies or creepy crawlies etc.What do you guys think about getting algae from local stream?

PLEASE PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!!!

There are so many thing wrong with doing this. For starters you have the contamination issue. There are lots of parasites, illnesses, nasty bugs and other unwanted nasties in the local rivers. these are all not things that you want in your tank. Very much dont want these in your tank. For example, if you have ever had a hydra infestation you will know what we are talking about.

Secondly, imagine if everyone who wanted some algae for their tank or some rocks for the garden or some wood to make their tank or garden look better went to the local creek and got their stuff. Local waterways would be quickly stripped. I know it just seems like a few rocks and a few logs but all of it does make a difference. This is one of my prickly buttons i'm afraid. As an aquatic ecologist I see the evidence of all sorts of pressures on river systems and I hate to see added pressures for the sake of algae in a tank.

Please leave local waterways intact!

O.K O.K I am not going to do it,it was just something i read and thought i would ask about and anyway i wouldn't dare risk putting anything into my tank.I have just had the most devastating time losing almost all my fish already.I also hear what you are saying about removing things from nature and i fully agree.

So now yous have got me thinking about growing algae. b4 I put any rocks in my tank I usely steep them in boiling water a few times first to make sure I dnt get any critters or any thing in my tank but if you wer growing it in a bucket outside and there was rain water getting in then wud you not have 2 sterilise the rocks again be4 i put them in my tank or I'm I just being a safety freek LOL

You're just being a safety freak

You could give them a rince before putting them in, although any "critters" on them would probably just become food. I have buckets outside they are a great source of livefood during the warmer months.